Due to a related historic ‘fact-finding’ project, I have received the unfortunate ‘enlightenment’ that the National Park Service is presently content with their level of knowledge on USS ARIZONA, her loss, and the attack on Pearl Harbor. Thus, they generally have no particular interest in updated or new information on the subject(s) that could cause a change in the program or their dissemination of said information to the half to three-quarters of a million curious visitors per year.
As of this time, the NPS has accepted the premise that only two 800kg bombs hit the ship, one on turret 4, and the other being the one that detonated the forward magazines. Of the remaining eight bombs dropped on that mooring, two hit VESTAL, and the rest just got wet, detonating nearby or going into the mud/ coral and remaining there still today.
Note: only about 20% of those 800kg actually hit their targets and even less of that percentage actually detonated high order.
The fact-finding project I’m doing involves evidence of a third and possibly a fourth bomb hit on the ship and the possibility of one or again, possibly two unexploded bombs still existing within the hull.
Sadly, the NPS does not appear interested in investigating either sites, even with comparatively non-invasive or low-invasive techniques.
Bummer!
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