191

From PigBoats.COM

Sculpin during the Squalus salvage operation, June 22, 1939 anchored off the Isle of Shoals, New Hampshire. Sculping provided high pressure air and acted as a platform to train divers on the configuration of her sunken sister boat.

Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman.

A nice newspaper wire photo of the Sculpin as she stands by during the salvage of the Squalus. Yard workers and officials as well as crew can be seen aboard. One officer has a megaphone in his hand for talking to whoever is on the boat from which the photo is taken.

A great profile close-up of the conning towerfairwater and bridge set up. The "portholes" allow men on the weather deck to see out while keeping them out of the nastiest of weather. There is a steering station for use in this location. Several men can be seen on the open bridge as well. Further aft a lookout station can be seen, and on the back of the fairwater is the Sculpin's bell.

The Sculpin was serving as flagship for Rear Admiral Cyrus Willard Cole, commander of the salvage operations and his flag can be seen flying at the top of the photo. It is a possibility at RADM Cole is one of the two officers seen on the deck.

Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman.

Sculpin standing by to provide assistance to the USS Falcon (ASR-2) during the salvage operation for Squalus, summer of 1939.

Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman.

Sculpin standing by as crew from the Falcon wrangle salvage pontoons, preparing them to be lowered to the Squalus' wreck, summer of 1939. Sculpin, by her nature as a submarine, had the highest stored high-pressure air capacity in the salvage force, so she provided the bulk of the air needed to blow the pontoons dry during the lift attempts.

Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman.

Some men of the Sculpin, photo taken March 7, 1943. The men are from left to right, (front row)
•Carlos Tulea, 29, OS 2c (Officer's Steward), Cavite, P.I.
•LT Corwin G. Mendenhall, 26, Anehuac, Texas
•Weldon E. Moore, CSM, 34, Colorado Springs, Colorado*
•LT John H. Turner, 29
(Back Row)
•John J. Pepersack, CWO1, 42, Baltimore, MD
•A. W. Coulter, QM 3c, 20, St. Louis, MO
•K. E. Waidelich, SM 3c, 21, Jackson, Michigan
•Charlie Coleman, MoMM 2c, 24, Philadelphia, PA*
•John Barlow Swift, EM 1c, 25, Newfane, NY*
•John J. Hollenbach, MM1 c, 27, Brookville, ID
•Ralph S. Austin, MM 2c, 21, Springtown, TX
•F. J. Dyboske, CEM, 33, Rockford, IL
•C. A. De Armond, MM 1c, 30, Denver, CO



Names with an asterisk (*) were lost with Sculpin when she sank November 19, 1943. There was one more name given than people in photo but I'm leaving it in rather than pull a wrong name from the list.

Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman.

USS Sculpin (SS-191) Commanding Officer, Lieutenent Commander Lucius H Chappell, USN. LCDR Chappell was Sculpin CO for her first 8 war patrols. Chappell turned over command to CDR Fred Connaway for her 9th war patrol. Sculpin was lost on that patrol.

Photo courtesy of Randy Chappell, son of LCDR Lucius H Chappell.

LCDR Lucius H. Chappell with the Sculpin battle flag, 1943. Chappell was the Sculpin CO for her first 8 war patrols. He was presented with the Sculpin battle flag when he left the sub.

Photo courtesy of Randy Chappell, son of LCDR Lucius H Chappell.

Sculpin showing off her modifications at the Hunter's Point Navy Yard, San Francisco, CA., spring of 1943. The modifications are numbered in the picture as: 1. 3"/50 caliber gun moved to the forward position, 2. 20 mm guns on Mk 5 mounts, 3. Ready service ammunition lockers installed, 4. Plating around periscope shears removed, 5. Pilothouse removed, 6. Venturi added to bridge fairwater, 8. Radio antenna added, 9. Square shaped LF loop antenna added, 10. SD radar mast.

It is interesting to note that the weld beads for the hull number are still visible on the side of the fairwater. Compare this to the fairwater picture above and you can get a sense for how much her exterior appearance changed.

U.S. Navy photo.

Sculpin's conning tower fairwater shown from the front, Hunter's Point, CA., 1943. This and the next photo show off the modifications made to bring her up to date.

U.S. Navy photo.

An aft view of Sculpin's fairwater, 1943. Underneath the aft 20 mm gun and hidden by the fairwater is the man-size, mushroom shaped main air induction valve that fed air into the engine rooms for use by the diesels.

U.S. Navy photo.

Sculpin seen from the bow as she departs San Francisco, May 1, 1943. Note the side mounted position for the SJ radar mast.

U.S. Navy photo.

Sculpin from the stern in San Francisco Bay, May 1, 1943. The Golden Gate Bridge is in the background.

U.S. Navy photo.

A broad port side view of Sculpin on San Francisco Bay, May 1, 1943.

U.S. Navy photo.

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