USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park
(Page One)
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
visited December, 2000
USS Bowfin (SS-287) DANFS
The USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park honors the submarine known as the "Pearl Harbor Avenger." Bowfin lies just a few yards from the USS Arizona memorial, yet is a well-kept secret compared to her famous neighbor. The Bowfin is very well preserved as a World War II submarine, not having been "modernized" to the extent so many of her sisters were. You can still see the lines of the boat that made nine successful war patrols from 1943 right up to V-J day. The Bowfin Park also features the conning tower of the USS Parche (SS-384), where you can walk inside and see what a conning tower looked like. The rest of the Parche's superstructure is part of a memorial on the grounds of the Submarine Base at Pearl Harbor. You can also see a Regulus missile, a Japanese Type 4 Kaiten, several vintage torpedoes and a quad-40mm antiaircraft gun. Off in the distance you can even see the water tower from which flew the signal "All ships in harbor sortie" on Dec. 7, 1941.
The Park is also home to a waterfront memorial honoring the submarines of World War II who are on eternal patrol. Small monuments honor each submarine and her crew.
The Bowfin Museum & Park shares parking space with the USS Arizona Memorial. The Bowfin's office also sells tickets for the USS Missouri.
The Photos
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USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park