DESPERATE BATTLE AT UNALGA PASS

Above is a PBY....in fact this article is about this exact plane, 42-P-4 getting attack and shot down on June 3 & 4 of 1942, but it was due to this tragic event that led to the discovery and salvage of a downed Mitsubishi A6M2 Type 00 carrier fighter...or better known as a Zero.

For some time the U.S. Navy was attempting to gather intelligence on the construction, equipment, and performance of the fabled Japanese "Zero."  What really needed to be accomplished was to obtain one of these aircraft fairly 'intack'....but when your fighting a war that is not all that easy to accomplish.

So....without getting into the meat of this article....I'll just say that the PBY 42-P-4 gave them Zero's from the Japanese carrier Ryujo one hell of a fight...and she did get her 'licks' in before going down...  In the end the plane was destroyed, and the total crew lost, but if there is any 'good' that can come out of the loss of life...it did come about in this event.

If you'd care to give this short true story a 'go'....you can click on this title:

DESPERATE BATTLE AT UNALGA PASS

I hope the article is interesting as well as informative

Enjoy!

cshortridge73@gmail.com



THE "GOLDEN" SHIP

LAST CRUISE

OF THE

SS CENTRAL AMERICA

"Yes....she was loaded to the 'gills' with money" ....and "Yes" she did go down due to a hurricane in the Atlantic in September of 1857.

Now folks I'm not talking about a few 'old coins' here and there....  There was 592 pasengers and crew aboard the SS Central America....and this included several hundred mineres returning from California...many of these guys were carrying leather pouches...and huge money belts....stuffed....and I do mean stuffed with money as well as gold .  On top of all this the ships strongbox was gold specie consigned to New York banks.....worth $40 million....[in that era...just think what $40 million would buy you....]

Well this article provides details on the "LAST CRUISE OF THE SS CENTRAL AMERICA" 

If you'd care to give this short article...about 4 pages or so.....a 'tumble' you well see how some divers became extremely wealthy over night ...about $300 million worth...yep a 'Divers Dream'

Hope you enjoy the article

cshortridge73@gmail.com

cshortridge@comcast.net

THEY WERE 'DEADLY'

U-BOAT ON SLAUGHT

"IN AMERICAN WATERS"

-----------------------------------------

Many, many times readers has asked me...."Ok, just  how close did the German U-boats get to our Eastern shores?"  Well my answer is always the same....and I look at these youngsters that have asked this question and say, "That is one question of many questions that I don't have a 'specific' answer for....other than saying...."Pretty Darn Close."

People don't realize that our Eastern seaboard was lite up like a Christmas tree after dark during the early part of the WW II effort.....and the U-boats would lay in wait off our shores....as the freighters would cruise down the slot...back lite by those off shore lites....the U-boats had a "Turkey shoot."

Those poor Merchant seaman didn't have a chance....and people could stand on those beaches...and many times watch these 'merchants' get hit by this  U-boat slaughter of our freighters.......

Now here is another fact that many don't realize.....these U-boats could lay out off our shores for several days on end....when they stared to get a tad low on torpedoes, food, and possibly the need of medical supplies....they would be "re-provisioned" by a "Milkcow"   ...[a large German supply submarine that was just going back and forth in supplying these U-boats.....which if you'd care to read..."one darn interesting article...just click this MILKCOWS]....

So this article of mine....which you can click this title to 'give it a go'  U-BOAT ONSLAUGHT  gives you some idea of what our merchant seaman went through each day when they traveled the 'slot' to get the war material in the hands of the boys fighting in distant lands.

Hope you find both articles interesting

cshortridge73@gmail.com

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U. S. NAVY IN THE EARLY YEARS

As a "dabbler" in history...especially Naval history..I seem to read about some event..organization....weapon...ship...etc..etc. and wonder...."Now just how did this get started...how did it get from 'Point A to Point B'?? 

This is how I came to arrive at providing some understanding, in a simple manner, and in loose chapters to the reader as a way to get a 'overall' understanding of how the U.S. Navy grew in the early years.  I'm not attempting 'in-depth' detail....just a run through of hopefully some gentle understanding of the "who, what, and why."

There was a time period in the U.S. history, inbetween the War of 1812 & the beginning of the Civil War the United States simply went nuts with growth.

Everything increased....and not just a 'little bit'....a whole bunch.  The U.S. territory went from 1.8 to 3 million miles.  Population went from 8.5 to 31.5 million.....and exports...[are you ready for this....]...82 million dollars to .....400 million dollars.

So...with all this 'growth' how in the world did the U.S. Navy fit into all of this....  Did this organization do this on its own....probably not, so who helped....and what did they do....and better yet how did they do it?? 

If your into reading a tad on "beginnings" of the "who, what, and why"....then this is the article for you.  Set back and just let your eyes dance over this short article...and see if you come away with a better understanding of what took place....and maybe....yes, maybe it will inspire you to read some additional chapters that I'll slip in on this 'Blog'  from time to time about the "Beginnings."

Ok...so I've talked you into "at least giving this article a 'glance'" as your sipping the last 'slurp' of java....here is the link: U.S. NAVY IN THE EARLY YEARS

Hope you find the article interesting

cshortridge73@gmail.com

FACE LIFT FOR "USS MISSOURI"

After a multi-million dollar refurbishing, the world's most-famous warship is back on public display at her Pearl Harbor anchorage

This short article is related to the above move and the refurbishing of the USS Missouri....kind of a "news" item ...as 'Nautical articles' go.

Millions of dollars is spent on the maintenance and upkeep of these 'battlewagons' of the past....some of these warriors pay there own way as a museum ships...but the cost factor is huge....they require shell plate replacement and this is aside from the normal hull treatment that goes on ...on a regular basis.

Anyway...here is just a short article of the movement of such a vessel....it has plenty of excellent pictures to admire as your sipping that cup of coffee an downing that last crumb of doughnut...

Just click on this link: USS MISSOURI

Hope you enjoy the short article

cshortridge73@gmail.com