USS MISSOURI ARRIVAL AT PEARL HARBOR, HAWAI'I
- HER FINAL BERTHING PLACE
USS MISSOURI firing
her big guns
The USS Missouri was launched from the New
York Navy Yard in Brooklyn, New York on January 29th 1944. It was on her
decks in Tokyo Bay on September 2nd 1945 that Japan signed the official
act of surrender ending World War II. The "Mighty Mo" (as it is
affectionately known) took part in three wars (WW II, Korea & Persian
Gulf).
USS MISSOURI passing
Diamond Head June 21 1998
(enelani photo © 1998, taken
from Tantalus)
On June 21st 1998, the USS Missouri arrived off Diamond Head, O'ahu near
the end of her final voyage. The next day, on June 22nd, she entered Pearl
Harbor and tied up next to Ford Island (near the USS Arizona Memorial)-
her final berthing place. The "Battleship Missouri Memorial" opened
to the public on January 29th 1999.
ENVELOPE: White. Size 6.5" x 3.5"
(165mm x 92mm).
CACHET: A port side view of the USS Missouri.
CACHET TEXT: "BB-63 in large light grey
letters under text - USS MISSOURI "MIGHTY MO" returned to Hawai'i
her final berthing place, June 22nd 1998. Launched in 1944, the battleship
USS Missouri took part in three wars (WW II, Korea & Persian Gulf).
It was on its decks in Tokyo Bay that Japan signed the official act of surrender
ending World War II. The "Mighty MO" will be permanently moored
near the USS Arizona at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor. (Illustration shows ship
in 1945, with a seaplane at the stern - later replaced by a helipad)."
STAMP: 3c US Frigate Constitution stamp (Scott
# 951) & 29c various WWII stamps (Scott # 2559 a-j, 2697 a-j, 2765 a-j,
2838 a-j). Note that the3c stamp depicts the US Navy's oldest commissioned
warship in 1797.
CANCELLATION: Circular date stamp cancel "PEARL
HARBOR HI NAVSTA MOU NO. 1- JUN 22 1998."
CACHET MAKER: Enelani.
NUMBER MADE: 50.
ITEM # 98JUN22
PRICE: $3.50 Photographer's note: Listening
to the local radio about the estimated time of arrival of the USS Missouri
on Sunday June 21st 1998, I drove up Tantalus to get a good shot of the
battleship passing Diamond Head with my Nikon camera and telephoto lens.
I was not very hopeful as it was raining and the sky was very misty at the
time. There were only 3 cars parked at the Tantalus lookout high up the
mountain. Just myself and a tourist with a pocket camera were taking pictures.
It was so misty that I could barely make out the Missouri on the other side
of Diamond Head. It was still misty when the Missouri passed out of view
behind Diamond Head. My hopes were fading for a good photo. It seemed like
an eternity that the Missouri was hidden from view. Then suddenly there
was the bow of the ship barely showing past Diamond Head on the other side
on its way to Pearl Harbor. I readied my camera sitting in my car resting
the telephoto lens on the partially lowered car window. But it was still
misty and I wasn't going to get a good photo. I was also wary of sticking
the camera out of the car window as the lens might get wet and ruin the
shots. The Missouri was still edging past Diamond Head bit by bit. Then
she came into full view and, as if by magic, the rain stopped, the sky cleared
considerably, the sun came out a bit and I could take my photos. I was elated
and used up a whole roll of film. Afterwards, I raced down Tantalus and
rushed the film to the photo lab. I was thrilled to bits when I picked up
the photos later and found they came out so well.
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