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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

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

USS Arizona (BB-39) --
Memorial at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

In March 1950, Admiral Arthur W. Radford, the Commander in Chief Pacific Fleet, originated the practice of displaying the National Ensign over the sunken remains of USS Arizona. The ship's midships structure, which remained above water level, came to be used as a platform for memorial services, and she was the object of passing honors rendered as Navy ships passed by.

During the later 1950s, efforts began to erect a suitable memorial over her hulk to commemorate the sacrifices of her more than 1100 dead crewmen, the other U.S. Servicemen killed in the Pearl Harbor attack and the personnel lost in the Pacific Theatre during the Second World War. Some of the Arizona's remaining midships superstructure was removed, and pilings were driven beyond the sides of her hull to support the Memorial, which spans but does not touch the sunken ship.

Dedicated in May 1962, the white open-air shrine contains the names of all the men lost with Arizona and has sufficient space for 250 people to attend services within it. One of Hawaii's most-visited historic sites, it is reached by boat from the USS Arizona Memorial exhibit area on the opposite side of the Pearl Harbor channel.

This page features selected views of the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, including images of memorial activities on the Arizona's wreck prior to construction of the Memorial structure.

For general pictorial coverage of USS Arizona, see:

  • USS Arizona (BB-39), 1916-1941.

    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

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

    Photo #: 80-G-K-11244 (Color)

    Admiral Arthur W. Radford, USN,
    Commander in Chief, Pacific, and CinC, Pacific Fleet

    Leads the procession during memorial services on board the wreck of USS Arizona (BB-39), 7 December 1950, on the 9th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

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

    Online Image: 84KB; 585 x 765 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: NH 97232

    Secretary of the Navy Robert B. Anderson


    With Admiral Felix B. Stump on board the sunken USS Arizona (BB-39), at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, 23 November 1953.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 98KB; 580 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: USN 1036055

    USS Bennington (CVA-20)


    Passes the wreck of USS Arizona (BB-39) in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on Memorial Day, 31 May 1958. Bennington's crew is in formation on the flight deck, spelling out a tribute to the Arizona's crewmen who were lost in the 7 December 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
    Note the outline of Arizona's hull and the flow of oil from her fuel tanks.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

    Online Image: 86KB; 740 x 610 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-N-1036055.

     
    Photo #: USN 1061040

    USS Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii


    Photographed on 29 May 1962, with Ford Island in the background, at left.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

    Online Image: 102KB; 740 x 610 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-N-1061040.

     
    Photo #: USN 1088057

    USS Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii


    Photographed on 21 August 1963, looking toward the morning sun.
    Photographed by PH1 R.C. Moen.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

    Online Image: 184KB; 740 x 610 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-N-1088057.

     
    Photo #: NH 97325-KN (Color)

    USS Coral Sea (CVA-43)

    Passes the USS Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, 18 April 1963.
    Photographed by PHCS Robert A. Carlisle, USN.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 85KB; 740 x 595 pixels

     
    Photo #: USN 1124878

    Sikorski SH-3A "Sea King" helicopters
    ,
    of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Six (HS-6)

    Lift off from the flight deck of USS Kearsarge (CVS-33) as she enters Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, 27 June 1967. The USS Arizona Memorial is in the distance.
    Helicopter at left is Bureau # 152124.
    Photographed by PH3 B.L. Kleckner.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

    Online Image: 110KB; 740 x 610 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-N-1124878.

     
    Photo #: NH 97326-KN (Color)

    USS Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

    Photographed by Lieutenant Commander Tracy D. Connors, USN (Retired), June 1987.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 100KB; 740 x 510 pixels

     
    Photo #: USN 1072409

    USS Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii


    The U.S. Flag flies over the memorial, as seen from its interior, July 1962.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

    Online Image: 75KB; 590 x 765 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-N-1072409.

     
    Photo #: USN 1067058

    USS Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii


    The marble northwestern interior wall of the memorial, with the names of the men lost with USS Arizona (BB-39) during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941.
    Photographed by PH2 Thomas on 24 January 1963.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

    Online Image: 83KB; 740 x 605 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-N-1067058.

     

    For general pictorial coverage of USS Arizona, see:

  • USS Arizona (BB-39), 1916-1941.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    New image added 25 October 2000