Well did not know were to put this. After I retired just before I moved to MT. The USS Iowa was pulled out of the moth ball fleet to become a museum up in LA. It was over in Richmond CA in the bay area for a short yard period to get the sides and superstructure painted yard birds did that but volunteers did the decks and other work I had nothing to do so I volunteered. Us volunteers got to see spaces not open to the public and some spaces that will never be open to the public that was the cool part the work was hard work never thought I would be on my knee's again with a deck crawler and needle gun chipping paint we did the edges the large bead blaster could not get we removed all the paint to bare metal on the flight deck and repainted it a few photo's.
The black looking covers on the 16 inch guns are called bloomers a volunteer from the Midwest owned a canvas shop made those for free flew in did some measurements flew home and made them and came back. The original ones were missing the original one were made by good year. I got to put those on I sat on the 16 inch barrel bolted the metal hoops on and bolted on the clamps that was a cool job.
The flight deck I helped paint
That's me
I notice no Ships clocks on board so I donated one out of my collection. Anther cool job got to help put on the emergency tow cable they were attached on the side of the ship incase the tow line snapped as it was towed to LA from the bay area dam made me fill like a Boatswain mate again.
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If any one is wondering what that Gatling gun looking weapon is we use to call it R2D2 because it look like a certain robot. See youtube video link. These were added when President Regan brought back the Battle Ships in the 1980's along with a lot of other modern weapon systems.
I was lucky enough to spend a week with the base commander of Seal beach two summers ago. He was an avid sailor as well as a professional one and we went sailing one Saturday down to Long Beach and old port of LA. There were a Liberty ship and the Iowa. I would have loved to board her but settled for sailing alongside and seeing the size of her from the waterline... Now if I get another chance, there'll be more familiarity to her.
Jim I see your in Victoria BC. When on the USS Mauna Kea AE-22 we pulled in to CFB Esquimalt your Naval base in your area. We pulled along side the (HMCS) Provider AOR 508 they were kind of returning the favor since they did the same thing on a visit to the bay area. Never had to buy a beer when out in town back in the days when I use to drink like a fish. The funny thing is both ships are no more.
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Originally Posted by Rhpd201
Great pics and thanks for the post! Your timing is perfect - the family and I are planning a trip to CA this June and she's on are "to do" list.
If you make it to San Diego also put the USS Midway on your list another museum ship remember when she was still home ported in Japan when I was in I am old.
I was still here in '83 and '84. I went to teach recruits in '85...I was working off the ships many times as infantry, beach landings and amphib ops...I remember the timeframe well.
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Originally Posted by Rhpd201
