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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
901 M STREET SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

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

USS Missouri (BB-63), Launching, 29 January 1944

This page features views of USS Missouri's christening and launching, on 29 January 1944 at the New York Navy Yard.
Missouri's sponsor was Miss Margaret Truman, daughter of Senator Harry S. Truman of the State of Missouri. The ship was the last battleship built at the New York Navy Yard and the last to be launched with ceremonies in the United States.

For other pictures of USS Missouri's construction, see: USS Missouri, Construction and Commissioning, 1941-1944.

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 #: NH 45920

USS Missouri (BB-63)


View of the ship's bow, as she is prepared for launching at the New York Navy Yard, 29 January 1944.
Note anchors and launching drag chains.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 85KB; 520 x 765 pixels

 

Photo #: 80-G-44891

USS Missouri (BB-63)


Miss Margaret Truman, Missouri's Sponsor, ready to christen the ship, during launching ceremonies at the New York Navy Yard, 29 January 1944.
Looking on are (left to right):
Rear Admiral Monroe R. Kelly, New York Navy Yard Commandant;
Rear Admiral Sherman S. Kennedy, USN, and
Senator Harry S. Truman of Missouri, the Sponsor's father.

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

Online Image: 88KB; 740 x 615 pixels

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

 

Photo #: NH 45923

USS Missouri (BB-63)


Sliding down the ways, during her launching at the New York Navy Yard, 29 January 1944.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 107KB; 585 x 765 pixels

 

Photo #: NH 45925

USS Missouri (BB-63)


Approaching the end of the building ways as she is launched, 29 January 1944, at the New York Navy Yard.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 115KB; 590 x 765 pixels

 

Photo #: NH 45921

USS Missouri (BB-63)


Entering the water for the first time, during her launching at the New York Navy Yard, 29 January 1944.
Note anchors and launching drag chains.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 84KB; 590 x 765 pixels

 

Photo #: 19-N-73093

USS Missouri (BB-63)


Christening champagne bottle, silver bottle cover and wooden case, prepared for the ship's launching, which took place at the New York Navy Yard on 29 January 1944.

Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

Online Image: 64KB; 740 x 605 pixels

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

 

For other pictures of USS Missouri's construction, see: USS Missouri, Construction and Commissioning, 1941-1944.

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.

23 January 1999