Has anyone been inside the USS Arizona?

As an underwater archaeologist for the National Park Service, Dave Conlin is one of few people in the world who has dived the USS Arizona. Scuba diving the ship is part of his work to preserve and protect the remains of the USS Arizona and its crew. Here, he is photographed on the ship's starboard gunwhale.

Are there bodies inside the USS Arizona?

After the attack, the ship was left resting on the bottom with the deck just awash. In the days and weeks following, efforts were made to recover the bodies of the crew and the ship's records. Eventually, further recovery of bodies became fruitless and the bodies of at least 900 crewmen remained in the ship.

Why didn't they get the bodies out of the Arizona?

Caitlin said: “When it was determined that the USS Arizona could not be salvaged, the navy decided that it would be 'too difficult to remove the dead in a respectful manner'. “So 1,102 people remain entombed in the USS Arizona, considered buried at sea.”

Did anyone on the USS Arizona survive?

USS Arizona was declared a National Historic Landmark on May 5, 1989. In spite of the enormous loss of life on December 7, 334 crewmembers survived the sinking of the Arizona.

How many soldiers are entombed in the USS Arizona?

The Arizona sank so rapidly after being struck with a 1,800-pound bomb that more than 900 people drowned entombed on the ship.

Camera explores inside sunken USS Arizona

Is oil still leaking from the USS Arizona?

Fuel continues to leak from USS Arizona's wreckage.

However, despite the raging fire and ravages of time, some 500,000 gallons are still slowly seeping out of the ship's submerged wreckage: Nearly 70 years after its demise, Arizona continues to spill up to 9 quarts of oil into the harbor each day.

Can you dive the USS Arizona?

Because the Arizona is considered to be a memorial, it is unlawful for divers to enter the ship, so careful egresses are made using underwater rovers that document interior conditions. Members of PVA dive the waters of the USS Arizona along with the National Park Service.

How deep is the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor?

“Today, Arizona rests where she fell, submerged in about 40 feet of water just off the coast of Ford Island,” the National Park Service says. The ship isn't all that remains underwater. More than 900 sailors and Marines could not be recovered, either.

How many Pearl Harbor survivors are still alive in 2020?

No clear figures are available on how many Pearl Harbor survivors are still living, according to the National Park Service at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial. Only 325,574 of the 16 million Americans who served in the war were alive in 2020, so the number for Pearl Harbor survivors would be considerably less.

Can survivors of Pearl Harbor be buried there?

Pearl Harbor survivors can have their ashes scattered over Pearl Harbor. The memorial service and interment of deceased USS Arizona Survivors is conducted on the USS Arizona Memorial. The service includes a committal service, interment, rifle salute, TAPS, flag presentation, and plaque presentation.

How many bodies are still underwater at Pearl Harbor?

Of the 1,177 USS Arizona sailors and Marines killed at Pearl Harbor, more than 900 could not be recovered and remain entombed on the ship, which sank in nine minutes. A memorial built in 1962 sits above the wreckage.

What happened to the guns from the USS Arizona?

Today both sites are abandoned; the guns were removed and cut up for scrap shortly after the war ended. Despite the work done to remove all useful materials from the ARIZONA, it was apparent the ship itself was lost.

How quickly did the USS Arizona sink?

Fourteen minutes after the first gunner plane interrupted the morning colors, the Arizona began to sink into Pearl Harbor. In those 14 minutes, a lifetime was at stake. Much of the country's Pacific battleship fleet was in flames. The Arizona's oil tanks, refilled the day before, would burn for three more days.

Is Pearl Harbor still active?

Today, Pearl Harbor remains an active military base, Headquarters of the Pacific Fleet, and a National Historic Landmark that's home to four unique attractions: from the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor that started it all, to the surrender of the Japanese on the deck of the mighty Battleship Missouri, these four ...

How many Japanese died in Pearl Harbor?

The Japanese lost 29 aircraft and 5 midget submarines in the attack. One Japanese soldier was taken prisoner and 129 Japanese soldiers were killed. Out of all the Japanese ships that participated in the attack on Pearl Harbor only one, the Ushio, survived until the end of the war.

Is Lou Conter still alive?

Conter now lives quietly in Grass Valley, Calif., about an hour north of Sacramento. What happened on December 7, 1941 is never far from his mind.

Who is the oldest Pearl Harbor survivor?

At the time of his death in 2018 — and at 106 years old — Chavez was the oldest survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor. It's not easy to forget the late Ray Chavez. At 106 years old, he was the oldest survivor of Pearl Harbor.

When did the last survivor of Pearl Harbor died?

U.S. Army veteran Leo Priest of Palm Springs, a sergeant who was among the last of the living local Pearl Harbor survivors, died on Aug. 3, 2018, at the age of 97.

Is there an American flag underwater at Pearl Harbor?

False. According to a spokesperson for the National Park Service, the underwater flag photo was not taken at the Pearl Harbor site. Instead, it depicts a flag once displayed at the USNS Vandenberg located in the waters of the Florida Keys.

Can you see the USS Arizona?

As a visitor, you can still see the wreckage of the great ship. Once you arrive at the USS Arizona Memorial, head over the the Assembly Room. This room is often used for large ceremonies, but it also offers visitors a great way to see the ship below.

Why did the USS Arizona explode?

80-G-6683 Pearl Harbor Attack

Forward magazines explode on USS Arizona (BB-39), after she was struck by a Japanese armor-piercing bomb.

Will they ever raise the USS Arizona?

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the short answer is no; she'll likely remain submerged in the harbor until she completely erodes down to nothing.

How much fuel does the USS Arizona leak?

It's believed between 14,000 and 64,000 gallons of oil have leaked from the USS Arizona since the attack, and the National Park Service estimates it could continue to leak for 500 years.

How deep is the Arizona sunk?

The Arizona sank in about 40 feet (12 metres) of water, though some parts were not submerged, and the ship continued to burn for more than two days. Almost immediately, efforts were undertaken to retrieve bodies, but eventually the decision was made to leave more than 900 entombed in the ship's wreckage.