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1948 - USS Cusk Year by Year History
Crewmembers, Pictures and
Memorabilia
A new captain,
a new patch, and a missile explodes on deck during a launch
In 1948, the Cusk was redesignated
from SS-348 to SSG-348 which reflected her new missile launching capability.
She continued launching missiles and testing her missile guidance systems, and
she was joined in the fleet by two other missile submarines, the USS Tunny
(SSG-282 ) and the USS Carbonero (SSG-337). On July 7,1948 during what
should have been a routine launch of a Loon,
the missile exploded while still on the launch ramp and set
fire to the Cusk. As the smoke cleared, the Cusk was no where to be
seen and witnesses on the surface thought that she had been sunk by the
explosion. Fortunately,
Captain Fred Clarke had ordered an immediate dive when the explosion
occurred which doused the flames and saved the boat and her crew. Pictures
below show various stages of the explosion including the smoky aftermath.
Click on any image to see its
full size - then click the "Back" button to return to this page.
Click
here to see the Cusk crewmembers who were aboard 1948
Memorabilia
and pictures from 1948 :
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First Missile Patch - 1948
Note how the new patch
combined the original
ship's patch with the
Loon Missile.
(Photo courtesy of Tom
Roseland) |

Captain Fred Clarke takes command
(Photo courtesy
of Nick Spark and the movie,
"Regulus, the First Nuclear Missile Submarines" ) |

Early
publicity photo of the
world's first missile submarine
(Photo courtesy
of Nick Spark and the movie,
"Regulus, the First Nuclear Missile Submarines" ) |
|

Change of command ceremonies
(Photo courtesy
of Nick Spark and the movie,
"Regulus, the First Nuclear Missile Submarines" )
|

The new captain inspects his crew
(Photo courtesy
of Nick Spark and the movie,
"Regulus, the First Nuclear Missile Submarines" ) |

All systems go - ready for launch
(Photo courtesy
of Nick Spark and the movie,
"Regulus, the First Nuclear Missile Submarines" ) |
|

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

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

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

Aftermath of the
Explosion
It was thought that the
Cusk had been sunk, but the quick thinking Captain Clarke had
submerged the Cusk to put out the fire.
(Photo courtesy
of Nick Spark and this movie,
"Regulus, the First Nuclear Missile Submarines" ) |

SSG-348
The Cusk is
redesignated SSG-348 in 1948 for her
missile capabilities.
A new ship's patch is
created which was later
modified to add the "G" after the SS.
(Photo courtesy of Tom
Roseland) |
Crewmembers who were aboard the Cusk in 1948:
| Last Name |
City |
State |
Rank/Rate |
Svc. Date |
Comments |
| Clark, Fred B. |
|
|
CDR |
48 - 49 |
Cusk's 2nd Captain |
| Fisher, Walter Curtis |
|
VA |
EN1(SS) |
46 - 48 |
|
| Graham, Herbert W. |
|
|
RM1(SS) |
46 - 53 |
Eternal Patrol - Date Unknown |
| Herbst, Albert O. |
Fort Washington |
MD |
RM3(SS) |
45 - 48 |
|
| Kunkel, Leo P. |
Jacksonville |
FL |
MoMM2c |
45 - 48 &
52 - 58 |
|
| Leo. L. |
|
|
ETC(SS) |
47 - 48 |
|
| Longnecker, E. G. |
|
|
EM1(SS) |
47 - 50 |
|
| Page, Harold M |
Brigham City |
UT |
QM2(SS) |
48 - 50 |
|
| Rawding, William Burt "Scottie" |
Bedford |
MA |
|
46 - 49 |
|
| Senior, Harry B |
Orange Park |
FL |
SDC(SS) |
46 - 52 |
|
| Stafford, Sr., Gordon |
San Antonio |
TX |
TM2(SS) |
48 - 49 |
|
| Turnidge, William D. "Wild Bill" |
Bloomington |
CA |
|
48 - 50 |
Eternal Patrol - 1 Dec 1993 |
| Ullman, Robert W. |
Chula Vista |
CA |
EM1(SS) |
45 - 50 |
|
| Waldeck, Bob |
Groton |
CT |
|
48 - 50 |
| Wilkerson, Dennis |
|
|
LCDR |
47 - 48 |
|
| Zellmer, Ernest J.
"Zeke" |
Satellite Beach |
FL |
LT |
46 - 48 |
1st Engineering Officer |
If you have any information, pictures,
history, or crewmember names/information from the Cusk in 1948 (or any year),
please contact the
Cusk Webmaster.
Thanks!
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