USS Missouri (BB-63)
"Mighty Mo"
USS Missouri (BB-63) fires a fifteen-gun (nine 16-inch and six 5-inch) broadside, during maneuvers in the Hawaiian Operations Area, circa July-August 1987. Letterpress reproduction of a photograph by PH1 Terry A. Cosgrove. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.
The fourth Missouri (BB-63) was laid down 6 January 1941; launched 29 January 1944; and commissioned 11 June 1944, with Captain William M. Callaghan in command. The ships sponsor was Margaret Truman, daughter of then-senator from Missouri, Harry S. Truman.
Born in battle, Missouri steamed to Iwo Jima to support invasion landings, participated in the bombardment of Okinawa and struck hard blows against the Japanese mainland. On 15 August 1945, President Truman announced Japan’s acceptance of unconditional surrender. On 2 September 1945, high-ranking military officials of all the Allied Powers, to include Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz and General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, came aboard Missouri to meet Japanese representatives for a 23-minute surrender ceremony that was broadcasted around the world.
Although most remember Missouri as the symbolic end of World War II, she was a highly decorated battleship that earned eight battle stars during her service to the nation—three during World War II and five during the Korean War. Missouri was also the first battleship to fire Tomahawk cruise missiles at Iraqi targets at the commencement of Operation Desert Storm.
On 7 December 1991, Missouri took part in a “voyage to remembrance” to mark the 50th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attacks. During that ceremony, Missouri hosted President George H.W. Bush, the first such presidential visit for the battleship since Harry Truman boarded her on September 1947.
On 31 March 1992, Missouri was decommissioned and remained part of the reserve fleet until 12 January 1995, when she was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register. Missouri was donated as a museum and memorial ship on 4 May 1998, and today rests near the Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor.
*****
DANFS
Conflicts
Additional Reading
- NHHC Director Delivers Remarks at USS Missouri Stamp Launch Ceremony
- Tokyo Bay: The Formal Surrender of the Empire of Japan
- U.S. Pacific Fleet Organization 1945
- “Official” USS Missouri Survival Guide
- Thunder and Lightning — The War with Iraq
- Where are the Shooters? A History of the Tomahawk in Combat
- Missouri’s Naval History
Artifacts
- Instrument of Surrender
- Christening champagne bottle
- Commemorative Plaque, Japanese Surrender
- Japanese Surrender on USS Missouri Certificate
- Plaque Aboard Missouri Where WWII Treaty Signed
Art
- The Mighty Missouri
- Missouri Under Attack
- Missouri Under Attack by Iraqi Silkworm
- Defenders of Freedom
- Flight to Baghdad
- Battleship Basketball
- Japanese Surrender at Tokyo Bay
Selected Imagery
- USS Missouri Photo Gallery
- Missouri Fires TLAM at the start of Desert Storm
- Missouri Ready for Launching
- Missouri Fires 16-inch batteries during WWII
- Missouri in Tokyo Bay
- Surrender of Japan
- Missouri in 1987
- Crew prepares bombardment at Inchon
- Missouri at Pearl Harbor
- Missouri Commissioned
Additional Resources
Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, USN, signs the Instrument of Surrender as United States Representative, on board USS Missouri (BB-63), 2 September 1945. Standing directly behind him are (left-to-right): General of the Army Douglas MacArthur; Admiral William F. Halsey, USN, and Rear Admiral Forrest Sherman, USN. In front row, background, are (left to right): Rear Admiral Frederick C. Sherman, USN; Vice Admiral Charles A. Lockwood, USN; Vice Admiral John S. McCain, USN; Vice Admiral John H. Towers, USN; Admiral Richmond K. Turner, USN; Rear Admiral Robert B. Carney, USN; General Walter C. Krueger, U.S. Army; General Robert L. Eichelberger, U.S. Army and General Carl A. Spaatz, USAAF. Others identified behind the front row include (in no order): Brigadier General Joseph H. Fellows, USMC; Captain Tom B. Hill, USN; Commodore J.C. Cronin, USN; Rear Admiral Ingram C. Sowell, USN; Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd, USN; Rear Admiral Howard F. Kingman, USN; Rear Admiral Lloyd J. Wiltsie, USN; Rear Admiral J. Cary Jones, USN; Captain John S. Thach, USN and Commodore Joel T. Boone, USN(MC). Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.
