Japanese warship used in WWII found on Pacific seafloor: See photos
A team of scientists discovered a Japanese naval destroyer for the first time since it was sunk by American troops in World War II.
Researchers exploring islands off the coast of the Solomon Islands in the Pacific Ocean located the Imperial Japanese Navy destroyer Teruzuki, the Ocean Exploration Trust organization announced in a press release July 12.
Teruzuki — a Japanese word meaning "shining moon" or "illuminated moon" — was a 440 feet-long warship designed for screening aircraft carriers from aerial attacks.
It was stationed off the island of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands, a nation in the south Pacific north of Australia, to protect supply ships before being attacked and sunk by American troops in December 1942, OET said.
'I feel so lucky to see this ship. The fact that we have not seen Teruzuki in over 80 years underscores the importance of recording maritime heritage now,' said Hiroshi Ishii, a member of the research team involved in the discovery, in the release.
Photos: Sunken WWII destroyer found
What happened to Japanese WWII destroyer Teruzuki?
In the early hours of December 12, 1942, American patrol boats attacked the convoy, striking Teruzuki in the stern with a pair of Mk-8 torpedoes.
The detonation broke the ship's rudder, disabling the ship and engulfing it in flames. Most of its crew were rescued or swam to shore, but nine men were killed as Teruzuki sank, according to OET.
Through the discovery of the ship, researchers were able to piece together exactly what happened during the attack, OET said.
A 62-foot segment of the ship's stern was found littered with depth charges, disproving a long-held theory that such weapons sealed the ship's fate, OET said. Instead, the broken rudder impaired the vessel and sparked fires, causing it to sink.
How did crews find Japanese WWII destroyer Teruzuki?
A group of scientists using remotely operated vehicles to explore an area of seafloor discovered the Teruzuki, OET said.
Remotely operated vehicles are underwater machines used to scan ocean depths while being operated by someone at the water's surface, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
According to OET, because Japanese naval vessel plans were kept highly secret during the war, no historical images of Teruzuki exist.
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at melina.khan@usatoday.com.
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5 hours ago
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I toured the only remaining German submarine captured by the US during World War II. Take a look inside.
The U-505 submarine served 12 patrols and sank eight enemy boats before the US Navy captured it. The U-boat is now on display at Chicago's Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. Visitors can walk through its control room and bunks that held space for its crew of 59 men. When the German submarine U-505 was captured by US forces in 1944, the mission was top secret. Now, eight decades later, the vessel — the only intact German submarine that was captured by US forces during World War II and salvaged — is open to the public at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. Built on the docks of Hamburg, the 252-foot-long U-boat was commissioned in August 1941, and, after prepping for combat, was ready for its first mission from January 1942. The submarine served 12 patrols and sank eight enemy ships until, on June 4, 1944, it met a similar fate when it was captured by the US Navy. After World War II ended, the submarine was taken to Portsmouth Navy Yard in New Hampshire, where it was used for target practice and eventually restored, repainted, and transported across the Great Lakes to its permanent home at the museum in Chicago. I visited the museum in January to tour the U-505. Take a look inside. The U-505 submarine is open to visitors at Chicago's Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. General admission to the museum costs $25.95. Veterans and active military service members can submit an online entry form for free admission. Tickets for the U-505 tour cost an additional $18 for adults and $14 for children, with a $4 discount for active military and veterans. Thankfully, I booked my tickets online — other visitors who hadn't secured tickets in advance were unable to see the exhibit because it was fully booked. I started my visit to the exhibit by watching footage and reading newspaper clippings to learn some of the historical context. Immersive video experiences then detailed the events leading to the capture of U-505. Then, it was time to enter the submarine. At 252 feet long, the U-505 is nearly as long as a city block. It is also 31 feet and 6 inches tall. The U-boat — short for unterseeboot or "undersea boat" — is divided into three sections: the stern (rear), the amidships (middle), and the bow (front). Inside, the floors were crafted from steel, while the top deck was made of pinewood treated with carbolineum, or wood tar, to preserve it and provide black camouflage. This made the sub harder to spot from the air at shallow depths. Atop the submarine sits the conning tower, used for navigation, protection, and observation. The conning tower, per the Museum of Science and Industry, is a "small yet heavily armored horizontal hull" that sits atop the submarine above its control room. It is equipped with three guns, which, when it surfaced, helped protect it from attacks by Allied aircraft. The 2-centimeter guns were smaller, rapid-fire weapons designed for close-range defense, capable of shooting 240 rounds per minute. The 3.7-centimeter automatic cannon fired fewer rounds — 50 per minute — but was more destructive per shot, making it more effective against tougher targets, such as low-flying aircraft or smaller ships. Bullet holes can be seen all over the conning tower. On the day of its capture, the U-505 found itself surrounded by US forces, encircled at sea and shadowed from above. Three US destroyer escorts launched a series of shots while fighter planes released rounds from their .50-caliber machine guns. Under Captain Daniel Gallery's command, only antipersonnel ammunition — designed to incapacitate the crew without causing severe structural damage — was deployed. This decision ensured the submarine's hull remained largely intact for potential capture. German crewmembers honored their captains by adopting and painting unofficial emblems on the conning tower. Many U-boat crews embraced unofficial emblems to honor their captains and foster a sense of unity. Although not officially sanctioned, these symbols were typically painted on the conning tower and became a point of pride for the crew. The U-505 displayed three emblems during its 400-plus days of operation, one for each of its captains. The first emblem, a Rampant Lion wielding an axe, paid tribute to Axel Olaf Löwe, whose surname means "lion." The second, a Greek Axe, honored Captain Peter Zschech. The final emblem, still visible today, is the Scallop Shell, chosen to represent its last captain, Harald Lange. The first stop on my tour was the petty officer's quarters. It was slightly dark inside, and the lights were dim. The tiny room was packed with four compact bunk beds for mid-ranking men, our tour guide said. She stood a few feet from us on what seemed like an elevated floor, but was actually the original height between the submarine's floor and ceiling. She explained that after the submarine arrived at the museum, some adjustments were made for visitor comfort. The floor had been lowered to create more space, and some bunks had been removed to allow visitors to move around more freely than the sailors could. Still, she said, "It could be worse. You could be one of the enlisted or lowest-ranked men who slept in the forward torpedo room next to active torpedoes." In the forward torpedo room, bunk beds flanked a torpedo. For the men who lived in the forward torpedo room, the torpedo would double as a dining table, Wolfgang Schiller, a U-505 crewmember, told the Museum of Science and Industry in an interview in 1999. "We sat with our bottom on the bunk and ate on this wooden plank that sat on the torpedo," he said. During my tour, I could only see the forward torpedo room through a gated hatch, but it was enough to get a glimpse of how compact life was for sailors aboard. The submarine had four 21-inch torpedo tubes in the bow and two in the stern. The U-505 carried 22 torpedoes on board. One of its torpedo rooms, carrying four 21-inch torpedoes, was at the front of the ship, and the other, with two, was at the back. Per museum records, these torpedoes could detect the sound of enemy ships and direct themselves toward their target. Once the captain gave the command to fire, depending on the position of the enemy ships, one of the six Acoustic T5 torpedoes was fired offensively or defensively. Next, I walked past a narrow hallway and saw the galley sandwiched between other sleeping quarters. Originally, sailors moved from one part of the submarine to another by passing through hatches. However, to make it easier for visitors, museum staff removed some of the hatches. While walking through the hallway, I almost missed the galley because of its tiny size. Much like a kitchen in a New York City walk-up apartment, the galley in U-505 could only accommodate one person at a time. Cooks had access to two large hot plates and one small one. There was an additional tabletop hotplate for large pots. There was also an oven the size of a tiny air fryer below the hot plates. When the U-505 was on patrol, it carried 12 tons of food. While patrolling, the U-505 could be on the sea for over 100 days. This meant that food for the ship's 59 crew members had to be carried in advance and distributed across the boat to maintain balance. Three daily meals were served on U-505, and after each meal, the cooks had to count every pound of food and kitchen supplies consumed and keep a record of where each item was placed. Per museum records, crewmembers would consume all the fresh food first and then move to canned items once that was over. Items included fresh and cooked meats such as sausages, preserved fish, and potatoes. The food list also included 917 pounds of fresh lemons, which would likely help fight scurvy, a disease caused by a vitamin C deficiency. In 1995, 50 years after the U-505 was captured, museum staff found a loaf of canned bread in the submarine. Bread — both canned and fresh — was a part of the crew's diet, with museum records indicating that 2,058 pounds of preserved breads were carried on board. Museum staff discovered one such loaf of canned bread in 1995. It is now displayed in a glass casing outside the submarine at the museum. The crew had to navigate various challenges while underwater, including high temperatures. Temperatures could soar above 100 degrees Fahrenheit during warmer months, making life inside the submarine unbearably hot. With no air conditioning and limited ventilation, many crew members adapted by wearing only their shoes and underwear to stay cool. With just two bathrooms on the entire submarine — one of which was used for food storage — traditional bathing was impossible. Instead, the crew went without showers while on patrol and relied on alcohol wipes to clean themselves. In their free time, the crew entertained themselves by listening to records or playing cards. Entertainment on board was limited, but light classical music and, sometimes, popular hits of the day reverberated throughout the sub, according to the museum. American forces found 87 records on board upon capture, our tour guide told us. Another way the crew kept themselves occupied was by playing a card game called Skat, the national card game of Germany. Next, we stopped by the radio room, the U-boat's main connection with the outside world. The radio room served as the submarine's nerve center for communication. This compact space was packed with dials, switches, and wires. There were also several notebooks on display — these were maintained by the crew, who kept detailed records of the boat's activities. This is also where the German crew received and deciphered daily messages sent from the main command center. The control room had a dizzying number of switches, wires, and valves, which were used to control the ship's direction. The midship compartment, or control room, was packed with crucial controls that kept the submarine running, such as the diving controls for adjusting depth, the gyrocompass for navigation, and the air search radar for detecting threats above. All calculations before firing a torpedo were done with pen and paper. Firing a torpedo at the right target at the right moment was a methodical process based on complex mathematical calculations. In the 1940s, the four torpedo tubes in the bow were already floated and ready to fire, our guide said, adding that the crew just had to wait for the captain's command. Once a torpedo was fired, the crew used a stopwatch to calculate how long it took to hit its target. "They are so good at math that they know the exact second the weapon would hit its target," said our tour guide, Elizabeth. The US Navy captured the U-505 on June 4, 1944. Our tour guide explained that while the U-505 was on the hunt for supply ships in 1944, US Task Group 22.3, commanded by Captain Daniel V. Gallery, was looking for the U-505. The Task Group included the aircraft carrier USS Guadalcanal and a fleet of destroyer escorts: Pillsbury, Pope, Flaherty, Chatelain, and Jenks. Captain Gallery and his men tracked the submarine's signals across the Atlantic for a few months until they finally pinpointed the sub's location. Upon detecting the US Navy's presence, the German submarine dove deeper into the ocean. The crew members were instructed to prepare for a crash dive — the ship had to get underwater and out of sight as quickly as possible, which meant every person on board, even those off-duty, now had an important job. They would have to sprint to the forward torpedo room, dogpile on one another to throw off the weight on the front of the boat, and get it to submerge in just 37 seconds. For context, a regular dive would take about three minutes. Once underwater, the crew needed to conserve sound and oxygen. The sound of something as simple as a dropped tool could travel for miles and give away the cruise's location. Then, a depth charge hit the submarine, spinning it closer to crash depth. Depth charges were explosives designed to explode underwater at a predetermined depth. Once Captain Lange realized that the boat was sinking, he had a tough choice to make: whether to follow orders that told him to let this boat sink, killing everyone on the board. Or to order a resurface and risk the intelligence of the U-505. Captain Lange decided to save his crew. Once the sub resurfaced, the crew was out of luck because US forces surrounded them. The gunfire on deck went on for six and a half minutes. One bullet struck Captain Lange's leg — with the captain down, the crew began to scramble. To prevent the U-505's capture, the Germans tried one last trick. "They tried to sink or scuttle it on their way out," said our tour guide, Elizabeth, which meant that the crew members could either scatter an explosive booby trap called scuttle throughout the sub or open the sea strainer valve, which would flood the sub. They decided to open the sea strainer. Our last stop on the tour was the electric motor room, with a pit stop to see the sea strainer valve. Eventually, the Germans were evacuated from the boat, and the American crew, led by Lieutenant (junior grade) Albert L. David and nine other men boarded the sub. At first, men from the boarding party started collecting as many intelligence materials as possible. They searched for classified documents, code books, how-to manuals for the U-505 machinery, and anything they could take with them in case the boat sank. This is when one of the men found what proved to be more important than classified material at the time: the sea lid for the sea strainer. Once the valve had been closed, the Americans felt in control of the boat and were able to tow it to Bermuda. At the end of the tour, I learned how the submarine found its way to Chicago. Fifty-eight of the 59 German crewmembers on board survived — one was killed by gunfire — and were taken as prisoners of war to Camp Ruston in Louisiana, where they remained until the end of the war. The U-505 was painted black to conceal its true identity and kept in Bermuda for the remainder of the war. Eventually, the submarine was taken on a publicity tour of the East Coast to fundraise for the ongoing war against Japan. But, once Japan surrendered, the Navy did not have much use for the sub, and they decided to use it for target practice, which would've eventually destroyed the submarine. But once again, Daniel Gallery, now an admiral, came to save the ship. Since he was from Chicago, he petitioned the authorities to take possession of the boat and display it at the museum. The US Navy approved these plans and in 1954, the sub sailed across the Great Lakes and parked on a dry dock at the 57th Street beach in the summer of 1954. On September 2, 1954, the submarine was hauled across Lake Shore Drive in Chicago. Lake Shore Drive, a major roadway along Lake Michigan, was shut down at night so the sub could be safely transported to its final destination: the museum. Once there, it was declared a war memorial and made a permanent part of the museum's collection. At first, the submarine was displayed outside the museum. The submarine remained outside the museum for 50 years before staff realized the Chicago weather was causing it to rust and decay. So, after years of planning, the sub was moved indoors — to a 35,000-square-foot air-conditioned room. Exiting the U-505 exhibit, I was amazed by the life crewmembers had lived on board. At the end of my tour, a child asked our tour guide, "Why was the U-boat never used again?" The guide shrugged and replied, "Likely because of all the damages and how compact it was, it didn't work for the Americans." And yet, decades later, here it stands. Still imposing, still intact, still capturing the imagination of everyone who walks through its steel-clad past. Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
7 hours ago
- Business Insider
I toured the only remaining German submarine captured by the US during World War II. Take a look inside.
When the German submarine U-505 was captured by US forces in 1944, the mission was top secret. Now, eight decades later, the vessel — the only intact German submarine that was captured by US forces during World War II and salvaged — is open to the public at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. Built on the docks of Hamburg, the 252-foot-long U-boat was commissioned in August 1941, and, after prepping for combat, was ready for its first mission from January 1942. The submarine served 12 patrols and sank eight enemy ships until, on June 4, 1944, it met a similar fate when it was captured by the US Navy. After World War II ended, the submarine was taken to Portsmouth Navy Yard in New Hampshire, where it was used for target practice and eventually restored, repainted, and transported across the Great Lakes to its permanent home at the museum in Chicago. I visited the museum in January to tour the U-505. Take a look inside. The U-505 submarine is open to visitors at Chicago's Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. General admission to the museum costs $25.95. Veterans and active military service members can submit an online entry form for free admission. Tickets for the U-505 tour cost an additional $18 for adults and $14 for children, with a $4 discount for active military and veterans. Thankfully, I booked my tickets online — other visitors who hadn't secured tickets in advance were unable to see the exhibit because it was fully booked. I started my visit to the exhibit by watching footage and reading newspaper clippings to learn some of the historical context. Immersive video experiences then detailed the events leading to the capture of U-505. Then, it was time to enter the submarine. At 252 feet long, the U-505 is nearly as long as a city block. It is also 31 feet and 6 inches tall. The U-boat — short for unterseeboot or "undersea boat" — is divided into three sections: the stern (rear), the amidships (middle), and the bow (front). Inside, the floors were crafted from steel, while the top deck was made of pinewood treated with carbolineum, or wood tar, to preserve it and provide black camouflage. This made the sub harder to spot from the air at shallow depths. Atop the submarine sits the conning tower, used for navigation, protection, and observation. The conning tower, per the Museum of Science and Industry, is a "small yet heavily armored horizontal hull" that sits atop the submarine above its control room. It is equipped with three guns, which, when it surfaced, helped protect it from attacks by Allied aircraft. The 2-centimeter guns were smaller, rapid-fire weapons designed for close-range defense, capable of shooting 240 rounds per minute. The 3.7-centimeter automatic cannon fired fewer rounds — 50 per minute — but was more destructive per shot, making it more effective against tougher targets, such as low-flying aircraft or smaller ships. Bullet holes can be seen all over the conning tower. On the day of its capture, the U-505 found itself surrounded by US forces, encircled at sea and shadowed from above. Three US destroyer escorts launched a series of shots while fighter planes released rounds from their .50-caliber machine guns. Under Captain Daniel Gallery's command, only antipersonnel ammunition — designed to incapacitate the crew without causing severe structural damage — was deployed. This decision ensured the submarine's hull remained largely intact for potential capture. German crewmembers honored their captains by adopting and painting unofficial emblems on the conning tower. Many U-boat crews embraced unofficial emblems to honor their captains and foster a sense of unity. Although not officially sanctioned, these symbols were typically painted on the conning tower and became a point of pride for the crew. The U-505 displayed three emblems during its 400-plus days of operation, one for each of its captains. The first emblem, a Rampant Lion wielding an axe, paid tribute to Axel Olaf Löwe, whose surname means "lion." The second, a Greek Axe, honored Captain Peter Zschech. The final emblem, still visible today, is the Scallop Shell, chosen to represent its last captain, Harald Lange. The first stop on my tour was the petty officer's quarters. It was slightly dark inside, and the lights were dim. The tiny room was packed with four compact bunk beds for mid-ranking men, our tour guide said. She stood a few feet from us on what seemed like an elevated floor, but was actually the original height between the submarine's floor and ceiling. She explained that after the submarine arrived at the museum, some adjustments were made for visitor comfort. The floor had been lowered to create more space, and some bunks had been removed to allow visitors to move around more freely than the sailors could. Still, she said, "It could be worse. You could be one of the enlisted or lowest-ranked men who slept in the forward torpedo room next to active torpedoes." In the forward torpedo room, bunk beds flanked a torpedo. For the men who lived in the forward torpedo room, the torpedo would double as a dining table, Wolfgang Schiller, a U-505 crewmember, told the Museum of Science and Industry in an interview in 1999. "We sat with our bottom on the bunk and ate on this wooden plank that sat on the torpedo," he said. During my tour, I could only see the forward torpedo room through a gated hatch, but it was enough to get a glimpse of how compact life was for sailors aboard. The submarine had four 21-inch torpedo tubes in the bow and two in the stern. The U-505 carried 22 torpedoes on board. One of its torpedo rooms, carrying four 21-inch torpedoes, was at the front of the ship, and the other, with two, was at the back. Per museum records, these torpedoes could detect the sound of enemy ships and direct themselves toward their target. Once the captain gave the command to fire, depending on the position of the enemy ships, one of the six Acoustic T5 torpedoes was fired offensively or defensively. Next, I walked past a narrow hallway and saw the galley sandwiched between other sleeping quarters. Originally, sailors moved from one part of the submarine to another by passing through hatches. However, to make it easier for visitors, museum staff removed some of the hatches. While walking through the hallway, I almost missed the galley because of its tiny size. Much like a kitchen in a New York City walk-up apartment, the galley in U-505 could only accommodate one person at a time. Cooks had access to two large hot plates and one small one. There was an additional tabletop hotplate for large pots. There was also an oven the size of a tiny air fryer below the hot plates. When the U-505 was on patrol, it carried 12 tons of food. While patrolling, the U-505 could be on the sea for over 100 days. This meant that food for the ship's 59 crew members had to be carried in advance and distributed across the boat to maintain balance. Three daily meals were served on U-505, and after each meal, the cooks had to count every pound of food and kitchen supplies consumed and keep a record of where each item was placed. Per museum records, crewmembers would consume all the fresh food first and then move to canned items once that was over. Items included fresh and cooked meats such as sausages, preserved fish, and potatoes. The food list also included 917 pounds of fresh lemons, which would likely help fight scurvy, a disease caused by a vitamin C deficiency. In 1995, 50 years after the U-505 was captured, museum staff found a loaf of canned bread in the submarine. Bread — both canned and fresh — was a part of the crew's diet, with museum records indicating that 2,058 pounds of preserved breads were carried on board. Museum staff discovered one such loaf of canned bread in 1995. It is now displayed in a glass casing outside the submarine at the museum. The crew had to navigate various challenges while underwater, including high temperatures. Temperatures could soar above 100 degrees Fahrenheit during warmer months, making life inside the submarine unbearably hot. With no air conditioning and limited ventilation, many crew members adapted by wearing only their shoes and underwear to stay cool. With just two bathrooms on the entire submarine — one of which was used for food storage — traditional bathing was impossible. Instead, the crew went without showers while on patrol and relied on alcohol wipes to clean themselves. In their free time, the crew entertained themselves by listening to records or playing cards. Entertainment on board was limited, but light classical music and, sometimes, popular hits of the day reverberated throughout the sub, according to the museum. American forces found 87 records on board upon capture, our tour guide told us. Another way the crew kept themselves occupied was by playing a card game called Skat, the national card game of Germany. Next, we stopped by the radio room, the U-boat's main connection with the outside world. The radio room served as the submarine's nerve center for communication. This compact space was packed with dials, switches, and wires. There were also several notebooks on display — these were maintained by the crew, who kept detailed records of the boat's activities. This is also where the German crew received and deciphered daily messages sent from the main command center. The control room had a dizzying number of switches, wires, and valves, which were used to control the ship's direction. The midship compartment, or control room, was packed with crucial controls that kept the submarine running, such as the diving controls for adjusting depth, the gyrocompass for navigation, and the air search radar for detecting threats above. All calculations before firing a torpedo were done with pen and paper. Firing a torpedo at the right target at the right moment was a methodical process based on complex mathematical calculations. In the 1940s, the four torpedo tubes in the bow were already floated and ready to fire, our guide said, adding that the crew just had to wait for the captain's command. Once a torpedo was fired, the crew used a stopwatch to calculate how long it took to hit its target. "They are so good at math that they know the exact second the weapon would hit its target," said our tour guide, Elizabeth. The US Navy captured the U-505 on June 4, 1944. Our tour guide explained that while the U-505 was on the hunt for supply ships in 1944, US Task Group 22.3, commanded by Captain Daniel V. Gallery, was looking for the U-505. The Task Group included the aircraft carrier USS Guadalcanal and a fleet of destroyer escorts: Pillsbury, Pope, Flaherty, Chatelain, and Jenks. Captain Gallery and his men tracked the submarine's signals across the Atlantic for a few months until they finally pinpointed the sub's location. Upon detecting the US Navy's presence, the German submarine dove deeper into the ocean. The crew members were instructed to prepare for a crash dive — the ship had to get underwater and out of sight as quickly as possible, which meant every person on board, even those off-duty, now had an important job. They would have to sprint to the forward torpedo room, dogpile on one another to throw off the weight on the front of the boat, and get it to submerge in just 37 seconds. For context, a regular dive would take about three minutes. Once underwater, the crew needed to conserve sound and oxygen. The sound of something as simple as a dropped tool could travel for miles and give away the cruise's location. Then, a depth charge hit the submarine, spinning it closer to crash depth. Depth charges were explosives designed to explode underwater at a predetermined depth. Once Captain Lange realized that the boat was sinking, he had a tough choice to make: whether to follow orders that told him to let this boat sink, killing everyone on the board. Or to order a resurface and risk the intelligence of the U-505. Captain Lange decided to save his crew. Once the sub resurfaced, the crew was out of luck because US forces surrounded them. The gunfire on deck went on for six and a half minutes. One bullet struck Captain Lange's leg — with the captain down, the crew began to scramble. To prevent the U-505's capture, the Germans tried one last trick. "They tried to sink or scuttle it on their way out," said our tour guide, Elizabeth, which meant that the crew members could either scatter an explosive booby trap called scuttle throughout the sub or open the sea strainer valve, which would flood the sub. They decided to open the sea strainer. Our last stop on the tour was the electric motor room, with a pit stop to see the sea strainer valve. Eventually, the Germans were evacuated from the boat, and the American crew, led by Lieutenant (junior grade) Albert L. David and nine other men boarded the sub. At first, men from the boarding party started collecting as many intelligence materials as possible. They searched for classified documents, code books, how-to manuals for the U-505 machinery, and anything they could take with them in case the boat sank. This is when one of the men found what proved to be more important than classified material at the time: the sea lid for the sea strainer. Once the valve had been closed, the Americans felt in control of the boat and were able to tow it to Bermuda. At the end of the tour, I learned how the submarine found its way to Chicago. Fifty-eight of the 59 German crewmembers on board survived — one was killed by gunfire — and were taken as prisoners of war to Camp Ruston in Louisiana, where they remained until the end of the war. The U-505 was painted black to conceal its true identity and kept in Bermuda for the remainder of the war. Eventually, the submarine was taken on a publicity tour of the East Coast to fundraise for the ongoing war against Japan. But, once Japan surrendered, the Navy did not have much use for the sub, and they decided to use it for target practice, which would've eventually destroyed the submarine. But once again, Daniel Gallery, now an admiral, came to save the ship. Since he was from Chicago, he petitioned the authorities to take possession of the boat and display it at the museum. The US Navy approved these plans and in 1954, the sub sailed across the Great Lakes and parked on a dry dock at the 57 th Street beach in the summer of 1954. On September 2, 1954, the submarine was hauled across Lake Shore Drive in Chicago. Lake Shore Drive, a major roadway along Lake Michigan, was shut down at night so the sub could be safely transported to its final destination: the museum. Once there, it was declared a war memorial and made a permanent part of the museum's collection. At first, the submarine was displayed outside the museum. The submarine remained outside the museum for 50 years before staff realized the Chicago weather was causing it to rust and decay. So, after years of planning, the sub was moved indoors — to a 35,000-square-foot air-conditioned room. Exiting the U-505 exhibit, I was amazed by the life crewmembers had lived on board. At the end of my tour, a child asked our tour guide, "Why was the U-boat never used again?" The guide shrugged and replied, "Likely because of all the damages and how compact it was, it didn't work for the Americans." And yet, decades later, here it stands. Still imposing, still intact, still capturing the imagination of everyone who walks through its steel-clad past.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
37 Rare Photos Depicting Life Inside the Kennedy Compound, Through the Camelot Years and Beyond
The Kennedy Compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, is one of the most storied family properties in American history. This sprawling six-acre waterfront estate, with three white-clapboard houses, has been the backdrop for nearly a century of Kennedy family history. Born from an unexpected snub at an exclusive country club, Joseph P. Kennedy Sr.'s purchase of the Malcolm Cottage in 1928 laid the foundation for what would become a legendary family retreat. Over the years, the compound expanded to include the 'Big House,' a 21-room mansion meticulously decorated by Rose Kennedy, and two additional properties acquired by John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy in the 1950s. This haven has witnessed the family's triumphs and tragedies, from JFK's presidency to intimate family gatherings following the loss of loved ones. Most notably, the compound became a refuge of grief and healing after President Kennedy's assassination in Dallas in November of 1963, when the family retreated to Hyannis Port to mourn and find comfort in each other's presence. The compound holds particular poignancy this week with the 26th anniversary of the tragic deaths of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy on July 16, 1999, in a plane crash off Martha's Vineyard. They were flying to attend his cousin Rory Kennedy's wedding at the compound when the single-engine Piper Saratoga disappeared into the Atlantic Ocean, claiming the lives of JFK Jr., his wife Carolyn, and her sister Lauren Bessette. The family gathered at Hyannis Port in the aftermath, as they had in the aftermath of JFK's death. Read on to see rare photos of the family at home, from their earliest days right through the Camelot years and beyond.1947 John F. Kennedy at his home in Hyannis Port with his dog after winning the nomination for congressman from Massachusetts. Look at that smile!1948 Three of the Kennedy brothers, John, Robert, and Edward (Ted), at the Kennedy Family Compound.1948 John F. Kennedy, Jean Ann Smith, Rose Kennedy, Joseph Kennedy Sr., Patricia Lawford, Robert F. Kennedy, Eunice Mary Shriver, and Edward Kennedy on Thanksgiving at the Kennedy Family Compound. Twenty years earlier, Joseph and Rose began remodeling the cottage, beginning the transformation into the compound we know today.1953 Senator John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier stroll across the lawn of his family's home after announcing their engagement.1953 Jackie playing baseball with Edward and John at the compound, where games were commonly held on the lawn.1953 Eunice Kennedy and Jean Kennedy together on the grass at the family compound.1953 When this stunning photo was taken, John was still a senator, and he and Jackie were only engaged. We are loving the beachy, carefree vibes of 1953!1953 Jackie and JFK preparing for an interview together inside one of the estate's light-filled living rooms.1953 We're never getting over this one. JFK and Jackie run toward the compound after spending the day on the beach, and it's oh-so-magical.1953 Senator John F. Kennedy and Jackie are interviewed for a Life magazine story at the Kennedy Compound. Currently swooning over that floral chair!1953 Summers in Hyannis Port were a much-needed respite for the Kennedys. JFK is photographed here playing baseball with his soon-t0-be wife.1953 An adorable JFK and Jackie enjoying each other's company on the shore of the Kennedy Compound.1953 A barefoot JFK and Jackie chat with Eunice and Patricia Kennedy driving up the entryway of the Kennedy Compound.1953 Jean, Jacqueline, and Eunice Kennedy sitting on the lawn of the family compound. Jackie and Jean were especially close.1953 A gorgeous Jackie sitting on the ledge of the porch at the compound, while her fiancé at the time plays football on the lawn.1953 Eunice, Jacqueline, Jean, and Patricia Kennedy with John and Teddy sailing in the waters near the compound.1953 John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier sit together in the sunshine at the family home a few months before their wedding.1960 Jacqueline Kennedy and JFK, still a senator at the time, are seen here reading a story to their daughter, Caroline, outside of the Hyannis Port home.1960 John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline with their daughter, Caroline, on Election Day in 1960. The next day, Kennedy was declared the winner and became the president-elect.1961 This isn't your average White House meeting—this one has floral decor and cozy vibes! Here, President Kennedy meets with some of his top advisers to discuss military spending. The chief executive also discussed civil defense and foreign trade with officials who flew from Washington to Cape Cod to meet with the president at the family compound.1963 The first family on the patio of their home with their pets, lounging on outdoor furniture. JFK's favorite dog was Charlie, a Welsh terrier gifted to him by his wife during his presidential campaign.1964 A young Caroline Kennedy in the yard at the Kennedy Compound.1972 How sweet! Senator Edward M. Kennedy and his mother, Rose, at the Kennedy Compound. (The sunglasses are everything.)1973 This look! Caroline Kennedy, Jackie (now Onassis), and Ted Kennedy during Caroline's graduation party at the compound.1980 Even in the '80s, the Kennedy family still gathered at the compound. Here, Eunice Shriver, Jacqueline Onassis, Kara Kennedy and her dad, Teddy (at the time a Democratic candidate for president), and Ethel Kennedy hanging out together.1980 Jackie, in an adorable jersey print peasant skirt, walking into the Kennedy Compound during a gathering of family members and friends.1980 Well, hello! John F. Kennedy Jr. near the Kennedy Compound pier during Labor Day weekend.1981 Kerry Kennedy and David Kennedy during the RFK Pro-Celebrity Tennis Tournament. The tournament featured tennis stars, Hollywood celebrities, and members of the Kennedy family.1981 Eunice Kennedy Shriver and her daughter, Maria Shriver, attending the annual RFK Pro-Celebrity Tennis Tournament at the compound.1981 How cute is this?! Courtney Kennedy and niece Meaghan Anne Kennedy Townsend at the RFK tennis tournament.1981 Another dog lover! Courtney Kennedy is seen petting this good boy at the family compound.1981 Maria Shriver and the actress Susan Saint James laughing together during the RFK Pro-Celebrity Tennis Tournament. The tournament was an annual event that raised money for underprivileged children while also providing a chance for celebrities to mingle.1989 Ted Kennedy greets friends before a boat ride around Hyannis Port Harbor during a clambake at the Kennedy Compound.1991 Ethel Kennedy, John Dougherty, and Bob Duffy rowing in Hyannis Port Harbor during a picnic held at the Kennedy Compound.1995 JFK, Jr. with his dog, walks along the beach in front of the Kennedy compound.1999 John F. Kennedy, Jr. and his wife Carolyn Bessette Kennedy arrive at a dinner in Martha's Vineyard.1999 Members of the Kennedy family, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his wife Mary Richardson Kennedy, gather in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts to await news after the disappearance of John F. Kennedy, Jr., his wife Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, and her sister Lauren Bessette. You Might Also Like From the Archive: Tour Sarah Jessica Parker's Relaxed Hamptons Retreat 75 Small (But Mighty) Kitchens to Steal Inspiration from Right This Instant Solve the daily Crossword
