Battleship Missouri

"This book traces the complete story of the Missouri from her keel-laying in 1941, her participation in the Japanese surrender in 1945, and her contribution to the Persian Gulf War. Through extensive interviews and research with records from the Naval Heritage and History Command, National Archives, Harry S. Truman Library, and other repositories."--Amazon.

The story of the USS Missouri, one of America's most famous warships of the twentieth century, and the world's last battleship, is told from her inception in 1940, through WWII kamikaze attacks, to her being the location of the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay, on September 2, 1945. Missouri's post-WWII activities are covered, from her transporting of the Truman family from South America, to her unfortunate grounding in the Chesapeake Bay, on to her return to combat, not only off Korea in 1950, but also the Persian Gulf in 1990-91. The story of this historic ship is presented through carefully researched photos, many of which have never before been published, and are reproduced in remarkable clarity. The story culminates in Missouri's current status as a museum in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Large, clear photos, coupled with descriptive and informative captions, puts the reader on the deck of this legendary American warship. Part of the Legends of Warfare series.

The text part of this book describes history of the ship's construction and service. This is accompanied by more than 100 color illustrations showing USS Missouri's (BB-63) appearance on 2 September 1945, when Japanese officials signed formal surrender on her board. Elements that are shown in detail include superstructures, armament, fire control instruments, aircraft, boats, equipment, rig, "surrender deck" fittings etc. Blueprints in 1:350, 1:200, 1:100 and 1:50 scales (general views and details) are included on a separate sheet. The publication is a great reference for building a detailed model of USS Missouri.

An illustrated history of the wartime career of the USS Missouri from World War II to the Gulf War. On September 2, 1945, surrender ceremonies officially ending World War II were broadcast worldwide from the deck of the USS Missouri. The ceremony also marked the end of one of the most eventful years for any vessel in the history of warfare. USS Missouri at War chronicles the career of this mighty warship, the last battleship built by the United States. Veteran naval historian Kit Bonner describes “Mighty Mo’s” powerful strikes against Japan, its support of the Iwo Jima landings and bombardment of Okinawa, and its decisive role in the destruction of key Japanese industrial targets. That war was over, but the Missouri was not done yet; and Bonner follows her service in the Korean War, her modernization and reactivation for the 1991 Gulf War, and her final decommissioning in 1992, with eleven battle stars to her credit. For its authoritative and close-up look at the life and work of a world-class battleship, and for its insight into the history of twentieth-century naval warfare, this strikingly illustrated book is one that no naval enthusiast or military history buff will want to be without.

A short history and many stories from veterans (including photos).

This book chronicles the career of the mighty USS Missouri, the last battleship built by the United States, through its service in WWII, Korea, and the Persian Gulf.

"Fifty years after the end of World War II comes the first complete history of the USS Missouri, site of the Japanese surrender on September 2, 1945. This book traces the story of the Missouri - the last of the U.S. Navy's fifty-seven battleships and the most technically advanced - from her keel-laying in 1941 through the ship's successful participation in the Persian Gulf War in 1991. Author Paul Stillwell was on the Missouri's final voyage to Hawaii, shortly before her decommissioning in 1992, and interviewed "Desert Storm" veterans still on board. Subsequently, he talked to dozens of other men who served on the Missouri's crew during her long and illustrious history." "Combining those interviews - more than 100 altogether - with records in the Naval Historical Center, National Archives, Harry S. Truman Library, and other repositories, Stillwell has produced an engrossing portrait of the ship and her crew. Readers have a sense of being right on board as history was being made in World War II. They are also treated to an up-close view of the 1946 trip to the Mediterranean that planted the seed for the Sixth Fleet, President Truman's involvement with the ship, the Korean War, midshipman cruises, the warship's modernization in the 1980s after a long period in mothballs, an around-the-world cruise, and finally, her presence in the Persian Gulf." "Among the many fascinating stories to be found here is the tale of a midshipman who gained a personal audience with Winston Churchill during a 1949 cruise to England, a crew member's description of winning a million-dollar state lottery, an account of President Truman's lifting the ban on drinking so he could enjoy his bourbon while visiting the Missouri, an explanation of why the ship just missed participating in the invasion of Inchon, Korea, and a Japanese participant's reaction to General Douglas MacArthur's speech at the surrender ceremony. Some 370 photographs enhance that narrative to give the reader a complete picture of the "Mighty Mo.""--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Presents the fifty-year history of the famous battleship, the "Mighty Mo", focusing on her role in World War II.