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Photo # NH 97400: Crew abandoning the damaged USS California as burning oil drifts down on the ship, shortly after the Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor ended, 7 December 1941.

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- EVENTS -- World War II in the Pacific --

Pearl Harbor Raid, 7 December 1941 --
USS California during the Pearl Harbor Attack

USS California (BB-44), flagship of the Battle Force, was hit forward and aft by two Japanese torpedoes in the early minutes of the Pearl Harbor raid. She was later hit by a bomb and near-missed by another, which caused additional flooding. Though her design included very good protection against underwater damage, California's actual condition was much less satisfactory, with many watertight compartments open and some design details proving unable to resist the effects of torpedo warheads.

California had steam up and was nearly ready to get underway when a large mass of burning oil, drifting down "Battleship Row", threatened to set the ship afire. She was ordered abandoned, and, when the crew returned on board sometime later, it was impossible to control her flooding. Despite strenuous efforts, she slowly settled to the bottom of Pearl Harbor, coming to rest on 10 December. The battleship was raised in March 1942 and received repairs and modernization work that lasted until January 1944, over two years after she was sunk. Nearly a hundred of her officers and men were killed in action during the Pearl Harbor attack.

This page features views of USS California on 7 December 1941 and during the following days.

For pictures and information on USS California crewmen and officers who received the Medal of Honor for heroism during the Pearl Harbor attack, see:

  • Ensign Herbert C. Jones;
  • Chief Radioman Thomas James Reeves; and
  • Machinist's Mate First Class Robert R. Scott.

    For further images of the "Battleship Row" area during and shortly after the Japanese raid, see:

  • "Battleship Row" during the Pearl Harbor Attack.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: 80-G-32463

    Pearl Harbor Raid, 7 December 1941


    Scene on the southeastern part of Ford Island, looking northeasterly, with USS California (BB-44) in right center, listing to port after being hit by Japanese aerial torpedoes and bombs.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 79KB; 740 x 610 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-32917

    Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941


    Torpedo damage to the hull of USS California (BB-44), photographed at the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard in April 1942, soon after the ship had been drydocked for repairs.
    This is California's forward torpedo hole, centered at about Frame 52. Note armor belt at the top of the hole and bilge keel below it.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 84KB; 740 x 610 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: NH 97399

    Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941


    Crew abandoning the damaged USS California (BB-44) as burning oil drifts down on the ship, at about 1000 hrs on the morning of 7 December 1941, shortly after the end of the Japanese raid.
    The capsized hull of USS Oklahoma (BB-37) is visible at the right.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command.

    Online Image: 91KB; 740 x 615 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97400

    Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941


    Crew abandoning the damaged USS California (BB-44) as burning oil drifts down on the ship, at about 1000 hrs on the morning of 7 December 1941, shortly after the end of the Japanese raid.
    An Officers' Motor Boat is at left.
    This view is cropped from Photo # NH 97399.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command.

    Online Image: 101KB; 590 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: 80-G-32456

    Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941


    USS California (BB-44) slowly sinking alongside Ford Island as a result of bomb and torpedo damage, 7 December 1941.
    USS Shaw (DD-373) is burning in the floating dry dock YFD-2 in the left distance. USS Nevada (BB-36) is beached in the left-center distance.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 95KB; 740 x 615 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: NH 64474

    Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941


    Tugs and other ships trying to keep USS California (BB-44) afloat, soon after the Japanese torpedoed and bombed her at Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command.

    Online Image: 101KB; 740 x 610 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 95569

    Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941


    View of USS California (BB-44), taken a day or two after the Japanese raid. USS Bobolink (AM-20), at left, USS Vireo (AM-52) and YW-10 are off the battleship's stern, assisting with efforts to keep her afloat.

    Collection of Vice Admiral Homer N. Wallin, USN(Retired), 1975.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 87KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     


    For pictures and information on USS California crewmen and officers who received the Medal of Honor for heroism during the Pearl Harbor attack, see:

  • Ensign Herbert C. Jones;
  • Chief Radioman Thomas James Reeves; and
  • Machinist's Mate First Class Robert R. Scott.

    For further images of the "Battleship Row" area during and shortly after the Japanese raid, see:

  • "Battleship Row" during the Pearl Harbor Attack.


    NOTES:

  • To the best of our knowledge, the pictures referenced here are all in the Public Domain, and can therefore be freely downloaded and used for any purpose.

  • Some images linked from this page may bear obsolete credit lines citing the organization name: "Naval Historical Center". Effective 1 December 2008 the name should be cited as: "Naval History and Heritage Command".


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval History and Heritage Command home page.

    Page made 22 October 2000
    Coding updated 21 April 2009