Museum

Bowfin Artifacts

Bowfin Artifacts

USS Bowfin Bell Our museum exhibits include Bowfin’s bell, which had been missing for about 24 years. The bell was discovered at an estate sale. A California couple who collect antiques purchased the bell and contacted another WWII submarine museum in California to ask about the bell. USS Pampanito wasn’t interested in a bell that said "USS Bowfin," but they knew who would be. We purchased the bell and it arrived safe and sound thanks to Mario Hernandez, Fred Algar and Eric Webber, three Naval Reservists who toted this 77 pound brass bell back to Pearl Harbor on board an airplane.

Another exhibit is Bowfin’s second battle flag, which was stored in crew member Jack Updegraff’s parents’ attic and forgotten about for almost 50 years! It was rediscovered and donated to the Museum collection just in time for the crew’s reunion-on-the-boat. To commemorate the Bowfin crew’s bravery during nine successful WWII war patrols, a special plaque that lists each of the crew members names was also unveiled during the reunion. The plaque stands on shore near the entrance of the submarine.

Other exhibits include a Bowfin launching cachet and a Purple Heart that was bestowed upon crew member Reid Lee, the only Bowfin casualty of war. Lee received shrapnel wounds during a surface engagement on the seventh patrol. The Purple Heart, a decoration instituted by Gen. George Washington, is named after the only type of wood capable of withstanding the constant stress of repeated firing.

Our most recent addition is Bowfin's Presidential Unit Citation pennant, donated by Captain W. T. Stutzer. bowfin-puc

Bowfin received the citation for her brilliant second war patrol under the command of LCDR Walter Griffith.

Secrets of the Sub

Vargas Girls

Artist Alberto Vargas became famous for his WWII watercolors depicting beautiful pin-up girls. "Varga girls" were so popular that many different artists immitated Vargas’ technique and approach to the female figure: an idealized female form eliciting sensuality and seduction. During the 1940’s his work was a hit amongst enlisted men who drew inspiration from them which inadvertently created high morale. The military was so influenced by this art that they adorned their vessels with it. Many military aircraft had Varga style girls decorating the nose of their planes, Varga girls were even printed on greeting cards and sent to enlisted men by their sweethearts. Inside the engine room aboard USS Bowfin, the crew posted a 1943 Vargas calendar, on which they doodled, wrote notes, and recorded their conquests of the sea.