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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
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WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Missouri (BB-63), Mediterranean Cruise, April 1946

This page features views of USS Missouri's 1946 Mediterranean Cruise. She was sent there to convey home the body of the late Turkish Ambassador to the U.S., Mehmet Munir Ertegun, who had died in Washington, DC, in November 1944. However, her presence also served a another purpose, to emphasize to the Soviet Union and to other nations the United States' concern about political instability in the region.


Missouri departed the U.S. on 22 March 1946 and steamed eastwards. On the 31st, she arrived at Gibraltar and became flagship for Admiral Henry Kent Hewitt, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe, and Commander, 12th fleet. She was at Istanbul, Turkey, on 5 to 9 April, where members of her crew participated in Ambassador Ertegun's funeral ceremonies. Missouri subsequently visited ports in Greece, Italy, Algiers and Morocco before returning to the United States in early May, having successfully reestablished the U.S. Navy's presence in what soon became the "Cold War" home waters of the Sixth Fleet.

For links to further picture coverage on USS Missouri, see the ship's cover page: USS Missouri, Selected Views.

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-366179

USS Missouri (BB-63)
(center)

Off Istanbul, Turkey, 5-9 April 1946. She had brought the body of the Late Turkish Ambassador to the United States, Mehmet Munir Ertegun, home for burial, on a mission that was also made to influence Soviet Middle East policy.
USS Power (DD-839) is at left, and the Turkish Battlecruiser Yavuz (formerly the German Goeben) is at right. Dolmabahce Mosque is in the foreground.

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

Online Image: 102KB; 740 x 615 pixels

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

 

Photo #: 80-G-376893

USS Missouri (BB-63)


Ship's Marines stand at attention as the body of the late Mehmet Munir Ertegun, Turkish Ambassador to the United States, is lowered over the side, at Dolmabahce, Turkey, 5 April 1946. Missouri had carried his body home from the U.S. as part of a diplomatic cruise in the Mediterranean.
Note smoke in the background from gun salutes.
Photographed by Lieutenant Commander Dewey Wrigley.

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

Online Image: 102KB; 580 x 765 pixels

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

 

Photo #: 80-G-702555

Istanbul, Turkey


Funeral procession for the late Mehmet Munir Ertegun, Turkish Ambassador to the United States, passes through Istanbul, 5 April 1946.
The casket's Turkish military excort is accompanied by officers of USS Missouri (BB-63), which had carried the Ambassador's body home for burial.
The Turkish soldiers have their weapons reversed in mourning.

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

Online Image: 126KB; 740 x 605 pixels

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

 

Photo #: 80-G-K-6942 (Color)

Istanbul, Turkey


City skyline seen from USS Missouri (BB-63), during her visit there on 5-9 April 1946.
The Mosque of Hagia Sophia is in the right center.

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

Online Image: 67KB; 740 x 605 pixels

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

 

Photo #: 80-G-376888

Yavuz
(Turkish Battlecruiser, 1911, formerly the German Goeben)


Off Istanbul, Turkey, in April 1946, during USS Missouri's visit there.
Photographed by Lieutenant Commander Dewey Wrigley.

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

Online Image: 105KB; 740 x 600 pixels

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

 

Photo #: 80-G-365725

USS Missouri (BB-63)


A game of cards in the Flag Cabin, while the ship was en route to Istanbul, Turkey, 3 April 1946.
Those present are (left to right):
Alexander W. Weddell, U.S. Ambassador to Turkey;
Admiral H. Kent Hewitt, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe;
Captain Roscoe H. Hillenkoetter, Missouri's Commanding Officer, and
M. Kadri Rizan, Turkish Minister of Protocol.

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

Online Image: 70KB; 740 x 605 pixels

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

 

Photo #: 80-G-702450

Admiral Henry Kent Hewitt
, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe (center)

With Captain Roscoe H. Hillenkoetter, Commanding Officer of USS Missouri (BB-63) and U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Alexander W. Weddell, on board Missouri off Istanbul, circa 5-9 April 1946. The plaque behind and above them commemorates the Surrender of Japan, which took place on board Missouri, 2 September 1945..

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

Online Image: 95KB; 585 x 765 pixels

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

 

Photo #: 80-G-K-9343 (Color)

USS Missouri (BB-63)


Anchored off Piraeus, Greece, April 1946.

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

Online Image: 70KB; 740 x 510 pixels

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

 

Photo #: 80-G-366527

USS Missouri (BB-63)


Anchored in Fabiron Bay, Piraeus, Greece, 10 April 1946.

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

Online Image: 86KB; 740 x 610 pixels

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

 

Photo #: 80-G-702531

Admiral Henry Kent Hewitt, USN
,
Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe

Greets Archbishop Damaskinos, Regent of Greece, on board USS Missouri (BB-63) off Piraeus, Greece, circa 10-14 April 1946.
Directly behind Admiral Hewitt are (left to right):
Commodore Tully Shelly, USN, and
Captain Roscoe H. Hillenkoetter, Missouri's Commanding Officer.

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

Online Image: 86KB; 740 x 615 pixels

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

 

Photo #: 80-G-702560

Admiral Henry Kent Hewitt, USN
,
Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe (second from right)

Examines the plaque in USS Missouri's (BB-63) deck that marks the spot where the Surrender of Japan took place on 2 September 1945. Photographed while Missouri was visiting Piraeus, Greece, circa 10-14 April 1946.
To the left of Admiral Hewitt are (left to right):
Constantine Tsaldaris, Foreign Minister of Greece;
Greek Prime Minister Panajiotia and
Commodore Tully Shelly, USN.

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

Online Image: 75KB; 590 x 765 pixels

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

 

For links to further picture coverage on USS Missouri, see the ship's cover page: USS Missouri, Selected Views.

Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

22 January 1999