The Shotguns of WWII: Model 1897 and Model 1912

Above, the Winchester Model 12 shotgun I bought last year. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is interesting that shotguns were very effective during World War II, especially in the Pacific Theater.

Winchester's Model 1897 and Model 1912 shotguns terrified Japanese soldiers, with good reason.

War History Online posted an interesting article on the use of shotguns during World War II.

They begin it with:

Aside from a flame thrower, there are few close-range weapons as deadly as a shotgun. Shotguns are terrifyingly effective at short ranges, as their shot spread does not need to be precisely aimed to score a hit. At longer ranges, a shotgun peppers the target with fast-moving metal balls, while at close ranges shotguns can effortlessly inflict horrific wounds. For these reasons, the shotgun has found itself at home in close quarters combat in wartime, sometimes controversially. Until the 1960s the United States’ shotguns of choice have been the Winchester Model 1897 and 1912.

Both of these shotguns started life as commercially-sold firearms but quickly proved themselves on the battlefield.

To read more, go here. 

Elvis Presley Helped In Getting The USS Arizona Memorial Built

Above, the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In previous blog posts, I mentioned that Elvis Presley was pivotal in the fundraising for the construction of the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor.

Thanks in big part to a concert he held in Hawaii, money was raised to finish construction of the memorial and it made more people aware of the memorial who then added their contributions for the project.

War History Online posted a detailed article on Presley's contributions to the memorial fund.

It begins with:

In the 1950s, Americans of a certain age were eligible for the draft into the US military. Many famous athletes and actors served, including musicians like Elvis Presley, who was drafted into the US Army and stationed in West Germany. He served honorably and remained a strong supporter of the military after his discharge. One key instance of his support was his involvement with the memorial for the USS Arizona (BB-39), which was struck during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

To read the full article, go here. 

Scientific Discoveries of the Interior of the USS Arizona

Above, "tears of the Arizona" rise to the surface from the sunken ship. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It was very moving for me to see firsthand the sunken battleship USS Arizona resting on the bottom of Pearl Harbor below me from the deck of the USS Arizona Memorial.

For years, I have heard that oil still seeps to the surface from the vessel. I saw it for myself last May. They are called "the tears of the Arizona" or "black tears".

It was an experience to see the ship at rest, knowing that men are entombed inside.

Above, the USS Arizona Memorial, built over the sunken ship. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

War History Online has an interesting article on a recent ten-day survey of the interior of the ship by unmanned submersibles.

They wrote:

Clearly, the deputy chief and photographer of the National Park Service’s Submerged Resources Centre (SRC) has been touched by the latest images from the sunken battleship USS Arizona, which has lain at the bottom of Pearl Harbour since December 7, 1941. 

Brett Seymour, viewing recent images from remotely operated vehicles says the most striking find was a jacket hanging in an officer’s quarters. 

It was clean, not covered in sediment, and hadn’t fallen off the hangar. It was there, standing proud. 

Seymour was part of a team which was comprised of the NPS and National Geographic photographers that for ten days documented the interior first and second decks of the 608-foot long battleship.

Above, the deck of the USS Arizona. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

According to the article, the next step is to survey the third deck, "whenever that will be."

To read more, go here.