USS Bunker Hill diorama - In progress (1 Viewer)

[Larry Allen]

In November 1944, my father got a ride home on the Bunker Hill. His airgroup was being rotated out (Airgroup 15 - Essex).

On November 20th, the Bunker Hill left the Ulithi Anchorage and sailed east, reaching Pearl Harbor around the November 28th. After a few days shore leave, the Bunker Hill left Pearl on December 1 and sailed to Puget Sound and the Bremerton Shipyards arriving around the December 7th. At Bremberton, she received a series of significant upgrades and weapon improvements. She left Bremerton on January 24, 1945 and sailed back to the Western Pacific. On May 11, 1945 she was struck by two kamikazes and heavily damaged. Some 390 were killed and another 265 were wounded. The Bunker Hill returned to the Bremerton Naval Yards and was still undergoing repairs when the war ended. In late September 1945, she sailed back to the Western Pacific and was used as a transport for returning servicemen.

I bet that was the BEST "Uber" or "Lyft" ride that you dad ever got!!!!
Nice little fun-fact on the Bunker Hill.

--- LaRRy

 

[Malcolm Britain]

Terrific stuff Zach. I think the scale of the ship really makes the display shine. I also like the sparse use of figures...definitely a case of less is more.