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A fleet of U.S. bomber airplanes fly across the sky. The photograph comes from a U.S.S. West Virginia Scrapbook.

1. Flight of Bombers in Hawaii

IDNO:: 051995
Title:: Flight of Bombers in Hawaii
Date:: ca. 1940
Description:: A fleet of U.S. bomber airplanes fly across the sky. The photograph comes from a U.S.S. West Virginia Scrapbook.

Photograph comes from a U.S.S. West Virginia scrapbook.

2. Naval Fleet Displaying Searchlights at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

IDNO:: 051996
Title:: Naval Fleet Displaying Searchlights at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
Date:: ca. 1940
Description:: Photograph comes from a U.S.S. West Virginia scrapbook.

A sailor prepares to dive into the sea off the deck of the U.S.S. West Virginia.

3. Scuba Diver off U.S.S. West Virginia

IDNO:: 052001
Title:: Scuba Diver off U.S.S. West Virginia
Date:: ca. 1940
Description:: A sailor prepares to dive into the sea off the deck of the U.S.S. West Virginia.

Captain Bennion was killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. As he laid mortally wounded on the West Virginia's command bridge, Bennion refused to be removed from his burning ship. He continued to give orders, directing his crew's actions. Bennion's last order to his men before he died was to leave him and "abandon ship." Captain Bennion was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

4. USN Captain Mervyn S. Bennion, U.S.S. West Virginia

IDNO:: 052259
Title:: USN Captain Mervyn S. Bennion, U.S.S. West Virginia
Date:: ca. 1940
Description:: Captain Bennion was killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. As he laid mortally wounded on the West Virginia's command bridge, Bennion refused to be removed from his burning ship. He continued to give orders, directing his crew's actions. Bennion's last order to his men before he died was to leave him and "abandon ship." Captain Bennion was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.