Veteran's Day is a day to honor and remember those men and women who served in our nation’s armed forces and stood as our defense against our enemies in order to preserve our freedoms that are the foundation of our nation. Some of us may hold a moment of silence, others may attend commemoration ceremonies and activities, and others may visit monuments and other historical sites to honor these men and women. Here in the South Bay, we are honored to have one of the most striking monuments moored dockside at the Port of Los Angeles, the Battleship (BB) USS Iowa, BB-61. Although it is no longer on active duty, this dreadnaught was part of our nation’s service for nearly 70 years (19 years of active duty and 50 years in the reserve fleet) and is a lasting tribute to the men and women of our armed forces serving as a museum since 2011.

Convinced at a time when the whispers of war were stirring in across the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, plans were drafted for six newly commissioned Iowa Class battleships. The USS Iowa designated as BB-61 would be the first to be completed and placed into service. Following would be the USS New Jersey, BB-62, the USS Missouri, BB-63, and the USS Wisconsin, BB-64.

Two other battleships were commissioned, but they were never entered into service, the USS Illinois, BB-65, and USS Kentucky, BB-66. Both ships were never fully completed and were eventually scrapped, but not before the clipper bow of the Kentucky was used to replace the damaged bow of the Wisconsin after it was involved in a collision with a US Navy (USN) destroyer.

The initial designs for the Iowa Class battleships included the trademark 16-inch guns and heavy armor plating found on previous battleships. But the USN also noted that warfare was entering a new age realized that aircraft carriers were becoming an essential element in future conflicts, but they could not be equipped with sufficient armament for protection from enemy aircraft. However, the Iowa Class battleships provided adequate deck space for mounting 5-inch guns and other types of antiaircraft weapons. But, due to the aircraft carriers ability to reach nearly 40 miles per hour, the Iowa Class battleships needed a hydrodynamic design incorporating the clipper bow and a more powerful propulsion system in order to match the carriers top speed.

The Iowa Class battleships duties were further expanded by including a twin catapult system and recovery crane to launch and recover the three floatplanes assigned to the ship. These floatplanes were capable of performing patrol missions, assisting with directing gun fire and complete search and rescue missions.

The USS Iowa was commissioned in February 1943 and during its service in World War II, its crew received Nine Battle Stars for meritorious participation in battle. Although the ship was built to house a crew of 2,300 sailors and marines, but due to its new role of performing anti-craft support its crew grew to 2,800 men, consisting of 150 officers, 2,500 enlisted sailors, and a detachment of 110 Marines. The Marines aboard the USS Iowa were assigned duties that included manning gun positions, including the 5-inch guns. However, when necessary, they were deployed to support other Marine units conducting shore activities.

One of the Iowa’s initial deployments was to transport President Franklin Roosevelt and his staff to the 1943 Tehran Conference with British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill and Soviet Premier, Joseph Stalin. Preceding that meeting, the Iowa transported Roosvelt to the 1943 Cairo Conference with Churchill and the Chinese President Chiang Kai-shek.

Due to President Roosevelt’s paralysis and his confinement to a wheelchair, special accommodations needed to be made. In order to allow the President to board the ship, the Iowa was outfitted with two wheelchair lifts installed on the right side of the ship near the Captain’s In Port Cabin. Additionally, the Captain’s In Port Cabin became President Roosevelt’s office and living space. Due to paralysis, the bathroom was fitted with a porcelain bathtub.

During World War II, the USS Iowa spent a majority of its service time in the Pacific Theater. During that time the crewmembers received nine Battle Stars for their service during the Marshall Islands Operation, Asiatic-Pacific Raids, Hollandia Operation, Marianas Operation, Tinian Capture and Occupation, Western Caroline Islands Operation, Leyte Operation, Okinawa Gunto Operation, and Third Fleet Operations Against Japan.

Following the dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan, on August 30, 1945, several ships of the Third Fleet including the USS Iowa secured the Yokosuka Naval Base on Tokyo Bay. Landing groups from each ship including the detachment of Marines from the USS Iowa were transferred ashore and boarded the Japanese battleship, HIJMS Nagato, to accept her surrender and capture. Following Japan’s surrender, the crew of the Iowa remained on station in Tokyo Bay and served as part of occupation force.

After returning to U.S. shores, the USS Iowa was briefly decommissioned in March 1949, at the San Francisco Naval Shipyard. However, she was recommissioned in 1951 to serve in the Korean Conflict. Her floatplanes and catapults were removed, and the aft deck was fitted to provide space for three helicopters.

During its time on station in the Korean Peninsula, the ship’s primary mission focused on its 16-inch guns on bombarding bridges, railways, other strategic sites, and support for the ground troops. The inclusion of the helicopters proved especially beneficial in their abilities to retrieve pilots who were shot down by enemy fire.

One such incident inspired the novel written by James Michener, and later the film, Bridges of Toko-ri. According to the information contained the Iowa’s archives, a USN Corsair flown by Naval Aviator, LTJG H.A. Riedl, was struck by antiaircraft fire while he had been bombing and strafing bridges near the Yalu River in North Korea. These bridges were a critical component to transport Chinese troops to the North Korea. A helicopter pilot from the USS Iowa, Lt. R.L. Dalton, was out on a gun spotting mission when he heard the “Mayday” call from Riedl. Dalton was immediately recalled to the USS Iowa to possibly assist with the rescue of the downed pilot.

*Dalton and Meyer on the deck of the USS Iowa - Courtesy of the USS Iowa*

Before Dalton could return to the USS Iowa, the commanding officer from the Reidl’s aircraft carrier, the USS Princeton, contacted the USS Iowa’s commanding officer. The USS Princeton’s commanding officer said that Reidl was the squadron leader and members of his squadron remained in the vicinity of the down pilot. He insisted that a helicopter from the USS Iowa should attempt a rescue as soon as possible. When Dalton arrived on deck, he had the deck crew refuel the helicopter and asked for a volunteer to assist with the mission. An aviation mechanic, W.A. Meyer, volunteered and was given an automatic carbine. It was late in the afternoon when Dalton and Meyer departed the USS Iowa to attempt a rescue. By the time Dalton was able to reach the location, members of Reidl’s squadron were running low on fuel and needed to return to their ship. Also, visibility was rapidly declining. The decision was made for Dalton and Meyer to return to the USS Iowa. If possible, they would attempt a rescue at first light on the following date.

The next morning weather visibility was poor, but with assistance of a fighter from the Princeton, Dalton was able to safely maneuver helicopter away from the Iowa and head to the location of the down flyer. As they approached the North Korean territory, the visibility improved, and they were able to proceed to the area where the pilot was last seen.

Shortly after Dalton arrived on station, Reidl was unable to see the helicopter, but judging by its sound, he felt it was close enough to fire his one and only signal flare. Following the mission, Dalton admitted that it was a stroke of luck the signal flare rose directly in front of his helicopter’s cockpit. Dalton surveyed the situation and realized that the pilot was located on the slope of mountain, and he could not safely land his helicopter to perform the rescue. Dalton carefully positioned the helicopter along the mountain slope. Inching as close as he could to the trees and slope. Within seconds of Meyer opening the side door of the helicopter Reidl jumped into the helicopter as he was being closely chased by the North Korean troops. Meyer using the carbine and Reidl using his service pistol, fired at enemy troops as Dalton called upon his piloting skills to effectively power up to safely maneuver his helicopter to escape their attackers.

As they headed back, their escape route took them through a pass that was protected by a North Korean anti-aircraft installation. The helicopter began taking fire from the installation. With the support of the Corsair fighters circling above the helicopter, they quickly responded by firing their 3-inch rockets and machine gun fire and eliminated the enemy threat. Eventually Dalton and Meyer with Reidl safely onboard returned to the USS Iowa.

*Cutaway view of the barrel of a 16-inch gun barrel*

For their actions, Meyer was awarded the Naval Air Medal, and Dalton received the Distinguished Flying Cross.

After serving in the Korean Conflict, the USS Iowa was decommissioned from February 1958 to May 1984.

Proving its adaptability, before returning to active duty, the USS Iowa was refitted for duty in Operation Desert Shield and commissioned for duty in April 1984. Although the 5-inch guns remained, the other anti-aircraft armaments were removed. In their place were 4 Quad Canister Missile Launchers for 16 Harpoon anti-ship missiles. Also installed were eight Armored Box Launchers for 32 Tomahawk cruise missiles. The final armament update was the four 20mm Phalanx Close Inboard Weapon System (CIWS), commonly referred to as “R2D2” because of its resemblance to the Star Wars character. The system uses a radar tracking system to control a six-barrel Gatling-type gun capable of firing 3,000 rounds per minute of heavy metal depleted uranium rounds to defend the ship against any threats of incoming enemy cruise missiles. The reduction in anti-aircraft armaments and the incorporation of technological warfare, the USS Iowa’s crew was reduced to approximately 1,800 sailors and marines.

*Phalanx Close Inboard Weapon System (CIWS)*

Despite the USS Iowa’s numerous combat deployments, its greatest loss of crewmember lives occurred in 1989 while the ship was engaged in a training exercise preparing for deployment in Operation Desert Shield along with other naval vessels in the Caribbean. The incident occurred while the USS Iowa was engaging in training exercises involving the firing of its 16-inch guns. In order to fire the 64-inch or 72-inch projectile, once the projectile is loaded into the barrel, six 16-inch diameter powder bags are placed behind the projectile in the barrel. Once the package is loaded, the breech is closed, and the gun is fired.

One sailor aboard the Iowa on the day of the incident wrote, an announcement came over the ship’s public address system, “Unexplained Detention!” Following crew members assumed their assigned roles including fire suppression. Several crew members attempted to put out a fire that was raging inside the ship’s number 2 turret. Reports indicate that the fire was intense and prolonged and the heat from the fight prevented prolonged exposure to the fire. After several hours of firefighting the fire was put out, but inside the turret and the decks below the turret were severely damaged. It was a devastating sight, and it was quickly apparent that no one inside of the turret survived the blast and identification of the remains would be an extremely difficult task.

*Crew members man fire hoses in an attempt to put out the fire in Turret 2. Photo Courtesy of the USS Iowa*

According to Naval records, one of the six of the powder charges that was loaded behind the projectile unexpectedly exploded causing the other powder bags to explode as well. There is still no clear understanding of how the event occurred, but due to the damage of the blast, the Iowa was decommissioned in 1990 at Norfolk, Viriginia and moved to Newport, RI in 1998. From 2001 to 2011, the USS Iowa was moored in Suisun Bay in Benicia, California.

In 2011, the USS Iowa was awarded to the Pacific Battleship Center. In June 2012, the USS Iowa was towed to the Port of Los Angeles.

Standing on the deck of the USS Iowa, one is drawn to the conclusion that this mighty dreadnaught may not be an official national monument, but it does stand as a tribute to the men and women who served in our armed forces, who whether, in the past or present, in times of peace or conflict, willingly put themselves in harm’s way in order to protect our freedoms.

As a grateful nation, we thank you for your service and will remember your dedication to our country.

Special Acknowledgement:

A special thank you goes to Dave Way, Historian/Artifacts Collections, Pacific Battleship Center, National Museum of the Surface Navy at the Battleship IOWA, for his assistance with providing information and access to the USS IOWA’s collection.

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Steve Tabor

This South Bay native’s photographic journey began after receiving his first 35 mm film camera upon earning his Bachelor of Arts degree. As a classroom teacher he used photography to share the world and his experiences with his students. Steve began his photography career photographing coastal landscapes and marine life. His experiences have led him to include portraits and group photography, special event photography as well as live performance and athletics in his portfolio. As a contributor and photojournalist, he has published stories about the people, places and events in and around the Palos Verdes Peninsula and beyond.

Interested in seeing more of Steve’s work, visit website at: www.stevetaborimages.com