ENCLOSURE 1

JAN 18 1950

FROM: COMCRULANT.
TO: CINCLANTFLT.
INFO: COMSERVLANT. NAVSHIPYARD AT PTSMH VA. USS MISSOURI. BUSHIPS. CNO. COMNAVBASE NORVA. ADMIN COMCRULANT.

MISSOURI AGROUND IN HARD SAND 6 FEET 9 INCHES ALL AROUND AT HIGHEST TIDE 17 JAN X SHIP TRAVELED ABOUT 3 SHIP LENGTHS AFTER BOW TOUCHED X

SOUNDINGS ASTERN OF MISSOURI ARE 32 FEET AT 655 YARDS FROM BRIDGE AND 34 FEET AT 680 YARDS FROM BRIDGE X NO POWER ON MISSOURI EXCEPT 1

DIESEL GENERATOR AND BATTERIES X REQUIRE REMOVE 12150 TONS TO FLOAT X ESTIMATED REMOVABLE WEIGHT OF FUEL AMMUNITION STORES PERSONNEL

ETC APPROX TOTAL ABOUT 11000 TONS X HIGHEST HIGH WATER WILL DECREASE 1.2 INCHES PER DAY UNTIL 26 JAN AT WHICH TIME WILL BE 9.6 INCHES BELOW

HEIGHT OF GROUNDING X TIDE WILL NEXT BE HIGHEST ON 2 FEB X COMNAVBASE SUPPLYING FEED WATER X POWER FOR UNLOADING WILL BE FURNISHED FIRST

BY PAWCATUCK X SALVAGE PLAN AS FOLLOWS X WILL CONTINUE REMOVAL FUEL OIL TO PAWCATUCK AND CHEMUNG X EXPECT COMPLETE 19 JAN X AMMO

WATER AND STORES TO BE REMOVED NEXT X WHEN STORES REMOVED WILL REMOVE ALL BUT ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL X ARMY DREDGE COMBER WILL

DREDGE AROUND AND ASTERN OF SHIP X HEAVY BEACH GEAR OF WINDLASS AND SALVAGER WILL BE LAID OUT UPON ARRIVAL X PULL OFF ATTEMPTS WILL

BE MADE X A X NIGHT HIGH TIDE 18 JAN X B X MORNING HIGH TIDE 19 JAN X C X WHEN AMMUNITION AND WATER REMOVED X D X WHEN DREDGING

COMPLETED

JAN 18 1950

FROM: COMCRULANT.
TO: CINCLANTFLT.
INFO,: ADMIN COMCRULANT. COMSERVLANT. NAVSHIPYARD AT PTSMH VA. USS MISSOURI. BUSHIPS. CNO. COMNAVBASE NORVA.

BASIC SALVAGE CONCEPT INVOLVES DREDGING ALONGSIDE AND ASTERN TO DEEP WATER X IF THIS FAILS WILL THEN SHIFT TO BEACH GEAR AND USUAL

SALVAGE METHODS X US ARMY DREDGE COMBER COMMENCED DREDGING 180800R CAPACITY ABOUT THREE THOUSAND CUBIC YARDS EVERY 2 HOURS X

ESTIMATED DREDGING TIME 2 DAYS AS FOLLOWS X COMBER WILL DREDGE ALONG PORT SIDE TODAY AND IN LATE AFTERNOON KITTIWAKE ASR 13 WILL

BEGIN TUNNELING AND LANCING UNDER MISSOURI FROM STERN FORWARD X TOMORROW WHEN TANKER CLEARS THIS PROCESS WILL BE REPEATED FOR

STARBOARD SIDE X FIRST WORTHWHILE PULLING ATTEMPT WILL BE FRIDAY FORENOON X WIND NOW UNFAVORABLE FOR HIGH TIDE X EMERGENCY HOOKUP

FROM SHIP ALONGSIDE NOW FURNISHES LIMITED POWER FOR FUEL PUMPS FIRE MAINS LIGHTS AND GALLEY X DEFUELING TO PAWCATUCK SCHEDULED TO

COMPLETE AT 190400R X FLOODING FROM SEA INTO MISSOURI IS NEGLIGIBLE X

JAN 18 1950

FROM: COMCRULANT.
TO: CINCLANTFLT. COM 5.
INFO: ADMIN COMCRULANT. COMSERVLANT. NAVSHIPYARD AT PTSMH VA.
BUSHIPS. CNO. COMNAVBASE NORVA.

182100R REPORT X CONTINUING TO EXECUTE PLANS OUTLINED X NO ATTEMPT TO PULL OFF UNTIL 201100R X DREDGE COMBER COMPLETED DREDGING ALONG-

SIDE PORT SIDE AT 1800R X WILL DREDGE ASTERN TO DEEP WATER THROUGHOUT NIGHT AND START ALONGSIDE STARBOARD SIDE DAYLIGHT TOMORROW X

AT 2100R KITTIWAKE PUT FIRST DIVER DOWN FOR LIMITED SURVEY OF DREDGING RESULTS AND TO BEGIN TUNNELING X WILL COMPLETE DEFUELING AT

190600R X BEACH GEAR ARRIVES 191200R BUT WILL NOT BEGIN TO LAY OUT UNTIL LATER X PRESENT INTENTION TO CONTINUE DREDGING AND TUNNELING

AFTER FRIDAY PULL OFF TRY X REVIEWED ALL PLANS WEIGHTS AND IMPLEMENTATION WITH RADM HOMER WALLIN WHO CONCURS X COM FIVE IS RE-

QUESTED TO ORDER RADM WALLIN TAD TO COMCRULANT X PULL OFF ATTEMPT 201100R WILL INCLUDE 7 ATF TYPE PLUS 2 ARSD WITH BEACH GEAR OUT PLUS

2 ATA PLUS 6 YTB THE LATTER PRIMARILY TO INCREASE SCOURING EFFECT ALONGSIDE X APPROXIMATELY 25 PRESS MEDIA ALL TYPES HAVE VISITED MOST

OTHER SHIPS IN VICINITY BUT THUS FAR HAVE NOT BOARDED MISSOURI

JAN 19 1950

FROM: COMCRULANT.
TO: CINCLANTFLT.
INFO: COMEASTSEAFRON. SOPA AT NORVA. ADMIN COMCRULANT. COMSERVLANT. NAVSHIPYARD AT PTSMH VA. USS MISSOURI. BUSHIPS. CNO. COMNAVBASE AT NORVA.

192100R REPORT X CONTINUED TODAY WITH DREDGING AND TUNNELING OPERATIONS SINCE THEY PROMISE FAIR TO GOOD CHANCE OF EARLIEST SUCCESS TO

REFLOAT X PLANNING COMPUTATIONS AND PREPARATIONS FOR RIGGING BEACH GEAR LIGHTENING SHIP TO MAXIMUM EXTENT AND EMPLOYMENT OF

SUBMARINE SALVAGE PONTOONS AROUND STERN ARE BEING DEVELOPED CONCURRENTLY X PARA X THE SHIP HAD SETTLED SOLIDLY ON HARD PACKED

GROUND OF MEDIUM SAND BORDERING IN SPOTS ON LIGHT GRAVEL PRIOR TO COMMENCING LIGHTENING OPERATIONS X ANTICIPATED THAT DREDGING AND

TUNNELING WILL CAUSE SHIP TO SETTLE FURTHER AND THUS INCREASE BUOYANCY X INSPECTION THUS FAR SHOWS MISSOURI UNDAMAGED AND IN

REFLOATING CAREFUL CONSIDERATION IS BEING GIVEN TO PREVENT DAMAGE X PARA X LOWER TIPS OF PROPELLERS ARE 2 FEET CLEAR X RUDDERS APPAR-

ENTLY UNDAMAGED AND SMALL AMOUNT OF SAND BEING CLEARED AWAY X SMALL IRREGULAR HUMP OF SAND BETWEEN SKEGS BEING CLEARED AND

TRENCH IN WAY OF RUDDERS AND SKEGS BEING DUG X PARA X COMBER HAS DREDGED IRREGULAR TRENCH ALONG PORT SIDE ABOUT 9 FEET AT THE TOP

AND 3 TO 6 FEET DEEP, INNER SIDE 7 TO 15 FEET FROM SIDE OF SHIP X KITTIWAKE CUT 10 FOOT SQUARE TUNNEL UNDER FRAME 148, 13 FEET IN FROM TURN

OF BILGE X THIS HAS CAVED IN AND CONTINUES TO FILL X CHANTICLEER BEGAN TUNNELING AT NOON, PORT SIDE AMIDSHIPS WHERE SAND IS PACKED

HARDEST, BUT IS NOW BEGINNING TO CAVE X COMBER DREDGED ALONG STARBOARD SIDE BUT WEATHER UNFAVORABLE FOR CLOSE IN WORK AND SHIFTED

TO EXIT CHANNEL AT 2000R X PARA X AM NEGOTIATING FOR A LOCAL DREDGE OF A TYPE TO GET FURTHER UNDER STERN AND COUNTER X PARA X ANCHORS

CHAINS AND BOATS OFF LOADED AND DEFUELING COMPLETED AS SCHEDULED X PARA X FOR ATTEMPTED PULL OFF ON FRIDAY FORENOON HAVE ADDED 1

ATF TYPE X WINDLASS AND SALVAGER WILL HAVE BEACH GEAR RIGGED FOR MAXIMUM PULL X PARA X RAINY NASTY NORTHEAST WIND BUILDING UP FAV-

ORABLE TIDE

JAN 20 1950

FROM: COMCRULANT.
TO: CINCLANTFLT.
INFO: COMNAVBASE NOR VA. COMEASTSEAFRON. ADMIN COMCRULANT. COMSERVLANT. NAVSHIPYARD PTSMH VA. BUSHIPS. COM 5. CNO.

201200 REPORT X MISSOURI FAILED TO RESPOND TO PULL-OFF EFFORT X AM OPTIMISTIC OF REFLOATING MISSOURI 2 FEBRUARY THE NEXT FAVORABLE

HIGH TIDE X IN TODAYS ATTEMPT TIME FACTOR PREVENTED FULL EXPLOITATION OF FAVORABLE FACTORS X AT TIME OF THE VERY FAVORABLE HIGH TIDE

TODAY OF THREE AND ONE HALF FEET THE SHIP WAS ABOUT 3000 TONS STILL LACKING IN BUOYANCY X PARA X WILL DIG DEEP TRENCH EACH SIDE OF SHIP

IN NEXT 3 DAYS X TUNNEL UNDER WITH CONTRACTORS DREDGE X DEEPEN EXIT CHANNEL X LIFT STERN WITH PONTOONS X RIG TEN TO TWELVE BEACH

GEAR X UNLOAD AMMUNITION AND STORES AND UNNEEDED PERSONNEL X TIDES SECOND THIRD AND FOURTH OF FEBRUARY WILL BE WITHIN ONE TENTH

FOOT OF TIDE AT TIME OF GROUNDING X SITUATIONS INDICATE REQUIRED BUOYANCY WILL BE OBTAINED BY THESE MEANS

JAN 21 1950

FROM: COMCRULANT.
TO: CINCLANTFLT.
INFO: COM 5. CNO. COMNAVBASE NORVA. COMEASTSEAFRON. SOPA NORVA. ADMIN COMCRULANT. COMSERVLANT. NAVSHIPYARD PTSMH VA.

MY 201200R REPORT COVERS PLAN UNTIL 2 FEBRUARY X ARMY DREDGE COMBER HAS STARTED DREDGING TRENCH 40 FEET WIDE TO DEPTH OF WATER 40 FEET

ALONG PORT SIDE X NEAREST SIDE OF TRENCH WILL BE ABOUT 10 FEET FROM SHIPS SIDE X AT 1500R BEGAN LIMITED UNLOADING OF STORES OF ABOUT 300

TONS X MONDAY COMBER WILL REPEAT ON STARBOARD SIDE SHIFTING TO EXIT CHANNEL WEDNESDAY WHICH WILL BE DREDGED TO DEPTH OF 35 FEET X IN

MEANTIME BEACH GEAR RIGS WILL BE PUT ABOARD MISSOURI AND LAID OUT BEFORE AMMUNITION IS UNLOADED X CAREFUL COMPUTATIONS ON

WEIGHTS, ACCURATE TIDAL DATA AND OTHER NECESSARY INFORMATION GOING FORWARD X PARA X THE ATTEMPTED PULL OFF TODAY DID NOT HINDER OR

DELAY THE LONGER RANGE PLAN X THE 2 POWER HOUSE PULLERS OF ABOUT 180 TONS EACH WHEN THEIR GEAR IS LAID OUT, THE SALVAGER ARSD3 AND

WINDLASS ARSD4 COULD NOT GET THEIR BEACH GEAR RIGGED IN THE TIME BETWEEN THEIR ARRIVAL AND THE HIGH WATER X INSPECTION BY DIVERS FOL-

LOWING PULL OFF TRY THIS MORNING SHOWS SCOURING EFFECT REDUCED LEVEL OF SAND ALONG SHIPS SIDES AS MUCH AS 18 INCHES AND TRENCHES

PREVIOUSLY DREDGED ALONG SIDE PRACTICALLY FILLED X RUDDERS AND AFTER ENDS OF SKEGS HAVE 3 FOOT CLEARANCE X CONTRACTORS DREDGE RE-

PORTS TOMORROW AND WILL START ON EXIT CHANNEL UNDER STERN NOT REACHED BY ARMY DREDGE

JAN 21 1950

FROM: COMCRULANT.
TO: CINCLANTFLT.
INFO: COM 5. CNO. COMNAVBASE NORVA. COMEASTSEAFRON. SOPA NORVA. ADMIN COMCRULANT. COMSERVLANT. NAVSHIPYARD PTSMH VA. BUSHIPS.

212300 REPORT X ARMY DREDGE COMBER CONTINUED ALONG PORT SIDE OF MISSOURI X PIPE LINE DREDGE WASHINGTON BEGAN OPERATIONS PORT QUAR-

TERS AT 1900R X MAY NEED MORE REACH UNDER SHIP THAN SHE HAS X SHE ESTIMATES ABOUT 7000 CUBIC YARDS PER DAY IF NOT TOO MUCH CHANGE OF

POSITION X MISSOURI CREW DID QUICK JOB OFFLOADING 280 TONS OF PROVISIONS AND STORES X 70 FOOT STEEL POLES WITH MORE ACCURATE TIDAL

GAUGES THAN WE NOW HAVE AND WITH ARM TO INDICATE ANY MOVEMENT OF SHIP WILL BE DRIVEN TOMORROW X PARA X FOLLOWING ACCOMPLISHED THIS

AFTERNOON X PLANNING OF OPERATIONS OF MAJOR FACTORS OF BASIC PLAN AND THE TIME SCHEDULE FOR THEIR IMPLEMENTATION X THESE RECONCILED

THE MAJOR CONFLICTS BETWEEN COMBER DREDGING X WASHINGTON DREDGING X PONTOON RIGGING X BEACH GEAR RIGGING X AMMUNITION UNLOADING X

TUNNELING X LOGISTICS FOR MISSOURI AND FINALLY FOR ARRANGEMENTS FOR PULL ON 2 FEBRUARY X CONTROL ORGANIZATION FOR THESE ACTIVITIES

ALMOST COMPLETED X AS MAY BE SEEN TIME IS SHORT AND VERY IMPORTANT

JAN 23 1950

FROM: COMCRULANT.
TO: CINCLANTFLT.
INFO: BUSHIPS. COM 5. COMNAVBASE NORVA. CNO. COMEASTSEAFRON. SOPA NORVA. ADMIN COMCRULANT. COMSERVLANT. NAVSHIPYARD PTSMH VA.

222300R REPORT X DREDGING CONTINUED IN EXIT CHANNEL BY COMBER AND CLOSE IN WORK AROUND QUARTERS AND STERN BY HYDRAULIC DREDGE X LAT-

TER FOUND GRAVEL AND BOULDERS AS LARGE AS FOOTBALLS AT ESTIMATED 45 FEET BELOW WATER LINE X KITTIWAKE AND CHANTICLEER TUNNELED IN

WAY OF SKEGS X DIVERS REPORT SAND UNDER SKEGS MOVES EASILY BUT HEADWAY DIFFICULT DUE TO CONTINUOUS CAVING X DRAFT GUAGES DRIVEN

AT BOW AND AT BEAM ENDS AMIDSHIPS WILL INDICATE ACCURATELY ANY SMALL VERTICAL MOVEMENT BUT DUE TO FLEXIBILITY CANNOT BE USED TO

INDICATE LATERAL MOVEMENT X MAJOR OPERATIONS OF BASIC PLAN ARE GETTING UNDER WAY AND ON SCHEDULE

JAN 24 1950

FROM: COMCRULANT.
TO: CINCLANTFLT.
INFO: COM 5. BUSHIPS. CNO. COMNAVBASE NORVA. SOPA NORVA. ADMIN COMCRULANT. COMEASTSEAFRON. COMSERVLANT. NAVSHIPYARD PTSMH VA.

232300R REPORT X CINCLANTFLT HAS KEPT MEDIA CLEAR OF MISSOURI TO DATE X IN REPLY TO HIS QUERY IF A PRESS CONFERENCE WOULD INTERFERE WITH

OPERATIONS MY REPLY WAS THAT IT WOULD NOT AND SUCH WAS HELD AT CINCLANTFLT HEADQUARTERS FORENOON FOLLOWED BY 2 HOUR VISIT ABOARD

MISSOURI X THE BASIC PLAN AND MAJOR METHODS OF IMPLEMENTATION WERE EXPLAINED X THE CHARTS, DIAGRAMS, SAMPLES OF BOTTOM ETC X THE BASIC

PLAN IS AS FOLLOWS "WILL REFLOAT THE MISSOURI TO DEEP WATER FIRST BY INCREASING HER BUOYANCY AND DECREASING THE DISPLACEMENT X THERE

ARE 3 METHODS OF DOING THIS X A BY REMOVAL OF MAXIMUM FLUIDS, AMMUNITION, STORES, PERSONNEL ETC X B TO LIFT STERN BY PONTOONS X C BY

LOOSENING THE BOTTOM AND SETTLING HER FURTHER X SECONDLY BY THE PULLING EFFORT AND THERE ARE FOUR METHODS OF DOING THIS X A BY 9 SETS

OF BEACH GEAR X B BY 2 SETS SPECIALLY POWERFUL ASRD BEACH GEAR X C WITH 8 ATF X D BY USING TUGS WITH SURGING EFFORT AND TWISTING ARM" X

PARA X AMMUNITION FORWARD IS SCHEDULED TO BE OFFLOADED 28 JANUARY X OUR COMPUTATIONS SHOW THAT BOW WILL BE AFLOAT ABOUT 3 FEET AT

HIGH TIDE WHEN ALL AMMUNITION OFFLOADED X BUT BEFORE THE AMMUNITION IS OFFLOADED 2000 TONS FUEL WILL BE LOADED AFT FOR 24 HOURS TO

GAIN EXTRA WEIGHT TO SQUASH OUT SAND WHICH WE HAVE LOOSENED AND SETTLE THE MISSOURI FURTHER

JAN 25 1950

FROM: COMCRULANT.
TO: CINCLANTFLT.
INFO: BUSHIPS. COM 5. CNO. COMNAVBASE NORVA. COMEASTSEAFRON. SOPA NORVA. ADMIN COMCRULANT. COMSERVLANT. NAVSHIPYARD PTSMH VA.

242400R REPORT X WEIGHT REMOVALS IN TONS FOR THE COMPLETE OPERATION TO 2 FEBRUARY WILL BE AS FOLLOWS X FUEL OIL 7973 X DIESEL OIL 149 X POTA-

BLE WATER 724 FEED WATER 373 X AMMUNITION 2205 X BOATS 34 X BOAT SKIDS 10 X DRY PROVISIONS 199 X FRESH PROVISIONS 90 X PERSONNEL 102 X TOTAL

11957 X THE ANCHORS AND ANCHOR CHAINS WHICH ARE NOW OFFLOADED WILL BE RELOADED PRIOR TO 2 FEBRUARY TO HELP CORRECT DRAG OF STERN X PARA

X WEDNESDAY 2000 TONS OF FUEL OIL WILL BE RELOADED TO GET ADDED WEIGHT FOR SQUASHING EFFECT X THE DREDGING IS SLIGHTLY BEHIND SCHED-

ULE AND THE TUNNELING EXCAVATION HAS BEEN OF INSUFFICIENT VOLUME TO OBTAIN THE AMOUNT OF SETTLING EFFECT DESIRED X BY THURSDAY RE-

SULTS OF THIS EFFORT WILL BE KNOWN X PARA X SINCE SUNDAY NIGHT THE BOW HAS BEEN LIFTED BY EACH HIGH TIDE 1 TO 2 INCHES AND THIS LIFT EX-

TENDS AFT TO ONE QUARTER INCH AT FRAME 100 X THIS IS NOT SIGNIFICANT EXCEPT TO SHOW BOW WILL FOLLOW COMPUTATIONS AND BECOME BUOYANT

AS STATED IN COMCRULANT 232300R X PARA X COMCRULANT WILL ANSWER ALL THE MANY LETTERS AND TELEGRAMS RECEIVED FROM CIVILIANS ACROSS

THE NATION SUGGESTING MEANS OF REFLOATING MISSOURI X IN A GREAT MANY OF THESE LETTERS THE IDEAS ARE GOOD BUT TOO GENERAL AND IM-

PRACTICABLE OF APPLICATION WITH THE MEANS AVAILABLE HERE X WHERE PERTINENT THE REPLY WILL INDICATE THAT THE IDEA SUGGESTED WAS IN-

CLUDED IN THE PLAN BUT IN A DIFFERENT FORM OF APPLICATION X AS A MATTER OF GOOD PUBLIC RELATIONS COMCRULANT WILL ANSWER ANY SUCH LET-

TERS RECEIVED BY THE INFORMATION ADDRESSEES AND FORWARDED TO HIM X A GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS SUGGESTS I MOUNT A HOST OF WINDBLOWERS

ON BARGES AT THE ENTRANCE TO CHESAPEAKE BAY AND BLOW THE TIDE UP ON 2 FEB THUS REFLOATING THE MO.

JAN 26 1950

FROM: COMCRULANT.
TO: CINCLANTFLT.
INFO: CNO. COMNAVBASE NORVA. COMEASTSEAFRON. SOPA NORVA. COMSERVLANT. ADMIN COMCRULANT. NAVSHIPYARD PTSMH VA. BUSHIPS. COM 5.

252300 REPORT X THE CONCENTRATION OF SALVAGE EQUIPMENT IS PRACTICALLY COMPLETED AND TODAY WE ENTERED INTO FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF

ALL MAJOR METHODS OF THE SALVAGE PLANS X SUCCESS OF OUR EFFORTS ON 2 FEB DEPENDS UPON SEAMANSHIP, TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY OF OUR PERSON-

NEL AND UNDERSTANDING SUPERVISION X WE HAVE A RESERVE TO ABSORB 1 OR 2 UNEXPECTED SETBACKS BUT NO MORE X PARA X THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 456 OIL BOTTOMS VOIDS AND OTHER COMPARTMENTS NEXT TO SEA WATER X OF THESE AS PREVIOUSLY REPORTED ONLY 3 B-29-F, B-37-F, B-43-F

WERE LEAKING X LAST NIGHT A DIVER UNCOVERED A SLIT OPENING 10 FEET LONG AND 2 TO 3 FEET WIDE IN WAY OF THESE TANKS X THE WATER IN THESE

TANKS WILL BE REDUCED BY 12 PSI AIR PRESSURE WITH COVERS FITTED TO ACCESS AND ALL SHORED X PARA X PAWCATUCK PUT 2000 TONS OIL INTO MIS-

SOURI X COMBER WORKING CLOSE INTO STERN TO DEEPEN AND CONNECT UP NORTHERN END OF CHANNEL X HYDRAULIC DREDGE WASHINGTON CHUGS

AWAY THEN STOPS TO UNSWALLOW A SMALL ROCK PICKED UP FROM 35 FOOT OR GREATER LEVEL THEN CHUGS AGAIN X ON THIS JOB SHE DIGS ABOUT 10 FEET

PER HOUR RIGHT ALONGSIDE X FIRST BEACH GEAR DOWN THIS AFTERNOON AND EFFORT STARTS TO HOG WIRE LINE UNDER HULL FROM STERN TO FRAME

170 FOR FIRST 2 PAIR PONTOONS AND WILL ENDEAVOR TO SWEEP TO FRAME 160 FOR THIRD PAIR.

JAN 26 1950

FROM: COMCRULANT.
TO: CINCLANTFLT.
INFO: COM 5. COMNAVBASE NORVA. COM2NDTASKFLT. COMAIRLANT. COMEASTSEAFRON. SOPA NOR VA. ADMIN COMCRULANT. COMSERVLANT. BUSHIPS. NAVSHIPYARD PTSMH VA.

262000 REPORT X GETTING THE WIRE UNDER THE SKEGS FROM AFT FORWARD TO FRAME 160 FOR THE FORWARD SET OF PONTOONS HAS STOPPED UNTIL THE

GROUND UNDER THE SKEGS CAN BE TUNNELED AWAY X GROUND IS VERY HARD SAND AND ROCKS AND MAKES FOR SLOW WORK X PARA X THIS TYPE OF GROUND

INDICATES THAT WE WILL GET SMALL SETTLING EFFECT THOUGH THE DRAFT GAGES SHOW A SLIGHT INDICATION OF SETTLING X DRAFT GAGES ALSO SHOW

THAT THE BOW COMES CLEAR ON HIGH TIDE AS MUCH AS TWO AND ONE HALF INCHES X IT HAS BEEN COMPUTED THAT UNLOADING AMMUNITION FORWARD

BEGINNING TOMORROW WILL CAUSE THE BOW TO COME UP ON THE ORDER OF 5 FEET X EVEN SO THE STERN WILL STILL BE HARD AGROUND WHEN AMMUNITION

AFT IS OFFLOADED MONDAY THOUGH THIS WILL BE PARTIALLY OVERCOME BY 4 AND POSSIBLE 6 PONTOONS PARA X THE 3 LEAKY TANKS WILL BE COMPLETED

FOR AIR BLOWING TOMORROW X PARA X LAYING OF 4 SETS OF BEACH GEAR SCHEDULED FOR TODAY WAS DEFERRED 1 DAY DUE TO CONFLICT OF DREDGING

CLOSE AROUND STERN WHICH MUST BE ACCOMPLISHED FIRST X PARA X PRELIMINARY CONFERENCE OF TUG CAPTAINS HELD FOR 2 FEBRUARY PULL X PARA

X NORFOLK SHIPYARD MAKING TESTS ON SAND TO ESTIMATE COEFFICIENT OF FRICTION TO BE EXPECTED X PARA X HAVE HAD EXCELLENT WORKING CONDI-

TIONS SINCE 20 JANUARY X FRONT EXPECTED TOMORROW FORENOON WITH WIND SHIFT TO NORTHEAST (TOO SOON) X PARA X THE EXIT CHANNEL IS BEING

DREDGED TO 35 FEET AND WILL BE READY X 1800 BY 180 FEET

JAN 28 1950

FROM: COMCRULANT.
TO: CINCLANTFLT.
INFO: COM 5. CNO. COMNAVBASE NOR VA. COM2NDTASKFLT. COMAIRLANT. BUSHIPS. COMEASTSEAFRON. SOPA NORVA. ADMIN COMCRULANT. COMSERVLANT. BUORD. NAVSHIPYARD PTSMH VA.

272100 REPORT X FRIDAY DAYLIGHT BROKE WITH A NORTHEAST FRONT AND WINDS TO 33 KNOTS AND SEA PICKED UP FAST X OPERATIONS SLOWED AND

THEN CEASED WITH LOW FREE BOARD DREDGE WASHINGTON PONTOON BARGES AND THE LIKE BEING RETIRED INSIDE OLD POINT X RESUMING OPERA-

TIONS GRADUALLY AT DARK TODAY WITH ONE SIDE ONLY UNLOADING AMMUNITION X THIS SETBACK WILL NOT CHANGE OUR PULL OFF DATE 2 FEBRUARY

BUT SQUEEZES OUT OUR RESERVE TIME X PARA X WIRE UNDER HULL FOR 3RD SET OF PONTOONS MADE ZERO PROGRESS TOWARD FRAME 160 DURING DAY X

PARA CONFERRED WITH UDT COMMANDER CONCERNING CAPABILITIES OF SHAPED CHARGES BUT CONCLUDED NOT SUFFICIENT ADVANTAGE FORTHCOM-

ING TO BRING IN UDT METHODS AT THIS TIME X PARA X SUNDAY NOON AT LOW WATER PLAN TO GIVE SHIP AND SAND BASE SLIGHT JOLT TO INDUCE SOME SET-

TLING AND BREAK CONTACT, FIRST STARBOARD THEN PORT USING DATA OBTAINED FROM REGULAR EXPLOSIVES CHARGES IN EXPERIMENTAL WORK

AGAINST CAISSONS NSY NORVA X THE EQUIVALENT OF 75 LBS WILL BE EXPLODED IN HOLES 10 FEET DEEP AND 50 FEET FROM THE SIDES OF THE SHIP

X SPECIFICALLY THE CHARGE IS 50 LBS HBX1 IN A FIVE GALLON PAINT DRUM BOOSTED WITH 1 LB OF PENTOLITE AND DETONATOR NUMBER 6 ELECTRICAL

BLASTING CAP X EXPECT THE FEATHER PLUME OF WATER TO REACH UP ABOUT 100 FEET ABOVE SEA SURFACE

JAN 29 1950

FROM: COMCRULANT.
TO: CINCLANTFLT.
INFO: COMEASTSEAFRON. SOPA NORVA. ADMIN COMCRULANT. COMSERVLANT. BUORD. COM2NDTASKFLT. NAVSHIPYD PTSMH VA. BUSHIPS. COM 5. COMAIRLANT. COMNAVBASE NORVA. CNO.

282300 REPORT X FORWARD AMMUNITION BEING DISCHARGED X FIRST SET PONTOONS BEING RIGGED, TESTED, AND IN PROCESS OF BEING PLACED IN POSITION

X CHAINS FOR SECURING SECOND SET OF PONTOONS ARE AROUND HULL AT FRAME 180 X THE TUNNELING AND LANCING UNDER THE SKEGS HAS LACKED

CAPACITY THUS FAR TO OBTAIN NEEDED RESULTS X 9 SETS OF BEACH GEAR ARE TO BE RIGGED X 7 OF THESE NOW IN PLACE X SALVAGER HAS HER 3

ANCHORS DOWN X DREDGE WASHINGTON UNABLE TO OPERATE IN SWELLS AND SPENT DAY IN LEE OF OLD POINT X WE HAVE SHALLOW AREA OF 27 FEET

ASTERN WHICH MUST BE DREDGED BY WASHINGTON AND WHICH WILL BE IMPEDED SOMEWHAT DUE TO INTERFERENCE WITH CABLES OF BEACH GEAR X

PARA X THE WEIGHT OF CREW IS 100 TONS PLUS BUT THEY WILL STICK TO THE SHIP FOR MORALE PURPOSES AT LEAST THROUGH FIRST TRY X VERTICAL SHOR-

ING COMPLETED ON THE 3 LEAKY DOUBLE BOTTOMS AND THEY ARE MODERATELY PRESSURIZED. X COMBER DREDGING IN LOWER EXIT CHANNEL X PARA X

PULL OFF PLAN AND RECOVERY OF GEAR PLAN BEING FORMULATED X PARA X IN VIEW OF PRESENT AND PROSPECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF BASIC PLAN EX-

PECT TO BE SET UP FOR COORDINATION REHEARSAL TEST RUN TUESDAY 31 JANUARY 0700R HIGH TIDE X THIS TO BE CONFIRMED TOMORROWS REPORT

JAN 29 1950

FROM: COMCRULANT.
TO: CINCLANTFLT.
INFO: COMEASTSEAFRON. SOPA NORVA. ADMIN COMCRULANT. COMSERVLANT. NAVSHIPYARD PTSMH VA. BUSHIPS. COM 5. BUORD. CNO. COMNAVBASE NORVA. COM2NDTASKFLT.

THIS IS A SPECIAL REPORT ON THE SITUATION OF THE MISSOURI X IN VIEW OF THE WIDESPREAD PUBLICITY AND TO STOP RUMORS OF MISSOURI NEVER GET-

TING OFF OR BECOMING A MONUMENT TO THIS OR THAT IT SEEMED NECESSARY TO COMMIT MYSELF TO A DATE X THE TIDAL CALENDAR AND THE MAGNITUDE

OF THE TASK SHOWED THIS TO BE 2 FEB AND THAT DATE HAS BEEN CONSTANTLY REFERRED TO AS THE PULL-OFF ATTEMPT DATE X THE FIRST QUICK

COMPUTATIONS AND ESTIMATES INDICATED THAT WE COULD BE READY AT HIGH TIDE 2 FEBRUARY X PARA X THEN AS OUR ORGANIZATION AND EFFEC-

TIVENESS IMPROVED I CHANGED THE TARGET DATE INSIDE OUR CIRCLE TO HIGH TIDE 31 JAN AND DESIGNATED THIS ATTEMPT AS A COORDINATION RE-

HEARSAL X THE DIFFICULTY IN MAKING FLAT STATEMENTS CONCERNING THE EFFORT AT HIGH TIDE 31 JAN IS THAT ALL TIME HAS BEEN SQUEEZED OUT BY

CERTAIN DELAYS X THERE IS NO RESERVE TO MEET THE 31 JAN TIDE AND IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO ACCURATELY PREDICT THAT ALL OUR PONTOONS WILL BE IN

PLACE OR OUR PULL-OFF SET-UP PROPERLY POSITIONED AT EARLY MORNING 31 JAN X THIS IS THE REASON FOR NAMING IT A COORDINATED REHEARSAL

RATHER THAN AN ATTEMPTED PULL-OFF X OF COURSE THE OTHER MAJOR DETERMINING FACTOR IS THE HEIGHT OF THE TIDE 31 JAN X THE NORTHEAST

WIND HAS SHIFTED TO A SOUTHWEST WIND WHICH IS UNFAVORABLE FOR RAISING THE TIDE AND WE NEED ABOUT 6 INCHES OVER THE PREDICTED HIGH TIDE

31 JAN TO BE SUCCESSFUL X WITH ALL FACTORS UNDER SURVEILLANCE IT IS ESTIMATED AT THIS TIME 291600R THAT WE WILL PROBABLY BE SUCCESSFUL

AT HIGH TIDE 310700R X MY REPORT AT DARK ON MONDAY NIGHT 30 JAN X PARA X THE ABOVE STATED SITUATION CAN BE SUMMARIZED AS FOLLOWS AND IT IS

SUGGESTED THAT THIS BE RELEASED AT THIS TIME BUT REFERRING TO THE HIGH TIDE 2 FEBRUARY: FIRSTLY X IF THE ACTUAL HIGH TIDE 2 FEBRUARY

REACHES THE PREDICTED HIGH TIDE FOR THAT MORNING THEN THE MISSOURI WILL BE PULLED OFF X SECONDLY X IF THE ACTUAL HIGH TIDE IS 7 INCHES

ABOVE THE PREDICTED HIGH TIDE FOR 2 FEB THEN THE MISSOURI WILL PROBABLY FLOAT OFF X THIRDLY X IF THE ACTUAL HIGH TIDE IS 3 INCHES BELOW

THE PREDICTED HIGH TIDE ON 2 FEB THERE WILL BE A STRUGGLE X BEGINNING 2 FEB THERE ARE 3 DAYS OF PREDICTED HIGH TIDES WHICH ARE ONLY 1 AND

HAVE TAKEN PLACE AND THE COMPUTATIONS SHOW THAT IT SHOULD NEVER BE NECESSARY TO REACH THE POINT OF TAKING OUT THE MISSOURIS GUNS OR

OTHER FIXED HEAVY WEIGHTS X RADM WALLIN HAS STARTED THE SHIPYARD TO READY A PONTOON BARGE WHICH CAN BE PLACED UNDER THE STERN AND

HAS A LIFTING CAPACITY OF ABOUT 800 TO 1000 TONS X FROM ABOUT THE THIRD DAY AFTER GROUNDING IT SEEMED POSSIBLE BY DREDGING, LIGHTENING THE

SHIP THEN TUNNELING INTO THE CONCRETE LIKE SAND UNDER THE SKEGS AND HEAVY BEARING SURFACES TO BREAK THE SAND DOWN, THEN RELOAD-

ING WITH FUEL AND REPEATING THE CYCLE TO SETTLE THE SHIP POSSIBLY TO BUOYANCY AT A HIGH TIDE PARA THE TUNNELING PROCESS BEING USED WAS

DESIGNED FOR SUBMARINE SALVAGE AND IS VERY SLOW AND MINUTE COMPARED TO THE MASS INVOLVED IN THIS CASE X THE NEED TO COMMIT MYSELF

TO A DATE FOR REFLOATING PRECLUDED FOLLOWING THIS PLAN SINCE THE TIME OF POSSIBLE SUCCESS COULD NOT BE ESTIMATED AND DID NOT MEET THE

NEED TO GET HER FREE AT THE EARLIEST WITH PROPER SAFETY PRECAUTIONS AND FOR THE GOOD OF THE NAVY AS A WHOLE X PARA X I CONSIDER IT PROPER

AT THIS TIME TO STATE THAT IN THIS OPERATION ONE IS IMPRESSED BY THE FINE ORGANIZATION, EFFICIENCY AND AND RESERVE POWER OF THE NAVY

AND IN ADDITION BY THE SPLENDID UNDERSTANDING THAT EXISTS BETWEEN THE VARIOUS COMMANDERS AND SHORE BASES IN THE ORGANIZATION OF THE

ATLANTIC FLEET.

JAN 30 1950

FROM: COMCRULANT.
TO: CINCLANTFLT.
INFO: COMEASTSEAFRON. SOPA NORVA. ADMIN COMCRULANT. COMSERVLANT. BUORD. COMAIRLANT. NAVSHIPYARD PTSMH VA. BUSHIPS. COM 5. CNO. COMNAVBASE NORVA.

292100 REPORT X CHURCH SERVICES AS USUAL IN MISSOURI X AT 1345R SECOND OF PLANNED TWO BLASTS SET OFF AND SHIP SETTLED ONE HALF INCH AT ONCE

X SHOCK SIMILAR TO DEPTH CHARGE WITH SURFACE TURBULENCE BUT NO PLUME X SCHOOL OF SEVERAL THOUSAND FISH STRAYED TOWARD PORT

CHARGE AND IT WAS LETHAL TO THEM X PARA X THE DIVERS ARE SLOWED BY STRONG CURRENTS AND TOGETHER WITH THE HARD PACKED SAND UNDER THE

SKEGS WE WILL BE HARD PRESSED TO HAVE A TOTAL OF 4 PONTOONS IN PLACE BY 31 JANUARY X 2 ARE NOW POSITIONED X THE PONTOON AND DIVERS ACTIVI-

TIES WERE STRENGTHENED YESTERDAY TO INSURE BEST SUPERVISION AND ACCOMPLISHMENT X PARA X THE DREDGE WASHINGTON RETURNED TO HER

TASK AT DAYLIGHT TODAY AND STARTED DREDGING SHALLOW SPOTS IN EXIT CHANNEL AFTER BEACH GEAR CABLES HAD BEEN TOWED CLEAR X PARA X ALL

BEACH GEAR IS IN PLACE BUT CANNOT BE TESTED UNTIL SIDES OF SHIP GET CLEARED X PARA X AT 1400R BEGAN DISCHARGING REMAINING ONE THIRD AM-

MUNITION AND 2000 TONS FUEL OIL, WATER DOWN TO 1 DAYS SUPPLY ETC X THESE SHOULD BE COMPLETED FORENOON TOMORROW X AT 300830R WILL

FLOOD PEAK TANKS TO 400 TONS TO REDUCE PART OF DRAG X DETAILED PULL OFF AND CONTROL PLAN WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TONIGHT X BY DISPATCH ALL

COS HAVE BEEN DIRECTED TO TAKE ACTION TO PREVENT INJURIES TO CREWS X PARA X OUR TIDAL DATA INDICATES 31 JAN HIGH TIDE WILL BE ABOUT 3

INCHES ABOVE PREDICTED, SO WE ARE SHORT ABOUT 5 INCHES FOR 31 JAN HIGH TIDE AFTER COMPLETED LIGHTENING OF SHIP AND HAVE TO MAKE IT UP IN

PULL X PARA X WEATHER CENTRAL SAYS SOUTHWEST WINDS UNTIL TUESDAY THEN NORTHEAST.

JAN 30 1950

FROM: COMCRULANT.
TO: CINCLANTFLT.
INFO: COMEASTSEAFRON. SOPA NORVA. ADMIN COMCRULANT. COMSERVLANT. BUORD. NAVSHIPYARD PTSMH VA. BUSHIPS. CNO. COM 5. COMNAVBASE NORVA. COMAIRLANT. COM2NDTASKFLT.

301400R REPORT X WEATHER CENTRAL STATES WIND WILL SHIFT TO NORTH THEN NORTHEAST TONIGHT X MOST OF IMPORTANT ITEMS ARE SOMEWHAT BE-

HIND SCHEDULE WHICH CAUSES INTERFERENCE WITH OTHER NECESSARY COMPLETIONS X 2 SETS PONTOONS NOW IN POSITION BUT CHAINS FOR THIRD NOT

YET RUN UNDER SHIP X DEFUELING WILL NOT BE COMPLETE UNTIL DARK TONIGHT X AMMUNITION DISCHARGE COMPLETED AT NOON X ANCHORS AND CHAIN

NOW RETURNED AND HOUSED X 400 TONS WATER INJECTED INTO PEAK TANKS TO REDUCE DRAG X THE 3 LEAKY TANKS HAVE BEEN CLEARED WITH 13 PSI AIR

X DREDGE WASHINGTON CLEARED FROM ASTERN TO PERMIT SALVAGER AND WINDLASS TO RUN THEIR CABLES X 2 PLANNED BLASTS OFF BEAMS YESTER-

DAY SETTLED HER AT LEAST 150 TONS WORTH X PARA X WILL HOLD CONTROL AND PULLING OFF DRILLS THIS AFTERNOON BEFORE DARK AND AGAIN AFTER

DARK FOR COMMUNICATIONS, COORDINATION AND SIMULATED CASUALTIES X PARA X WILL MAKE NEXT REPORT ON READINESS FOR TUESDAY EARLY TIDE

ABOUT 301900R

JAN 30 1950

FROM: COMCRULANT.
TO: CINCLANTFLT.
INFO: COMEASTSEAFRON. SOPA NORVA. ADMIN COMCRULANT. COMSERVLANT. BUORD. NAVSHIPYARD PTSMH VA. BUSHIPS. CNO. COM 5. COMNAVBASE NORVA. COMAIRLANT. COM2NDTASKFLT.

302130 REPORT X ALL FACTORS CONSIDERED IT IS ALMOST CERTAIN MISSOURI WILL BE REFLOATED TUESDAY MORNING HIGH TIDE 310645R

JAN 31 1950

FROM: COMCRULANT.
TO: CINCLANTFLT.
INFO: CNO. COMEASTSEAFRON. BUSHIPS. BUORD. COMAIRLANT. COMSERVLANT. COM2NDTASKFLT. ADMIN COMCRULANT. NAVSHIPYARD PTSMH VA. COM 5. COMNAVBASE NORVA. SOPA NORVA.

MISSOURI FAILED TO COME OFF X ACTUAL TIDE ONLY CAME TO PREDICTED X WE LACKED ONE SPECIAL BEACH GEAR PULL X ONE AFT TOW LINE CARRIED AWAY

AND TWO PONTOONS NOT IN PLACE BT

JAN 31 1950

FROM: COMCRULANT.
TO: CINCLANTFLT.
INFO: COMAIRLANT. COMEASTSEAFRON. SOPA NORVA. ADMIN COMCRULANT. BUORD. COMSERVLANT. NAVSHIPYARD PTSMH VA. BUSHIPS. COM 5. CNO. COMNAVBASE NORVA. COM2NDTASKFLT.

310945R REPORT X PLAN FOR WEDNESDAY PULL AT HIGH TIDE X LIGHTEN BOW BY ABOUT 700 TONS X POSITION 2 MORE PONTOONS UNDER STERN AND 2 UN-

DER BOW TOTAL 8-X REPLACE 1 TUG HAWSER WHICH CARRIED AWAY X IMPROVE COORDINATION X PARA X LIGHTENING BOW IS ON ADM WALLINS THEO-

RY THAT SHIP HUNG ON A ROCK WHICH HAS INDENTED BUT NOT PIERCED BOTTOM PLATING X AM COMPLETING VISUAL INSPECTION OF LOWER DOUBLE BOT-

TOMS BUT AT PRESENT NO WAY OF KNOWING WHETHER SUCH ROCK IS FORWARD OR AFT X PARA X PLAN FOR THURSDAY WILL INCLUDE BARGE LIFT

FROM SHIPYARD PROVIDED IT CAN BE READIED X WILL BE DIFFICULT TO POSITION UNDER STERN DUE TO BEACH GEAR, PONTOONS AND TOWING HAWSERS X

INFORMATION ON THIS LATER X PARA X WEATHER CENTRAL FORECASTS SOUTHWEST WIND FOR WEDNESDAY WHICH IS UNFAVORABLE FOR HIGHER TIDE

X TODAYS TIDE WAS ONLY 1 INCH ABOVE PREDICTED AS NORTHWEST WIND DIED AND HEAVY FOG SET IN WHICH PREVENTED SEEING TOWING SHIPS X

PARA X COMPUTATIONS RECHECKED SHOW SHE SHOULD HAVE COME OFF AND CAN ONLY ACCOUNT FOR HER NOT COMING OFF BY SOME FORCE NOT YET DIS-

CLOSED X PARA X ACTIVITY ALREADY UNDERWAY TO IMPLEMENT WEDNESDAY PLAN X MAIN EFFORT THROUGH HIGH TIDE THURSDAY 2 FEBRUARY

WILL BE DIRECTED TOWARD OBTAINING INCREASED LIFT ESPECIALLY FOR STERN X THIS WILL BE ATTEMPTED BY POSITIONING UNDER THE STERN PON-

TOON BARGE UEB1 WHICH IS COMPARTMENTED FOR CONTROLLED BALLASTING X IT IS 150 FEET BY 50 FEET BUT DUE TO STRUCTURAL ARRANGEMENT BARGE

CAN ONLY GET UNDER STERN 18 FEET AND IT HAS AN INSTRUMENT HOUSE ON OTHER END WHICH WILL INTERFERE WITH PULLING TUGS HAWSERS X AWKWARD

AS IT IS IF WE SUCCEED IN HOLDING THE BARGE IN PLACE IT MEANS ABOUT 500 TONS LIFT IN THE PLACE MOST NEEDED X PARA X FOR WEDNESDAY, AS STATED

PREVIOUSLY WILL HAVE 6 PONTOONS AFT AND 2 FORWARD OF 80 TONS EACH X 2 ADDITIONAL 60 TON PONTOONS WILL BE ADDED FOR THURSDAY X PARA X IF

FOG LIFTS THIS AFTERNOON 3 DESTROYERS WILL MAKE PRACTICE RUNS AS CLOSE AS PRACTICAL ABOUT 5 TO 6 HUNDRED YARDS FROM SHIP AND TO BE

INCLUDED IN WEDNESDAY PULL X PARA X CURRENT ENTANGLED 1 DIVERS HOSE AROUND PROPELLER AND TOOK SOME TIME TO LOCATE DIFFICULTY AND

THERE WAS NO INTERFERENCE OF ANY KIND IN THE OPERATION AND WHAT THEY SAY OR WRITE HAS NO EFFECT ON OUR PLANS AND IMPLEMENTATION X

THEY DID GET A GOOD GLIMPSE OF THE PROBLEM AND DIFFICULTIES X PARA X TODAYS PULL WAS PERHAPS THE GREATEST EVER MADE ON ANY GROUNDED

SHIP X IT WILL BE MORE TOMORROW

FEB 1 1950

FROM: COMCRULANT.
TO: CINCLANTFLT.
INFO: ADMIN COMCRULANT. CNO. COMEASTSEAFRON. BUORD. COMAIRLANT. COMSERVLANT. COM2NDTASKFLT. COMNAVBASE NORVA. SOPA NORVA. COM 5. NAVSHIPYARD PTSMH VA.

MISSOURI REPORTS FOR DUTY X 7 FATHOMS OF WATER UNDER HER KEEL X SIGNED SMITH

FEB 1 1950

FROM: COMCRULANT.
TO: CINCLANTFLT.
INFO: COMAIRLANT. COMEASTSEAFRON. SOPA NORVA. ADMIN COMCRULANT. BUORD. COMSERVLANT. NAVSHIPYARD PTSMH VA. BUSHIPS. COM 5. CNO. COMNAVBASE NORVA. COM2NDTASKFLT.

PART ONE OF THREE PARTS X COMPUTATIONS WERE CORRECT AND PROBABLE REASON SHE DID NOT COME OFF TUESDAY WAS NEED FOR COORDINATION

WHICH WAS ATTAINED BY THE REHEARSAL X THIS MORNING TWO HOURS BEFORE HIGH TIDE BEGAN A TWISTING EFFORT WITH BEACH GEAR TAUT ON ONE

SIDE AFT AND 3 TUG PULL ON OPPOSITE SIDE FORWARD X HEADING MOVED READILY THROUGH 12 DEGREES X THEN DID SAME ON OPPOSITE SIDE X THEN

TO HER ORIGINAL HEADING OF 055 X THEN PULLED HER GENTLY WITH ONLY 3 OF 6 TUGS ASTERN AT ONE THIRD SPEED

PART TWO OF THREE X THEN CAST BEACH GEAR CLEAR AND KEPT GOING WITHOUT HER TOUCHING AGAIN THOUGH SHE TRIED TO GET OUT OF DREDGED CHAN-

NEL X FOR TRY THIS MORNING HAD UNBALLASTED FORWARD BY ABOUT 800 TONS AND THIS TOO HAD A FAVORABLE EFFECT THOUGH IT MEANT WE NEEDED

THIRTY TWO FEET NINE INCHES DRAFT AFT X SHE TOOK ON A DRAG OF FIVE FEET AS SOON AS AFLOAT AND WE BEGAN FLOODING PEAK TANKS AT ONCE TO

GET BETTER TRIM X PARA X THE BASIC PLAN WAS SOUND AND HELD TO AS NEW FACTORS CAME IN TO INDICATE A CHANGE X FLEXIBILITY TO MEET THE

DAILY REQUIREMENTS WERE INTRODUCED AS SHOWN BY OUR ACTIONS X WE HAD PLENTY OF RESERVE X IF PONTOON LIFT HAD NOT WORKED OUT FOR

THURSDAY I WOULD HAVE PUT A TANKER ALONG EACH SIDE ON FRIDAY AND GIVEN A HEAVY SURGE.

PART THREE OF THREE X THE MAIN FACTOR IN REFLOATING THE MISSOURI WAS THE EFFICIENT ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY AND THE SPLENDID

MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING INSIDE THE ATLANTIC FLEET X I RECEIVED NO ORDERS OR SUGGESTIONS FROM ANY SENIOR OFFICER AND ALL THE SUP-

PORT AND ASSISTANCE NEEDED X MISSOURI NOW OFF NORFOLK PROCEEDING SLOWLY TO SHIPYARD TO BE DOCKED AT ONCE X WRITING THIS ON THE BRIDGE

I WILL REPORT ON SITUATION AS SOON AS FIRST INSPECTION IN DOCK MADE X SHE IS APPARENTLY UNDAMAGED EXCEPT FOR THREE LEAKING TANKS RE-

PORTED PREVIOUSLY X NO INJURIES TO PERSONNEL AT ANYTIME THROUGHOUT OPERATIONS X THE TRAINING RECEIVED BY ALL SHIPS AND NAVY PERSON-

NEL IN THIS OPERATIONS WAS IMPORTANT X MISSOURI PASSED FRANKLIN D ROOSEVELT AT 0900 JUST AS CHANGE IN COMMAND US ATLANTIC FLEET TOOK

PLACE X SMITH

FEB 2 1950

FROM: COMCRULANT.
TO: CINCLANTFLT.
INFO: COMEASTSEAFRON. SOPA NORVA. COMSERVLANT. COMAIRLANT. BUSHIPS. NAVSHIPYARD PTSMH VA. COM 5. COMNAVBASE NORVA. COM2NDTASKFLT.

THIS IS LAST RADIO REPORT FROM COMCRULANT ON MISSOURI OPERATION X PRELIMINARY INFORMATION FROM NORFOLK NAVAL SHIPYARD REVEALS

THREE PIERCED TANKS PREVIOUSLY REPORTED X INITIAL INSPECTION AFTER LANDING ON BLOCKS AT 020630R REVEALS NO PROPELLER DAMAGE NOR ANY

OTHER TIME CONSUMING DAMAGE X PRELIMINARY ESTIMATE OF NO LONGER THAN 10 DAYS FOR REPAIRS CONCURRED IN BY COMMANDER SHIPYARD X HAV-

ING WORKED WITH REAR ADMIRAL WALLIN COMCRULANT SAYS MISSOURI WILL BE OUT OF DOCK IN 5 DAYS

FEB 9 1950

FROM: COMCRULANT.
TO: CINCLANTFLT.
INFO: CNO. COMNAVBASE NORVA. NAVSHIPYARDS BOSTON & PTSMH VA. COMSERVLANT. COMSUBLANT. BUSHIPS. COMEASTSEAFRON. COMSUBRON 6. COMOPDEVFOR. USS CHANTICLEER. USS KITTIWAKE. USS AMC (U) 11.

RECOVERY PLAN IN CONNECTION SALVAGE MISSOURI COMPLETED EXCEPT RECOVERY ONE PONTOON WHICH BROKE LOOSE AND PRESUMABLY SANK WHEN

BEACH GEAR WAS CUT AWAY X PONTOON WAS FLOODED DOWN TO ABOUT EIGHTEEN INCHES FREEBOARD X AIR LINES AND MOORING BUOY LINES PARTED

BY BEACH GEAR WIRES X AIR VALVES ON PONTOON WERE OPEN AND PARTING OF AIR LINES PERMITTED VENTING AND FURTHER FLOODING X PONTOON

REPORTED SUNK BY TWO ENLISTED ON TRINGA WHILE MISSOURI STILL IN DREDGED CHANNEL X SEARCH HAS BEEN MADE USING AMC (U) SONAR SCAN

AND KITTIWAKE DIVERS X AREA COVERED TO DATE INCLUDES THOROUGH SEARCH MISSOURI DREDGED EXIT CHANNEL AND VICINITY, CHANNEL BETWEEN

OLD POINT COMFORT AND CAPE, ELIZABETH RIVER CHANNEL UP TO FERRY CROSSING, HAMPTON ROADS WEST OF OLD POINT COMFORT AND FORT WOOL X

SEARCH CONTINUING HAMPTON ROADS AND MIDDLE CHANNEL X SEVERAL OBJECTS LOCATED INCLUDING OLD STEAM BOILER ABOUT 20 FEET LONG AND

EIGHT FEET DIAMETER IN CHANNEL ABOUT ONE MILE DUE WEST GONG BUOY NUMBER 15 X ADDITIONAL AERIAL SEARCH OF SHOAL AND CHANNEL WATERS

OF HAMPTON ROADS, ELIZABETH RIVER, JAMES RIVER PAST BRIDGE, WILLOUGHBY SPIT, THIMBLE SHOALS AND CAPE BEING CONDUCTED BY TWO HELI-

COPTERS X SEARCH WILL CONTINUE UNTIL ALL POSSIBLE AREAS HAVE BEEN THOROUGHLY SCANNED X CHANTICLEER NOW AT NORVASHIPYD IN CHARGE

LOADING REMAINING PONTOONS ON BARGES FOR RETURN BOSTON NAVSHIPYD X BARGE LOADING IN PROGRESS X EXPECT COMPLETE 10 FEB X POSSIBILITY

OF MISSING PONTOON BEING AFLOAT AND ADRIFT WAS REPORTED TO HYDRO OFFICE 1 FEB.