1940 Signalman at work

[vostoktrading]

Steve, I thought of you when I saw this picture from Life Magazine:

 

"Signalman sailor raising signal flags as "talker" waits nearby during the US Navy's Pacific Fleet maneuvers."

(September 1940 off Hawaii, I think a Battlewagon).

 

Jon.

[sigsaye]

Steve, I thought of you when I saw this picture from Life Magazine:

 

"Signalman sailor raising signal flags as "talker" waits nearby during the US Navy's Pacific Fleet maneuvers."

(September 1940 off Hawaii, I think a Battlewagon).

 

Jon.

Couple of interesting things in this photo. First, they are not hoisting the flag on a regulat signal halyard. The block (pully) is out on the end of some platform. These typs of halyards were called "Admin" halyards, and not used for signaling. You would put up flags that were to remain up while keeping your signal halyards free for communicating. The flag is "Oscar" ("Oboe" in those days). It was and still is the signal for "Man Overboard". The fact that he has a talker standing right there tells me that this is a drill, and "Sigs" had been standing by for the word to commence the drill. You will also note that the wind is strong from aft. The snap hook on a halyard is always reeved aft to forward, hook on the sft side of the block. So, the ship is either stopped or there is some serious wind blowing.

 

The

SAilors are wearing blues "Off Hawaii". My father often said that every now and then some

Admiral or other would go a bit nuts and decalre whites un authorized. I have his 1956 USS Shangri-la cruis book that shows the crew ashore on liberty in Honolulu in dress blues. I guess it was an "On again Off again sort of thing.

 

Any way, really cool pic, thatnks for sharing.

 

Steve Hesson

[vostoktrading]

Thanks Steve.

I think the picture above was from the Idaho. I believe those tri-pod things are on either side above the bridge (either side of the big clock thing) on this picture of the Idaho taken in the same series from Hawaiian waters in September of 1940 (anchored off Lahaina on Maui).

Jon.

[vostoktrading]

"Captain Stephen B. McKinney inspecting the crew of the battleship Idaho BB-42 during the US Navy's Pacific fleet maneuvers."

[vostoktrading]

Idaho scout plane.

[vostoktrading]

Marines on board.

[vostoktrading]

Underway.

[vostoktrading]

The fleet off Maui.

[12thengr]

Great pictures, more U.S.Navy on the forum! By the way, what class battlewagon was the Idaho, did she have any sisters?

[sigsaye]

Thanks Steve.

I think the picture above was from the Idaho. I believe those tri-pod things are on either side above the bridge (either side of the big clock thing) on this picture of the Idaho taken in the same series from Hawaiian waters in September of 1940 (anchored off Lahaina on Maui).

Jon.

I agree.

 

Steve Hesson

[Steindaddie]

Great pictures, more U.S.Navy on the forum! By the way, what class battlewagon was the Idaho, did she have any sisters?

She was one of three New Mexico class battleships. In fact, in the last photo posted, we see the two sisters of USS Idaho (BB42) in the left background: New Mexico (BB40) and Mississippi (BB41)