Thank you for a very informative episode. My wife had an uncle, John Ewing, from Wheeling, Missouri, that was on the Chicago when she was sunk. Seaman Ewing, a survivor of Pearl Harbor, had only been on the Chicago a short period of time before the Battle of Rennell Island.. After his rescue and short hospital stay, he was assigned to the USS Helena. The US Navy needed every able bodied seaman available. After being checked out by the Navy doctors, the crew off of the Chicago were re-assigned to other ships. He was assigned to the USS Helena. Unfortunately for Seaman Ewing, the Helena was sunk on July 6, 1943 during the Battle of Kula Gulf. Fortunately, most of the survivors were rescued by US destroyers, in a short period of time. Being sunk twice within 6 months did not keep Seaman Ewing from finishing the war in the Pacific. After the war, he and his wife lived in Southern California. Thank you again for a very personal and informative episode for my wife.
The controversy about the Chicago’s performance at Savo Island eventually saw Captain Bode reassigned to shore duty. When an investigation into the battle made it clear he was going to be censured, he took his own life. The circumstances certainly didn’t portray Captain Bode in a very good light. Quite the opposite in fact. I came across a book a few years ago titled The Bode Testament that takes the position that Captain Bode botched his suicide and survived. He than decides to attempt to clear his name. The amount of research the author put in to this book is pretty amazing and he definitely makes a good case that higher ranking officers were more at fault than Captain Bode. Yes, he didn’t inform the Northern Force but he heard the destroyer accompanying the Chicago issue a warning about unknown ships. The USN report about the battle verifies this and other points made in the book that clearly shows there was plenty of blame to go around.
Chicago's performance at Savo was very poor. Actually Chicago's torpedo damage to the bow was not serious and Bode left HMAS Canberra alone to face overwhelming odds. Canberra, instead of fleeing like Chicago, actually manouvered to put herself between the unknown (Japanese) ships, that had approached without being seen by US lookout destroyers, and the transports she was protecting. As a result she bore the brunt of Japanese gunfire and was then immobilised by torpedoes from an American destroyer on her disengaged side. Canberra didn't fire a shot before being disabled, while Chicago sailed into the distance away from danger. It's little wonder that Bode was disgraced.
Thats a testament to american damage control back then, that the chicago was hit badly and lost power but the crew controlled flooding and restored power to four knots, ....just before four more torpedoes put her down,..along with only losing sixty four sailors and over a thousand rescued.
Interesting how they redacted the radars on the ships in the pictures. You can see it at timestamp 9:46 any other around 10:09. Those kind of details are always fascinating to me
The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, Illinois, USA had a very detailed large model of the _USS Chicago_ near the _U-505_ exhibit. I'm not sure if they still display it after they completely revamped their U-boat exhibit. The model was fascinating, but back in the 60s/70s they didn't say much about her career.
I have read that it was a reference to one of the Pensacola class, but the book is silent on this point. If you look at a profile drawing of a Pensacola, there is something of a slight "declivity", to use the author's term, between the funnels, under the catapults, but draw your own conclusions. No name or class was ever stated.
The "Swayback" actually was most likely the Heavy Cruiser USS Portland. She was badly damaged by torpedoes during the night Battle of Guadalcanal November 13, 1942. From that time on, Portland's hull was twisted and bowed upward towards the stern. Dockyard repairs couldn't fix that, but it was "good enough". That is why she was mothballed then scrapped so quickly after the war
Thank you for a very informative episode.
My wife had an uncle, John Ewing, from Wheeling, Missouri, that was on the Chicago when she was sunk. Seaman Ewing, a survivor of Pearl Harbor, had only been on the Chicago a short period of time before the Battle of Rennell Island..
After his rescue and short hospital stay, he was assigned to the USS Helena. The US Navy needed every able bodied seaman available. After being checked out by the Navy doctors, the crew off of the Chicago were re-assigned to other ships. He was assigned to the USS Helena.
Unfortunately for Seaman Ewing, the Helena was sunk on July 6, 1943 during the Battle of Kula Gulf. Fortunately, most of the survivors were rescued by US destroyers, in a short period of time.
Being sunk twice within 6 months did not keep Seaman Ewing from finishing the war in the Pacific. After the war, he and his wife lived in Southern California.
Thank you again for a very personal and informative episode for my wife.
The controversy about the Chicago’s performance at Savo Island eventually saw Captain Bode reassigned to shore duty. When an investigation into the battle made it clear he was going to be censured, he took his own life. The circumstances certainly didn’t portray Captain Bode in a very good light. Quite the opposite in fact.
I came across a book a few years ago titled The Bode Testament that takes the position that Captain Bode botched his suicide and survived. He than decides to attempt to clear his name. The amount of research the author put in to this book is pretty amazing and he definitely makes a good case that higher ranking officers were more at fault than Captain Bode. Yes, he didn’t inform the Northern Force but he heard the destroyer accompanying the Chicago issue a warning about unknown ships. The USN report about the battle verifies this and other points made in the book that clearly shows there was plenty of blame to go around.
Chicago's performance at Savo was very poor. Actually Chicago's torpedo damage to the bow was not serious and Bode left HMAS Canberra alone to face overwhelming odds. Canberra, instead of fleeing like Chicago, actually manouvered to put herself between the unknown (Japanese) ships, that had approached without being seen by US lookout destroyers, and the transports she was protecting. As a result she bore the brunt of Japanese gunfire and was then immobilised by torpedoes from an American destroyer on her disengaged side. Canberra didn't fire a shot before being disabled, while Chicago sailed into the distance away from danger. It's little wonder that Bode was disgraced.
Captain: STOP BLOWING HOLES IN MY SHIP!!!!
Thats a testament to american damage control back then, that the chicago was hit badly and lost power but the crew controlled flooding and restored power to four knots, ....just before four more torpedoes put her down,..along with only losing sixty four sailors and over a thousand rescued.
Interesting how they redacted the radars on the ships in the pictures. You can see it at timestamp 9:46 any other around 10:09.
Those kind of details are always fascinating to me
One of the best channels I've found in a while, excited to watch all your videos
The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, Illinois, USA had a very detailed large model of the _USS Chicago_ near the _U-505_ exhibit. I'm not sure if they still display it after they completely revamped their U-boat exhibit.
The model was fascinating, but back in the 60s/70s they didn't say much about her career.
Wonder if they ever found her wreck.
They haven’t
We need some one to fund another pacific expedition
If they had, he would have mentioned that fact in the video.
They should look around Blue Island.
Served aboard USS Chicago CG11, 1969/1973
I wonder, would she have been the model for the cruiser referred to as “Old Swayback” in the John Wayne film, “In Harm’s Way”?
I believe it was the USS HOUSTON 🇺🇸🇺🇸
I have read that it was a reference to one of the Pensacola class, but the book is silent on this point. If you look at a profile drawing of a Pensacola, there is something of a slight "declivity", to use the author's term, between the funnels, under the catapults, but draw your own conclusions. No name or class was ever stated.
The "Swayback" actually was most likely the Heavy Cruiser USS Portland. She was badly damaged by torpedoes during the night Battle of Guadalcanal November 13, 1942. From that time on, Portland's hull was twisted and bowed upward towards the stern. Dockyard repairs couldn't fix that, but it was "good enough". That is why she was mothballed then scrapped so quickly after the war
The USS Chicago is my favorite ship, save the USS Iowa. (I suppose living in Chicago may have something to do with it). 😂
Beautiful ships but those port holes all over them makes no sense at all!!!!