Muskogee War Memorial Park, Muskogee, Oklahoma

Muskogee War Memorial Park, Muskogee, Oklahoma

Muskogee War Memorial Park was conceived as an idea by the Oklahoma Chapters of the United States Submarine Veterans of World War II to bring a submarine to each state in about 1961. It took until November 8, 1971 before a submarine was approved to bring it to the Muskogee, Oklahoma area. The famed USS Batfish submarine was a powerful U.S. weapon during World War II. Named for a ferocious West Indian fish, the Batfish sank 15 Japanese vessels during the war, among them three submarines in just 76 hours. The latter accomplishment has not since been matched and U.S.S. Batfish to this day remains the most successful submarine killing sub in history. The USS Batfish (SS-310) is a balao class submarine, the second class of fleet submarine introduced during World War II. The United States Navy designed the Balao Class to replace the older Gato Class. In comparison to the Gato class, the Balao class could dive much deeper due to its increase hull thickness (7/8 of an inch compared to the Gato’s 9/16). Also at the Muskogee War Memorial Park is a piece of the USS Oklahoma which was sunk December 7, 1941 in Pearl Harbor. Over 429 sailors on board the USS Oklahoma lost their life during the Pearl Harbor attack by Japan. Righted and salvaged in 1943, the USS Oklahoma was scrapped in 1946 and lost at sea in 1947 while in transit to a wrecker's yard. The anchor of the USS Oklahoma is in Oklahoma City and the support mast is in the Muskogee War Memorial Park. The Batfish and support mast of the USS Oklahoma remind us of the cost of freedom and the sacrifice made by the brave to protect our country.

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Date of Installation:

November 8, 1971

Organization Responsible for Installation:

Oklahoma Chapters of the United States Submarine Veterans of World War II

Memorial War Era(s):

WWII

Location:

3500 Batfish Road Muskogee, OK 74403

Photo Gallery:

Muskogee War Memorial Park, Muskogee, Oklahoma

 

Published on October 24, 2020