March 2008 was a pretty good
month for DD850 in furthering our progress towards
overhauling this ship to its late 1960s/early 70s
appearance. As always, volunteers provide the backbone
of the manpower to preserve this last Gearing class
destroyer that is still associated with the United States
Navy. The fruits of our labor during the past 7 years
are really starting to show as a good deal of our
compartments accurately represent the 1960s and early 70s
USN to the public. We still have a long way to go to
finish the job but the path is certainly the right one.
Owen Hayes
(USS Waldron DD699)
Maury Crotteau (USS Harwood DD861)
Jim Mulvihill (USS Waldron DD699)
Al Lungstren (USS John Paul Jones DD932)
Bobby Young (USS Patterson FF-1061)
Mike Angelini (USS J.P. Kennedy Jr. DD850)
Don Furlong
Bob Washburn (USS William R. Rush DD714)
Steve Whynot (USS Trippe
FF-1075)
Rich O'Connor (USS Vesole
DD878)
Bob Sipos (USS Fred T Berry
DD858)
Jim Caruso
NAPS students
Dave Stawicki (Museum Employee)
Rich Angelini
Projects and museum support undertaken during the field
day included:
-- The missing bulletin board, fire wand, 1.5" sea
strainer, and a spanner wrench were installed and secured
in the recently painted FOX Division berthing to give this
space a more authentic look. Labels and signage were
cleaned as we continue to finalize the detailing of this
berthing area which is used for Boy Scout overnights. It
was also noted that the location for Petty Officer lockers
is such that we can install one for restoration purposes
without hindering overnight guests. (Don Furlong, Rich
Angelini, Mike Angelini, Jim Caruso)
-- An in depth scrapping and wash down of the scullery
passageway was completed to prepare the area for
painting. It is hoped that the scullery and associated
passageway will be sprayed in April. (Bob Washburn, NAPS)
-- A new door knob, locking mechanism from USS Des
Moines, and a se rvice tray from USS Puget Sound were
installed on the door to the ET shop after work was done
to drill out a riveted plate that hindered the original
"Dutch" door. (Steve Whynot)
-- Scraping and prepping
continued in the BOSN locker to prepare it for painting.
The hope is to have it sprayed within the coming month.
(Bobby Young, NAPS)
-- Outlet covers, light
fixture enclosures, and switch covers were installed in
the BOSN Locker along with cleaning up of loose wiring.
This area of the ship has not been restored and has not
been painted since at least the mid-80s. (Gene Byers,
Jim Caruso)
-- The counter, dish racks,
and the equipment in the WR Pantry have been detailed and
cleaned. This space is just about ready for final
display. (Rich O'Connor)
-- Electronics repairs in the ET Shop. (Maury Crotteau,
Jim Mulvihill)
-- General electrical repairs, bulb and starter changes,
etc. (Owen Hayes)
-- Removed and secured rare
and valuable historic items from the Bridge in preparation
for the Independent film being shot aboard KENNEDY on
16-18 March. Also, weekly caretaking of this almost
completed space. (Al Lundgren)
As you will see below, the
work in the Bridge is winding down as that space nears
completion while our momentum grows in the Combat
Information Center.
-- Moving ahead with the radar repeater restoration by Bob
Ledux (USAF), one of the recently acquired SPA-25
repeaters from USS Puget Sound has been powered up and is
sweeping in CIC! New volunteer, Larry Ransom (EM, USS
Beatty DD756) traced the power source and we are excited
that this equipment is going live. Welcome aboard Larry
and your grandson Gary!
-- The lighting circuits in
CIC are being traced out and fixed so that white lights or
red lights come on according to the switch indicator.
(Larry Ransom, Owen Hayes)
-- The power and signal
sources for the SPA-4 radar repeater in CIC have been
traced and readied for hookup. (Maury Crotteau, Bob Ledux,
Harry Miller -USS Norris DD859)
-- Signage and various
covers in the BOSN locker and Windlass Equipment room area
are being detailed for display. (Jim Mulvihill)
-- The deck in the WR Pantry
has been prepared and completed. The placement of
artifacts for display is just about complete. A Steward's
serving jacket and an apron from the late 60s are being
washed for display in this space. The WR Pantry is
expected to be completed by no later than mid-April. (Rich
Angelini)
-- A fire wand, 1.5" sea
strainer, spanner wrench, and a bulletin board have all
been painted during the detailing of Fox Division. The
first coat of white paint was applied to the interior of
the main passageway access hatch and the emergency scuttle
to the CPO Head. A new USN style door knob has been
installed on the SONAR Equipment Room door to make the
space more cosmetically appealing. It is hoped to
complete the detailing of Fox Division by the end of
April. (Rob Angelini, Tim Conrad)
-- The deck of the Bridge
has been painted with a second coat and this space is now
ready for all the final touches. The newly refreshed and
accurately restored Bridge should officially be complete
by the end of April-- with a sweeping Radar repeater! (Al
Lundgren, Bobby Young)
-- The Bridge interior
passageway or foyer area has received its first coat of
white paint. It is hoped to get a second coat in this
entry way in the next few weeks and have the whole area
restored by the end of April. (Don Furlong, Bobby Young)
-- The correct reduction
gear thermometers that KENNEDY carried in the late 60s and
early 70s were acquired from USS Des Moines. The process
of cleaning and installing them in the Aft Engine Room has
begun. (Mike Angelini)
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Thanks go out to the
following individuals for their recent
contributions to support USS J.P. Kennedy Jr. DD850.
Every contribution is very much appreciated. Without your
support, we will not be able to acquire the equipment
missing from DD850 or complete the major restoration
projects that this last USN Gearing class destroyer needs
to accurately represent the men who rode these ships.
1. Ned Dodds (USS Cone
DD866) -- $10,000 donation towards the acquisition of
authentic equipment and artifacts associated with Gearing
class destroyers. With this donation, Ned
has lifetime visitation to our museum and USS J.P. Kennedy
Jr. DD850. Ned also plans to join in our ship activities
when he can.
2. Len Barrett (USS Joseph
P. Kennedy Jr DD850) -- Financial donation towards the
acquisition of equipment to enhance restoration projects.
Len was a crewmember on KENNEDY in the early 1960s and
worked in CIC and has supported our strip trip and
research activities aboard. This contribution will
support the restoration of his duty station aboard DD850.
3. Dan Davis (USS Arnold
Isbell DD869) -- Dan has recently donated his original
inflatable life vest that he used on DD869 and the
original large Holiday Ensign flown in the early 70s.
These will be a great addition and the life vest will go
in our restored CIC when completed as Dan was a OS on
DD869.
4. Dave Hood (USS McKean
DD784) -- Dave has donated his original foul weather USN
rain suit rubberized canvas coat and bib overalls for
lookouts that he had while aboard DD784. This suit will
go on display in the restored Bridge to represent the
lookouts who stood watches on both Bridge wings.
5. USS Perry DD844
artifacts -- The museum recently acquired the original
Wardroom clock and lead Quartermaster's binoculars. Both
of these items were removed from DD844 upon
decommissioning. The clock is now on display as "The"
wardroom clock on DD850 while the binoculars are on
display in the restored Chart Room.
6. Dan Pillie (USS Joseph
P. Kennedy Jr DD850) -- Dan sent us photos of DD850 during
her last cruise in 1972 when he was stationed aboard and
many showed great detail for restoration purposes. Of
note is the last known photo taken of Fox Division ,
which we are currently restoring.
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Notes:
1. The April mini field day is coming. The dates are
18-19-20 April. Please let us know if you plan to attend.
2. We will have a ALL Hands meeting on Saturday 19, April
at 1215 to discuss ship projects, business, and news.
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Join the effort...Please consider helping KENNEDY in any
manner you can..history and this ship depend on YOU.
Fair winds and following seas,
Rich Angelini
Assistant Curator, USS JOSEPH P KENNEDY JR DD850
http://www.ussjpkennedyjr.org
