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1947 - USS Cusk Year by Year History

Crewmembers, Pictures, and Memorabilia

The Cusk becomes the world's first missile submarine

1947 was the year of the Cusk's first historic missile launch.  The date was the 12th of February, 1947 when submarine warfare was changed forever.  Cusk's first launch was unguided and it flew out over the Pacific until it ran out of fuel.  The next launch later the next month was guided using the Cusk's on board missile guidance equipment.  The following summer, the Cusk was sent to Mare Island Naval Shipyard to have a hanger installed for the missile.  This hanger would enable the Cusk to submerge with a missile and surface at a later time for launching.

Click on any image to see its full size - then click the "Back" button to return to this page.

Click here to see the crewlist for 1947

Memorabilia and pictures from 1947:


The Day Before the Historic Launch

Crew Picture 11 Feb 1947
Taken at Point Mugu, California
(Photo courtesy of Karl Kramer)


5...4...3...2...1...
The countdown is almost to T-0 as
the Cusk makes another successful launch.

(Photo courtesy of Nick Spark and his movie,
"Regulus, the First Nuclear Missile Submarines" )

...0  Fire!

The gasoline turbine engine ignites
(Photo courtesy of Nick Spark and his movie,
"Regulus, the First Nuclear Missile Submarines" )

Missile Away
(Photo courtesy of Nick Spark and his movie,
"Regulus, the First Nuclear Missile Submarines" )

Ship's Party at Pt. Mugu

More party pictures at Pt. Mugu

Pt. Mugu ship's party

Ship's Party Collage - Pt. Mugu, California

Portside view of Cusk just after missile hanger

was installed, September 29, 1947.
(US Navy Photo)

Stern view of ramp and hanger

September 29, 1947

Mare Island, California

(US Navy Photo)

Another view of Cusk just after missile

hanger was installed, September 29, 1947.
(US Navy Photo)

Early Missile Launch - Pt. Mugu


Cusk's Missile Hanger and
Launch Ramp being installed

(Cocoa Library Photo)


Starboard view of Cusk just after

missile hanger was installed.
(Cocoa Library Photo)


View of Cusk just before her

historic missile launch.
(Cocoa Library Photo)


Door sign from the Missile Center

located just below the Crew's Mess.

(Photo courtesy of Tom Roseland)

 

Crewmembers who served aboard the Cusk in 1947:

Last Name First & MI City State Rank/Rate Years on Board Eternal Patrol Date Comments
Allen Henry Walker       46 - 47   Plankowner
Allison Robert D     FA(SS) 46 - 47   Plankowner
Ancinec Henry Joseph Alpine CA QMC(SS) 47 - 51 25 July 2008  
Bates Robert D     SA(SS) 46 - 47   Plankowner
Baylon Richard "Dick" Winona MN F1EM 47    
Bettencourt Edgar Street     QMSN(SS) 46 - 47   Plankowner
Bridgers Norman Tilden     FN(SS) 47 30 September 1994  
Brown Lawrence Frederick     SC2(SS) 46 - 47 26 September 1974 Plankowner
Burke Alfred Irving     HMC(SS) 47 - 51    
Cantrell Alfred C     TM3(SS) 46 - 47   Plankowner
Carroll Richard J. "Dick" Center City MN EM3(SS) 47 4-6-2007  
Carroll Loren A Ozawkie KS   46 - 47 December 2008 Plankowner
Clark Frederic B     CDR 47 - 49   2nd Captain of the Cusk
Culp       ET1(SS) 47    
Draper, Jr. Edward Commodore "Ed" Port Orchard WA EN2(SS) 47 - 51 11 August 1994  
Drury Roy     SN 47    
Fenton Ronald     RM2(SS) 46 - 47   Plankowner
Ferrer Daniel Rosal     TMSN(SS) 46 - 47   Plankowner
Finlan Harold Joseph     ENC(SS) 47 - 50    
Fisher Walter Curtis Norfolk VA EN1(SS) 46 - 48 13 November 1990 Plankowner
Fosberg Orville Andrew     MOMMC(SS) 46 - 47 Date Unknown Plankowner
Fraga Frank Zamarron Roanoke TX EMC(SS) 47 - 52 & 61 - 63 25 June 2007 Chief of the Boat on his second tour aboard Cusk
Franklin Larry Bruce Louisville KT LTJG 61 - 62    
Friel James D Bellerose NY RM2(SS) 46 - 47 22 April 1997

Plankowner

Fulghum Weldon Franklin     TM2(SS) 46 - 47 8 November 2006 Plankowner
Gilfillan William Mystic CT EM1(SS) 47 - 48 9 May 1992  
Girard Lawrence A     RMC(SS) 46 - 49   Plankowner
Glover Harry Otho Crete IL TM1(SS) 47 21 October 2013 Retired as TMCM(SS)
Graham Herbert William     RM1(SS) 46 - 53 Date Unknown Plankowner
Hager John Peter Tucson AZ HMC(SS) 46 - 47 4 April 1999 Plankowner, Joined in 1939 left in 1959
Halverson Richard I     EM3(SS) 47    
Hansen Phillip Vane "Swede" Bonneau SC MOMM2(SS) 46 - 47 28 May 2011 Plankowner, Retired as LCDR
Haynes, Jr. Harold William Oceanside CA QM2(SS) 46 - 48 26 August 2016 Plankowner
Holmes, Jr. James Washington Pensacola FL FCS1(SS) 47 16 April 2014 Retired as CDR
Hord Paul O     QM1(SS) 47 - 52 Date Unknown  
Jenkins Irvin H     CS1(SS) 46 - 48   Plankowner
Johnson Isaac   TX IC1(SS) 47 19 July 2009  
Jordan Robert Louis Groton CT LT 46 - 47 31 December 1992 Plankowner
Keeran Ernest Melvin Ft. Cobb OK RM1(SS) 46 - 47 28 November 1985 Plankowner
Kennedy Arden James San Diego CA EMC(SS) 47 30 April 1960  
Kennedy Robert E San Diego CA EN1(SS) 46 - 50   Plankowner
Kennedy Walter Shawnee KS RDSN(SS) 47 - 48 2015  
Koons Paul David     SA 47    
Kunkel  Leo Paul Jacksonville FL MOMM2(SS) 45 - 48 & 52 - 58 18 February 2015 Plankowner
Leo L     ETC(SS) 47 - 48    
Langlois Ralph     EM3(SS) 46 25 August 1949 Plankowner, Lost aboard the USS Benevolence (AH-13) in San Francisco Bay after collision with a freighter.
Longnecker Everett Glenn San Diego CA EM1(SS) 46 - 47 & 50 - 51 22 February 1987 Plankowner
Lucas Max Alton Woodburn OR SA(SS) 46 - 47 14 June 2012 Plankowner
Mahin Jack Burton Carmichael CA EN1(SS) 46 - 50 2 January 2005 Plankowner
McCartney  Charles William Heavener OK MOMM3(SS) 47 11 October 2002  
McMillan Louis K, Jr. Destin FL LT 47 13 September 2012  
Meeks       EN1(SS) 47    
Mikolay John Robert     MoMM2(SS) 46 - 47 6 July 1992 Plankowner
Mitchell Edwin Foster Seminole FL EM2(SS) 46 - 47 9 November 1994 Plankowner
Murray, Jr Earl A     SO3(SS) 46 - 52 Date Unknown Plankowner
Norrington   William Edward Los Alamitos CA LCDR 45 - 47 24 October 2010 Plankowner, 1st  Executive Officer
Nuttleman Fred Vernon Rogers AR TMC(SS) 46 - 49 13 February 2010 Plankowner
Orr, Sr. Jim Frederick Old Lyme CT ETM3(SS) 47 18 March 2001  
Parden Lee Bob     EMC(SS) 46 - 47 6 January 1991 Plankowner
Patterson, Jr. Hugh Fair Oaks CA EM3(SS) 46 - 48 28 November 2002 Plankowner
Pfeiffer Chester P     GM1(SS) 47    
Phoenix David A "Dave" Woodstock CT MM2(SS) 46 - 49   Plankowner, Retired as Captain
Pinkoff Jerome David San Lorenzo CA CS2(SS) 47 - 48 8 January 2000  
Press Walter Thomas "Wally" Vallejo CA CS1(SS) 47 28 January 1991  
Rawding William Burt "Scottie" Bedford MA SN(SS) 46 - 49   Plankowner
Rendernick John Davis San Diego CA EMC(SS) 46 - 47 26 November 2001 Plankowner
Sanders Richard William San Diego CA EN1(SS) 47 - 51 31 July 2003  
Saunders Paul Golden "Swish" Dunnellon FL GMGC(SS) 46 - 51 Date Unknown Plankowner, Chief of the Boat, One of the most decorated enlisted men in the US Navy
Schwartz Harold Ray "Hal" Groton CT TM1(SS) 46 - 50 19 February 2006 Plankowner
Senior Harry B Orange Park FL SDC(SS) 46 - 52   Plankowner
Shelp James J "JJ" Auburn IA TM2(SS) 46 - 47 9 February 1970 Plankowner
Shipman William "Bill" San Angelo TX HMC(SS) 45 - 47 1 February 1995 Plankowner
Smith

Leroy Ralph

Long Beach CA TM3(SS) 46 - 51 7 November 2003 Plankowner
Stetzer Glen Arnold     SN(SS) 46 - 47    Plankowner
Summers Paul Edward "Pete" Edmond OK CDR 46 - 47 28 August 1993 Plankowner, 1st Captain of the Cusk
Taylor Theodore Charles "Ted" Renton WA EMFN(SS) 47 4 September 2011  
Thomas, Jr. Frank Lincoln Houston TX LT 45 - 47 12 February 2010 Plankowner

Donald "Don" Verhaaren

      FS2(SS) 47 10 January 1992  
Waldeck Robert Martin "Bob" Groton CT EM1(SS) 47 - 50 15 July 2007  
Walker Charles W Marydel MD FC3(SS) 46 - 50 2 June 2010 Plankowner
Wanner Vance R Houston TX LT 45 - 48 12 May 1977 Plankowner
Webster Douglas Alan     FCC(SS) 47 - 52 5 August 1988  
Westline John Gust     EN3(SS) 47 - 48    
White James Allen Sun City AZ QMC(SS) 46 - 47 10 May 2000 Plankowner
Wilkinson Eugene P "Dennis" Del Mar CA LCDR 47 - 48 11 July 2013 Executive Officer
Wright Lowell S     CMOMM 46 - 47 Date Unknown Plankowner
Young George Reese     EMC(SS) 47 - 48    

Ernest J "Zeke" Zellmer

  Satellite Beach FL LT 46 - 48 27 August 2018 Plankowner, 1st Engineering Officer
Zimmerman R C     SM2c 46 - 47   Plankowner

If you have any information, pictures, history, or crewmember names/information from the Cusk in 1947 (or any year), please contact the Cusk Webmaster.  Thanks!

 


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 All information and pictures herein were contributed by, and are the property of crewmembers of the USS Cusk.  It is intended solely for your enjoyment and education, and for preserving the memory and history of this great ship.  If you take anything or make copies, please give proper credit.  Your questions and comments are welcomed, as are any pictorial or historical contributions you might wish to donate or loan. 

Send an email to the USS Cusk webmaster at: USS Cusk Webmaster

This page was last updated: 01/11/19