U.S.S. West Virginia Bell Prior to Installation, Morgantown, W. Va.
Date:
ca. 1967
Description:
Bell of the U.S.S. West Virginia before installation on the campus of West Virginia University. The bell was dedicated on December 7, 1967, and joined the mast of the U.S.S. West Virginia in Memorial Plaza.
U.S.S. West Virginia Mast in Memorial Plaza, Morgantown, W. Va.
Date:
ca. 1961-1963
Description:
The installation of U.S.S. West Virginia's mast nears completion at Memorial Plaza on the campus of West Virginia University. The Mountainlair and Stewart Hall are visible in the background.
Unidentified Crew Member of U.S.S. West Virginia Crew
Date:
ca. 1944-45
Description:
Photos are from an album belonging to a crew member of the U.S.S. West Virginia. William Wright, Radio Technician 2C, was on the ship from 1944-45 and saw action at Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. Another battleship is visible in the background.
Photos are from an album belonging to a crew member of the U.S.S. West Virginia. William Wright, Radio Technician 2C, was on the ship from 1944-45 and saw action at Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.
On the photo is a message reading, "All my love, Bill." Photos are from an album belonging to a crew member of the U.S.S. West Virginia. William Wright, Radio Technician 2C, was on the ship from 1944-45 and saw action at Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.
Unidentified Crew Member of the U.S.S. West Virginia
Date:
ca. 1944-45
Description:
Photos are from an album belonging to a crew member of the U.S.S. West Virginia. William Wright, Radio Technician 2C, was on the ship from 1944-45 and saw action at Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.
Photos are from an album belonging to a member of the U.S.S. West Virginia. William Wright, Radio Technician 2C, was on the ship from 1944-45 and saw action at Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.
Photos are from an album belonging to a member of the U.S.S. West Virginia. William Wright, Radio Technician 2C, was on the ship from 1944-45 and saw action at Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.
Photos are from an album belonging to a member of the U.S.S. West Virginia. William Wright, Radio Technician 2C, was on the ship from 1944-45 and saw action at Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.
U.S.S. West Virginia (BB-48) Battleship Band Members, Honolulu, Hawaii
Date:
ca. 1942-1943
Description:
Back of photo reads: "Trumpet Sec of band 17. (left to right) Me, Bill, Max. Bill and I have the same kind of trumpet, Max is an outcast, he has an 'Old'r.'"
Severely Damaged U.S.S. West Virginia After December 7th Attack on Pearl Harbor, Hi.
Date:
ca. 1942
Description:
Men inspect the damage after the infamous Japanese attack. The "Wee Vee" as the ship was affectionately referred to, was raised from the bottom of Pearl Harbor where she was moored during the attack and towed to dry dock for repairs.
Crew members pal around during the crossing initiation ceremony, where sailors who have never crossed the equator before are "brought before Neptune" and tested.
U.S.S. West Virginia in dry dock, likely in Newport News, Va. during construction. The keel was laid down in April 1920, and the ship was launched in November 1921.
U.S.S. West Virginia Landing Vehicle Headed for Okinawa Beaches
Date:
1945/04
Description:
Troops loaded into landing vehicles head for the beaches of Okinawa as part of the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific theater during World War II. The U.S.S. West Virginia is pictured in the background.
Unidentified Crew Member of the U.S.S. West Virginia
Date:
1944-45
Description:
A man likely named Al is pictured on the ship. Photos are from an album belonging to a crew member of the U.S.S. West Virginia. William Wright, Radio Technician 2C, was on the ship from 1944-45 and saw action at Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.
Unidentified Crew Member of U.S.S. West Virginia, Pacific Theater
Date:
1944-45
Description:
Photos are from an album belonging to a crew member of the U.S.S. West Virginia. William Wright, Radio Technician 2C, was on the ship from 1944-45 and saw action at Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.
Two sailors pose together for a photo. The man on the right is likely named Al. Photos are from an album belonging to a member of the U.S.S. West Virginia. William Wright, Radio Technician 2C, was on the ship from 1944-45 and saw action at Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.
The two men in the photo are sitting on top of or near one of the gun turrets on the ship. Photos are from an album belonging to a crew member of the U.S.S. West Virginia. William Wright, Radio Technician 2C, was on the ship from 1944-45 and saw action at Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.
Seaman William Wright and Female in Hula Skirt, Pearl Harbor, Hi.
Date:
1944
Description:
Wright, left, is pictured with an unidentified woman on his lap. Photos are from an album belonging to a member of the U.S.S. West Virginia. William Wright, Radio Technician 2C, was on the ship from 1944-45 and saw action at Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.
"This port quarter shot of the W. Va. taken from the capsized Oklahoma, shows a general view of the damage to the W. Va., sunk in the Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941."The U.S.S. Tennessee is visible behind the sunken U.S.S. West Virginia. Part of the U.S.S. Oklahoma is visible in the foreground.
U.S.S. West Virginia in Dry Dock, Pearl Harbor, Hi.
Date:
1943/05/25
Description:
"The W. Va. is shown as she was photographed at a dry dock in Pearl Harbor. The battleship was severely damaged in the Japanese raid Dec. 7, 1941. Damages to her sides are visible."
Fern Evan's husband, GM3e Woodrow W. Evans was killed aboard the U.S.S. West Virginia during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, leaving Fern to support herself and their 20 month old son. Subsequently, Mrs. Evans was employed at a West Coast aircraft plant. She's shown here working on a radio bracket for a bomber.
A sailor stands in the boat while it's being raised by the battleship's crane. The "punt" boat was used only to paint the sides of the ship. The boat pictured on the far left is a whale boat, which is used as a life boat and is also used in racing. The boat on the right is called a "racing cutter" and is also used as a life boat and in cutter racing.
Portraits of the men in the U.S.S. West Virginia's S Division, which handled supply, disbursing, and commissary. All photos are identified with last name and first initials. Several of the men are also identified by nickname. William Hand is at bottom center.
Whale boat crew that won a race near San Pedro, California, on February 4, 1934 with a time of 16 minutes, 7 seconds. William Hand is identified as front row, far right.
Captain Thomas J. Senn of the U. S. S. West Virginia
Date:
1923
Description:
Caption reads, "Captain Thomas J. Senn, U. S. N., who has been placed in command of the new battleship U. S. S. West Virginia, the largest ship of itS kind in the U. S. or any other navy. The ship was placed in commission at the Norfolk Navy Yard, December 1."
Miss Alice Wright-Mann at Christening and Launch of the U.S.S. West Virginia
Date:
1921/11/19
Description:
Alice Wright-Mann, of Mercer County, is pictured with a large bouquet of flowers and what appears to be a bottle of champagne.Ms. Wright-Mann sponsored the battleship which was built by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. of Newport News, Va. Wright-Mann was the daughter of a millionaire coalmine operator, Isaac T. Mann.
Miss Alice Wright-Mann, third from left holding a large bouquet and bottle, poses with a group on the battleship. The rest of the subjects are unidentified.Alice Wright-Mann, of Mercer County, sponsored the battleship which was built by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. of Newport News, Va. Wright-Mann was the daughter of a millionaire coalmine operator, Isaac T. Mann.
![Back of photo reads: "Sax sec[tion]. Hill (1), Ed (2), Sal. (3), Jim (4)](/thumb/053504.jpg "U.S.S. West Virginia (BB-48) Battleship Band Members, Honolulu, Hawaii")
