Retro Sunday D-Day Extra!

Although the USS North Carolina BB-55 did not serve in the European Campaign, she was quite impressive in the Pacific Theater: "USS North Carolina (BB-55) (Showboat) was the lead ship of her class of battleship and the fourth in the United States Navy to be named in honor of this U.S. state. She was the first new-construction U.S. battleship to enter service during World War II, participating in every major naval offensive in the Pacific theater to become the most decorated United States battleship of the war with 15 battle stars.^[2] She currently rests as a museum ship at the port of Wilmington, North Carolina.

She served well:

" In an eight-minute action, North Carolina shot down between seven and fourteen enemy aircraft, her gunners remaining at their guns despite the jarring detonations of seven near misses. One man was killed by a strafer, but the ship was undamaged. Her sheer volume of anti-aircraft fire was such as to lead Enterprise to query, "Are you afire?"[4"

She took a torpedo:
North Carolina now gave her strength to protect Saratoga. Twice during the following weeks of support to Marines ashore on Guadalcanal, North Carolina was attacked by Japanese submarines. On 6 September, she maneuvered successfully, dodging a torpedo which passed 300 yd (270 m) off the port beam.^[13] Nine days later, on 15 September, sailing with Wasp and Hornet, North Carolina took a torpedo portside, 20 ft (6.1 m) below her waterline, and six of her men were killed. This torpedo originated from I-19, and other torpedoes in the same salvo sank Wasp.^[14] Skillful damage control by the crew of North Carolina and the excellence of her construction prevented disaster; a 5.6° list was righted in as many minutes, and she maintained her station in a formation at 26 kn (30 mph; 48 km/h).<sup>[15]

In honor of the Men and Women that served I humbly present a piece of Teak decking from the main deck that most surely went "In Harm's Way" from The Showboat!</sup>

 ^{The decking has been replaced despite hippie protests! If you can get to Wilmington NC go see her! Link for the Museum here.}