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Originally Posted by Godzilla
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Thanks for the great photos of the Battleship Texas. I suspect those were taken before she headed of to support the landings at both Iwo Jima and Okinawa considering when she returned she had been painted in camouflage to make her less visible to Japanese aircraft.
The USS Texas was the last of the Dreadnaught class of Battleships in the Navy and had the unique distinction of having served in both WWI and WWII in both the European and Pacific theaters. Having in the early 1930s been the "Flagship Vessel" of the Navy she enjoyed many firsts as the Navy geared up to more modern times.
The Texas was decommissioned in April of 1948 after 34 years of service. She is now located in San Jacinto State Park in the Houston metro area. I had the privilege of touring her pretty much as she was on decommissioning. Anyone who is interested in her unique history can go to
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-pa...ttleship-texas and
http://www.usstexasbb35.com/
For those who venture to the second link the spire seen in the background is the San Jacinto Monument, erected 1936 as tribute the location where Texas won its independence from Mexico in 1836. Our next door neighbor was the mason that constructed the 34 foot high Star atop the 570 foot tall Obelisk. It is the tallest stone memorial monument in the world and is 15 feet taller than the Washington Monument.
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-pa...-site-monument