USS Pittsburgh Tribute

During WWII, George Jock and Robert McKnight of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania served aboard the Baltimore-class heavy cruiser, USS Pittsburgh (CA-72). The ship saw intense action in the South Pacific and participated in the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. The Pittsburgh is most known for towing the USS Franklin (CV-13) after the carrier was severely disabled by a Japanese strike. During a typhoon in June 1945, the Pittsburgh suffered a catastrophic structural failure when her bow was torn from the ship’s hull.

This special presentation interview, featuring rare archival images of the USS Pittsburgh and other sights and sounds of WWII is a production of the Veteran Voices of Pittsburgh Oral History Initiative

It was recorded October 23, 2015 at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Interviewer: Todd DePastino. Audio-visual production: Kevin Farkas, Bryan Chemini. Editing: Kevin Farkas.

Media: National Archives, Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum. Music: Tommy Dorsey (“I’ll Never Smile Again”).

©Veteran Voices of Pittsburgh Oral History Initiative/The Social Voice Project. All rights reserved.