USS Indianapolis CA-35
The USS Indianapolis CA-35
These Items Are For Display Only and Are Not For Sale
The "Indy" at Mare Island (US Navy Photo)
Essential components for the world's first operational atomic bomb were delivered by the Indianapolis (CA-35) to the island of Tinian on 26 July 1945. The Indianapolis then reported to CINCPAC (Commander-In-Chief, Pacific) Headquarters at Guam for further orders. She was directed to join the battleship USS Idaho (BB-42) at Leyte Gulf in the Philippines to prepare for the invasion of Japan. The Indianapolis, unescorted, departed Guam on a course of 262 degrees making about 17 knots.
At 14 minutes past midnight, on 30 July 1945, midway between Guam and Leyte Gulf, she was hit by two torpedoes out of six fired by the I-58, a Japanese submarine. The first blew away the bow, the second struck near midship on the starboard side adjacent to a fuel tank and a powder magazine. The resulting explosion split the ship to the keel, knocking out all electric power. Within minutes she went down rapidly by the bow, rolling to starboard.
Of the 1,196 aboard, about 900 made it into the water in the twelve minutes before she sank. Few life rafts were released. Most survivors wore the standard kapok life jacket. Shark attacks began with sunrise of the first day and continued until the men were physically removed from the water, almost five days later (ussindianapolis.org).
For the past eight years I have found myself quietly building a large collection of material dealing with the USS Indianapolis CA-35 and her rescuing ships. Comprised of over 300 paper and photographic items, 200+ autographs, and several artifacts from the ship, the collection contains too many small items to photograph individually, so only a few pieces have been included below.
1937 wooden scale model built in honor of President Roosevelt's 1936 Cruise on the Indy.
MM1C Melvin Feurst grouping. Includes his Indy tally, presidential service patch, Shellback card, and subpoena to King Neptune's Court- signed by Roosevelt on the '36 Cruise
1975 Indy Survivor's Reunion belt buckle.
1933 issue of Our Navy which focused on the Indy.
Indianapolis Lion's Club commemorative belt buckles.
Dedication packet for the Indy memorial.
ID'd 1942 lifebelt from the Indy. This was probably taken off ship during one of its later refittings.
Letters of AM1 William Weldon Sheretz 1943-1944. 117 letters from Sheretz to his wife discussing life on board the Indy in the heart of the war years.
1942 lifebelt probably taken from the ship in one of her later refittings.
F2C Frank A Fantasia (Lost at Sea) - A collection of letters & postcards home and his hometown newspaper announcing his loss.
The collection of SC1 Charles W. Farber, 1934-1938. Includes a multitude of one-of -a-kind items. Farber kept the ship's time log during the '36 Presidential Cruise - the original copy of this log and all notes is included in the collection.
Ship's newspaper 1932-1934. This may be the only complete monthly run of the Indy's newspapers in her first years of service.
One of over 140 covers in the collection stamped while on board the Indy.
Survivor Richard Houck's invitation and paperwork for the July 30, 1977 dedication of the SSN 697 Indianapolis.
1935 Christmas card from the Indy.
Photo album from an officer of the rescuing ship USS Bassett.
The Indy's last Christmas menu as typed out by the head cook and kept in his papers.
Program for the Second Survivor's Reunion in 1965.
Secretary of the Navy Claude Swanson's autograph on an Indy cover while touring the ship in 1933.
One of 14 Indy Shellback cards in the collection. Most were handed out in the 1936 Presidential Cruise.
A 1938 USMC promotion to a man serving on board the Indy.
My favorite part of the collection - over 200 autographs from 100+ survivors. These guys are my heroes and they never turn down a chance to chat or write a note. Great men and true heroes!
Original photos - I have roughly 75-95 original wartime and postwar photos of the ship and her crew. The photo to the right was taken in1960 of the captain at the first reunion.
Program, Christmas, 1933
Indy's 1st Anniversary program, 1933.
Call to Worship card from the Indy...roughly 1937-1938
An Indy cap signed by two of the heroic survivors.
