"Mystery Photos"
Page 3 ( Photos #21 - #30 )
#21 #22 #23 #24 ( Future Mystery Photos: #25 #26 #27 #28 #29 #30)
| Based on information furnished by
diligent U.S.S. Little Rock crew members, as well as other creditable
sources, below is information we have received pertaining to "Mystery
Photos" published on
the U.S.S. Little Rock Association Web Site. |
| Mystery
Photo #21 |
|
 1947 Vatican Visit |
The photo to the left was generously
furnished by
Milton "Mike" and Martha Hight. Mike was an HM3 on the USS Little
Rock
from 1947 to 1948. While in the Med in 1947 some of the crew went to
Rome
and visited the Vatican. While they were visiting they were granted an
audience
with Pope Pius XII. What we are looking for is input from the old salts that were on CL-92 at that time as to who the various people in the photo are. We've identified the Pope, and we know which of the sailors is Mike Hight, but the other guys (and ladies) that were in the audience are a mystery. (Click on the photo for a larger view.) If you think you know one or more individuals in the photo, let us know either by going to the Mystery Photo #21 posting on the Message Board, or send an e-mail to the webmaster. |
| Mystery Photo #22 | |
 |
An alert reader
of our
website contacted us (probably because of our extensive web data
pertaining to the Sixth Fleet) and
sent us the adjacent picture and the
following inquiry: "Hello. I’m wondering if you could help me identify the significance or historical connection of a medal, the remains of which I found at a Pearl Harbor construction site back in 1971. I found it in freshly dug dirt as I was crossing the naval base from my ship, the USS Midway (CVA-41). Thanks for any help you can provide". Charles Paige (Received from Mr. Paige on 20 Sept 2009) Click on the picture to get a larger view. If you know something about this medal/coin, let us know either by going to the Mystery Photo #22 posting on the Message Board, or send an e-mail to the webmaster. - - - - - - - Shipmate Paul Jett FTG3 1963-1965 on Monday, 12 Oct 2009 passed along the following: Art, Since we know the term "Commander Sixth Fleet" wasn't used until 1950, the key chain fob has to be newer than that. If you blow the image up, it appears to have "57" with another numeral preceding that on the superstructure of the carrier. I would say it's from the 1957 time period when the USS Salem was flagship of the 6th Fleet. Paul - - - - - - - The following was received Thursday, 11 Mar 2010: "I am Manuel Conklin. I was an SK on board the USS R. K. Turner CG-20 back in the mid 70's. I was looking through our ships website and seen there was a link to your ship.... When I came to the mystery coin article I decided to ask on another website I frequently visit.... Most of the answers I received were; it is a Challenge Coin, as in the ones we hold on to today.... Please put my name in the hat for the running of the ATTABOY on the mystery coin. I say it is a Challenge Coin. I am sure a more specific answer will surface but for now that's my guess. - - - - - - - On Sunday, 29 Aug 2010 we received the following response from shipmate Bob Hedgeman: "Greetings, (re:) Mystery photo #22..... It was not a medal per se. It was not a challenge coin. It was part of a key ring. I owned one. It was the emblem of the "Commander Sixth Fleet", who was aboard the USS Springfield CLG 7 when I was aboard. A patch was also available with said emblem. (It was) circular, about 3 inches.. blue, gold, and red. This patch was worn on a blue light weight coat by Officers and enlisted personnel who were attached to the Admiral's staff. These personnel were not ship's company. Also the ships patch was very different. I still have mine... SOMEWHERE! Bob Hedgeman BM2 USS Springfield CLG7 1964 - 1967 USS Little Rock CLG4 1967 - 1968 - - - - - - - |
| Mystery Photo #23 | |
 |
This unique view
of something or somewhere aboard the USS Little Rock was sent to us by Buffalo Naval Park staff member John
Branning, AMCS(AW/SW), USN (Ret). Now admittedly not all of the ship's crew would have had access to this view, but never the less it will be interesting to see what input we'll get. Click on the picture to get a larger view. If you know something about this space, let us know either by going to the Mystery Photo #23 posting on the Message Board, or send an e-mail to the webmaster. - - - - - - - Jimmy Reeves (GMGSN 1974-1975) on 01 Mar 2011 at 09:14 PM suggested "Mystery Photo #23 looks like the ladder going down to the warhead storage area. 1974 was a long time ago but I had to go down into the space to take temps and just look around. It was in the bottom of the ship below the missile house. This may not be it but it sure is close." - - - - - - To which the Moderator replied on 02 Mar 2011 "Jimmy, Good to hear from you! I've been down to the Missile Warhead Magazine a couple of times too. It was a L-O-N-G way down. About three decks as I recall. From the 3rd deck to the second platform. And there was nothing to stop your fall if you lost your grip on the ladder! However, if you remember, the trunk to the WH Magazine was square. The space shown in Mystery Photo #23 is round. Sorry. Close, but no cigar! Hope to see you in Buffalo at the 2011 Reunion! Best Regards, Art Tilley - - - - - - We then received via email the following from Lewis Walker (BM2, 3rd Div, 1971-75): "Hi Art. This photo #23 is Aft Steering located just outside of third division on the port side one deck down from the main deck. This is one of the times that I have seen aft steering with its hatch closed. Underway time I either trained or ran a watch in Aft Steering. As Boatswain Mate of the watch I was responsible for making sure the Aft Steering watch was properly maintained and properly manned. We usually had an Aft Steering watch drill in the 0000-0400 or 0400-0800 night watch while underway. I recall entering Newport sound once and we lost steering to the Little Rock before coming under the Newport Bridge. As I remember I was in Aft Steering at the time on watch. Captain Nagler was CO at the time. We got the ship docked port-side to and I was instructed to file a report. All I know Art is that all the drills that I went through paid off that day. I hope this is the correct photo that I am remembering about. If not, it sure looks like the down tube I entered every time I went on watch in after steering. Thanks for sharing the photo. It brought back many night time memories." Lewis Walker - - - - - - Moderator's Note: Lewis' recollection of access into the Aft Steering and especially the use of Aft Steering during a docking maneuver is really interesting. However, the access to those spaces is via a trunk that has a rectangular shape. Mystery Photo #23 shows a space that is round in shape. - - - - - - Shipmate Harold Beers (MM1 1964-67) on March 02 called me and said he thought that the photo was the access into the Nitrogen Reducing Station. He admitted that after having served on seven different U.S. Navy ships (!) that his memory of details was a little vague. He recalled that the Nitrogen Reducing Station was extremely cramped and that two guys could barely be in there at the same time. Mystery Photo #23 is not of this space however. Art Tilley - - - - - - Then Jimmy Reeves (GMGSN 1974-1975) took another shot at it on 03 Mar 2011 and suggested: "I'm going to give it one more educated guess on Mystery Photo # 23. My first GQ station was just under the 5in. gun. Everything in that area is round. So with that in mind, is this photo leading down to the area where powder or shells were stored? LOL!! Now if I'm wrong this time I'm leaving it to someone else to figure out." - - - - - - The Moderator responded on 04 Mar 2011 "Jimmy, Your "educated guess" was correct. Mystery photo # 23 is indeed the trunk located two decks below the 5" gun. The space, as seen in the picture, is round, and that is what sets it apart from the other trunks mentioned in previous answers. I think this space is in fact left over from when the ship, as CL92, had two 6"/47 turrets. As you know, CLG4's sole 5"/38 mount is mounted on the 01 level, pretty much where CL92's #2 6"/47 turret was previously located. When in use, the 5" mount had its ammo fed from the Handling Room directly below on the Main Deck. Projectiles and powder were brought up to the Handling Room by two hoists, fed from the magazines on the 2nd platform four decks below. Perhaps you, another Gunners Mate or one of the Marines who typically manned the 5" mount can add some clarifications to the actual use of this trunk. Perhaps it was an "Escape Trunk" ? Art Tilley - Moderator |
| Mystery
Photo #24 |
|
 |
Here
are a couple of souvenirs that most of us would like to have. The item
in the lower-left is obviously one of the cherished Talos style Zippo
lighters (available in the Ship's
Store), but what is the other item? You can click on the picture to get a larger view. If you think you know something about this item, let us know either by going to the Mystery Photo #24 posting on the Message Board, or send an e-mail to the webmaster. - - - - - - - |
| Mystery Photo #25 (Future) | |
| ? ? ? |
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