Ford Island

[Don Boyer]

Last week I had the opportunity to photograph around the USS Missouri and the new USS Oklahoma Memorial as I had promised I would do for John Odom. Although this is not a thread specifically on ships, I thought I would add in some extra photographs on Ford Island itself. This little island in the middle of Pearl Harbor witnessed so much history and it is about to change dramatically if the navy's plans to upgrade the area are carried through. New housing is planned, and other facilities which will drastically change the island, although the navy is determined to preserve those parts of the island most closely associated with December 7, 1941 as much as possible.

I have a great fondness for Ford Island. Now that there is no aerial activity on the island (it was originally an naval air station) it is about as quiet and peaceful an area as you can get yet be surrounded by the fringes of Honolulu. When I was in high school my high school sweetheart lived in the navy housing on the island. In those days, you had to ride a ferry boat to and from the island, many years before the Admiral Clarey Bridge was built.

Here are some pictures, before it all changes again...

The house where my former love of my life lived --directly across the street from the new Oklahoma Memorial.

A small memorial tablet regarding the West Virginia and Tennessee.

The old aviation tower. I believe only the lower portion was there on December 7, 1941 the larger tower is a WWII add-on. Too dangerous to climb, there has been talk of restoration -- it would be a great view of Pearl Harbor, but the navy objects to great views of Pearl Harbor for some reason! We think their policy is the typical obdurate stupidity of security types everywhere -- don't take pictures of Pearl Harbor 'cause we have secret stuff! Meanwhile -- blocks away, are 20+ storey high rise apartments. the top floors are probably all leased to members of Chinese and other spy agencies with top of the line telescopes...The navy did object strenuously to the construction of these buildings, but to no avail, and now that they are there, there "Picture taking policy" is a bit of a joke, especially as Joe average can't get anywhere near anything spooky on the ground anyway.

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[Don Boyer]

This second group of photos shows a closer look at the old air tower, a remaining section of the taxiway and runway by the old seaplane hangers, the hanger now converted to the new Pacific Aviation Museum, some of the old hangers on the west side of the island and a street sign honoring RAdm Richard H. O'Kane, former commander of the USS Tang (SS-306) and a Medal of Honor recipient.

When I get the chance, I will add some more of the older buildings and remnants from the other side of Ford Island.

[John Odom]

Nice pictures, Don. Thanks.

[sourdough]

Don, I can't imagine what that real estate would be worth on the open market! I can imagine what some get rich quick developer would to it though! i hope that some day maybe it can become a park or something available to the public to have a nice visit or picnic away from the comercialized areas not that far away.
Thanks for the pictures, Sourdough

[Don Boyer]

Most welcome for the photos, Sourdough (you from Alaska? I was born there.)

The development of Ford Island is one of those staged things, the primary focus as I understand it to put more military housing in an area where it won't impinge on the surrounding "civilian" city, as much of Navy housing does now. There are plans for "greening" the area as well, since there would be outrage otherwise, but I have not yet seen "the grand plan" on paper. there will be many "amenities" as well for those living there. Frankly, considering that the old runway is useless, if historic, this is I think a good use of the land. Historic artifacts are to be preserved.

One of the companies involved was able to significantly lower its costs by working out a trade with the navy which has resulted in the old Naval Ammunitiion Depot at Waikele opening up to commercial use.

I plan to do a post on Waikele someday here, as I was on temporary duty there for a bit, and it's a former nuclear weapons storage and maintenance site from the cold war days.

Regards,

[sourdough]

Don, I am glad to hear that there is a plan for Ford Island, even if we don't know what it is.
I wasn't born in Alaska but lived and worked there for 10 years. Lived near Anchor Point and worked at Prudhoe Bay. An 800 mile commute. Retired there about 15 years ago and moved to Texas. Miss the nice summers but not the long winters or breakup! It is not a place for old men!
I think I understand why you live in Hawaii. Hope you are having a good day. I am sure you are having good weather! Sourdough

[Don Boyer]

Since I had the chance to photograph the Missouri yesterday, I took the long way off Ford Island to get a couple of more photos around the island.

First photo is Hanger 54 at the south end of the island, where the first Japanese bombs dropped on the revetment on December 7, 1941 about halfway between my car and the hangar doors.

The second photo is of the mooring quay where the USS West Virginia and Tennessee were anchored on December 7th. This is just forward of the USS Missouri's current berth.

The third photo shows the old seaplane ramps at the south end of Ford Island. Long disused, they are crumbling rapidly.

Fourth photo is the small boat yard on Ford Island where the ferry boats for the Arizona Memorial and various "Admiral's barges" are kept.

The fifth photo shows the remaining two old hangers from the former Luke Field (Army Air Corps) side of Ford Island.

Photo six is the "plane of the week" at the new Pacific Air Museum on Ford Island, in this case an old MiG 15.

[steve roberts]

Hi Don. Great shots once again.Its a good job you explained about the Mig 15.I thought you had been Invaded:D:D Regards Steve.

[CarrieC]

Ford Island was quite the place to grow up. I lived in quarters 352B Independence St. from 1959-63. I took the daily boat ride from the "Small Boat yard" to landing Charlie and back every day. There were a couple of AA mounts that were still operational that we used to spend time on "killing Japs" until the bus came to take us the rest of the way to school. We had free run of the island as long as we didn't wander onto the airstrip which was still operational. The random plaques and markers commemorating 12/07 were all over the island and in particular in the dispensary. The ratings in the boat shed taught me how to spit, cuss, and swagger in the true seaman fashion. They also began my practical education in marlin spike seamanship. One fine set of memories that I will cherish till I am gone. I went back to Ford and took my kids for a visit when I was flying out of Wheeler from 1983-86. Of course everything had been demolished by then and the quarters missing altogether made it tough to locate all the special places of my youth. Luckily "my" Banyan tree survived. I am afraid a visit now would be terribly disappointing so I will forego the effort. Thank you for sharing the photos with us Don.
regards,
Red

[Don Boyer]

Red, what a great pleasure it is to hear from someone who actually lived on the island "back in the day." Thanks for the post and for sharing such memories.

I lived on Hickam from 1962 -64, but had a girlfriend who lived on Ford Island. Like you, the ferry boat and the small boats were a big part of my life.

Ford Island has changed dramatically, of course, with new quarters being built and modifications made to accomodate the USS Missouri, the USS Oklahoma Memorial, the Utah Memorial and all the changes to the docking arrangements on the west side of the island, to say nothing of the new bridge from shoreside to Ford Island. (See my posts in the Pearl Harbor thread for some pictures of the bridge.) The Pacific Aviation Museum has taken over one of the large hangers as well. The old runway is unused and supposedly will mostly disappear as naval quarters and other facilities are to be built there.

The island still is a quiet, peaceful corner of Pearl Harbor, though -- moreso now that the aircraft no longer operate there. But there are still many of the old faciilities left there, including some buildings that are approaching 100 years old, a couple of the gun batteries (sans guns, of course) and magazines and the like.

On another note, I worked on Wheeler from 2004 -- 2007 at the building that used to be the Officer's Club, a place I had visited with my mother and father many times as a young lad. Had my father stayed in the Air Force, he would have been Commanding Officer on Wheeler before he retired. But he decided he had enough of the military by 1965. I now work in the building on Schofield that was also the Officer's club and another place I had been as a kid. Kind of strange to return some 40 years later and be there in a working capacity.

Again, it was great to hear of your memories of the little island. And the banyan tree is still there.

[terreplein]

Thanks very much for the pictures. I find these kind of personal stories from such a place fascinating, thanks much.

[Old Salt]

Thank you Don for the great update on Ford Island.

When I was serving in the RNZN in 1969, our ship HMNZS Blackpool spent three months at Pearl Harbour doing a workup.

At the weekends we berthed over at Pearl, but overnight stops during the week were often spent at Ford Island. I remember finding it quite surreal at first, particularly at the Arizona Memorial. One could only imagine the day she sank and the horrors most of the crew suffered. And of course on the other ships. I still have an awesome respect for the memorials of that day.

One of our sudden workup tasks was for the duty watch to take the ship to sea. I was OOD so got to be the CO for an hour at least. They threw me a curveball by making me take the ship around Ford Island to sea.

I was invited to visit the VC 5 Squadron airfield, but I cannot remember whether that was at Ford Island. The awesome story of the Duty Officer who took off in a old stringbag armed with a shotgun to oppose all those Japanese planes.

Thank you Don for bringing back those memories.

Best Regards
Brian

[CarrieC]

Finding this site has rekindled some interesting memories. One remarkable event was an assault on a presidential candidate in 1959-60, Ma doesn't recall the details at present. I was either 5 or 6 and saw an Admiral's barge pull up to the flag platform on the Arizona and several people busily throwing something in the water.(they were actually laying a wreath) As I had been advised to never to throw anything in the water on pain of death, I was very much angered that others were doing so. Seems I began throwing rocks as far and fast as I could to discourage this illegal activity with little success. I didn't have the range to the offenders, but was noticed and told to shove off in no uncertain terms to which I apparently replied in the negative vernacular recently aquired in the boat house. Shore patrol soon accompanied me to my quarters where after Captain's mast I was summarily flogged. If you are up on your politices you may choose the victim or victims of that particular election. Never much liked politicians...
Another interesting bit was the pad for my assigned aircaft at Wheeler. As luck would have it the corner markings were almost perfectly aligned with a filled in bomb crater in front of the old hangars which we still used. At first I was concerned but eventually went with the lightning strike theory. (wrong of course) In the end I regard it as a good luck charm as I am hear describing it. Odd that with so many fond memories neither my parents nor I really care to go back and visit. I couldn't even get the folks to come over when I was stationed there. Ma says she remembers when the Aloha tower was the tallest building there. I do have a dvd copy of 8mm films form Ford Island but no stills to post. Were I more technically proficient I could share them.

Regards,
Red

[John Odom]

Thanks for the memories, CarrieC.

[CarrieC]

I've just read your story John. Thank you for sharing it with us and all those who hopefully have an appreciation for what used to be our country and way of life. Living through what we have been to and for one another and most of the free world, then realizing how far we have fallen through political avarice and voter apathy is heart breaking. To me it is analogous to watching a loved one die a slow and painful death while unable to affect the outcome.

Regards,
Red

[Don Boyer]

Having spent last Saturday on Ford Island visiting the new Pacific Air Museum I had a chance to get the following pictures of the Ford Island Air Control Tower, FINALLY under renovation and preservation after all these years.

The renovation has an eye toward being able to conduct tours of the tower at some point in the future, although there may be some difficulties with the navy over that, as the tower has the best view of Pearl Harbor you could get without a spy satellite, and also happens to have a direct view of the area where nuclear submarines are repaired, verboten turf in Pearl Harbor, so there may be severe restrictions on photography even if the tower is once again opened up.

For those with an interest in Pearl Harbor and in naval aviation, I will be posting some of the photos of the museum displays in the Aviation thread (under "Everything Else," although I think it should be a major heading of it's own on the forum, as I mentioned to Alan Benn today. :) )

Some of the new museum displays relate directly to Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7th, 1941, and I will post those in the Pearl Harbor thread.

[em3 hugh]

the first time i was at pearl harbor in 1969, the bridge had not yet been built . i guess the only access must have been by boat. as i spent most of my free time at the pearl city tavern(the monkeys behind the bar place) i never got out to ford island. i returned in 2007 to visit my son, whose ship, ddg 60 was returning from a westpac deployment. this time i had a rental car and drove out to the island. lots of interesting stuff out there, including the little known uss utah view.

[Don Boyer]

em3hugh:

Glad you got to visit the quiet little island. I was there in 1969 just before I got out of the navy visiting an old girlfriend who lived in quarters on Ford Island when the Bon Homme Richard was tied up at the fueling piers.

Attached is a photo of the Paul Hamilton, DDG 60, arriving in Pearl on August 20, 2007 from her deployment.