Posted 15 years ago
scottvez
(977 items)
Navy Trench Art is fairly common, but depictions of Navy Divers are very unusual.
This Shell depicts a diver holding the submarine 192 (USS Squalus, SS-192).
The Squalus sank during a test dive in 1939 , drowning 26 crew and trapping another 33 on the bottom at a depth of 243 feet. Navy divers were able to rescue the 33 using the McCann Rescue Chamber. The four divers who worked the rescue recieved the Medal of Honor for their actions.
The shell has a hole at the base and shows residue of something attached at the top, so it was probably a lamp at one time.
Scott
Thanks Trenchartman!
Thanks Mike-- take a look at my items. I have numerous other trench art pieces up.
Thanks FineLines.
Thanks for looking p...!
scott
The Kittery Historical and Naval Museum (Kittery, Maine) is doing a display on the 75th Anniversary of the USS Squalus disaster. This trench art shell is tentatively scheduled to be part of the display.
From talking with the curator, there will be some interesting and rare items on display, so if you are in the area-- be sure to stop by. The Squalus display is scheduled to run Memorial Day Weekend through Columbus Weekend.
Museum link:
http://kitterymuseum.com/
scott
Thanks for looking jjsr.
scott
Thanks much for looking moonstone!
scott
Wow, so cool! I have had some trench art but nothing close to this unusual. Thanks for sharing! Now I'm going to have to figure out how to get to Maine this summer.