USS Oklahoma mast

The 40-foot mast that was originally attached to USS Oklahoma is loaded on a C-17 on its way from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam to Muskogee War Memorial in Oklahoma. The battleship Oklahoma, named after the 46th state, was sunk during the Dec. 7, 1941 attack. The effort is part of a tribute to be made at the Muskogee War Memorial honoring the USS Oklahoma and her crew. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Allen)

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USS Oklahoma mast

The 40-foot mast that was originally attached to USS Oklahoma is loaded on a C-17 on its way from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam to Muskogee War Memorial in Oklahoma. The battleship Oklahoma, named after the 46th state, was sunk during the Dec. 7, 1941 attack. The effort is part of a tribute to be made at the Muskogee War Memorial honoring the USS Oklahoma and her crew. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Allen)

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USS Oklahoma mast

The 40-foot mast that was originally attached to USS Oklahoma is loaded on a C-17 on its way from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam to Muskogee War Memorial in Oklahoma. The battleship Oklahoma, named after the 46th state, was sunk during the Dec. 7, 1941 attack. The effort is part of a tribute to be made at the Muskogee War Memorial honoring the USS Oklahoma and her crew. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Allen)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
USS Oklahoma mast

The 40-foot mast that was originally attached to USS Oklahoma is loaded on a C-17 on its way from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam to Muskogee War Memorial in Oklahoma. The battleship Oklahoma, named after the 46th state, was sunk during the Dec. 7, 1941 attack. The effort is part of a tribute to be made at the Muskogee War Memorial honoring the USS Oklahoma and her crew. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Allen)

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USS Oklahoma mast

Airman 1st Class Rodolfo Fabro and Master Sgt. Daryl Oshiro, both assigned to 154th Wing Hawaii Air National Guard, strap in the 40-foot mast that was originally attached to USS Oklahoma (BB 37). The battleship Oklahoma, named after the 46th state, was sunk during the Dec. 7, 1941 attack. The mast itself was dredged up more than 60 years later to be transported to the Muskogee War Memorial in Oklahoma. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Mark Logico)

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USS Oklahoma mast

The 40-foot mast that was originally attached to USS Oklahoma (BB 37) is on its way from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam to Muskogee War Memorial in Oklahoma. The battleship Oklahoma, named after the 46th state, was sunk during the Dec. 7, 1941 attack. The effort is part of a tribute to be made at the Muskogee War Memorial honoring the USS Oklahoma and her crew. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Mark Logico)

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USS Oklahoma mast

Command Chief Master Sgt. John Waller, from the 137th Air Refueling Wing Oklahoma Air National Guard, and Master Sgt. Daryl Oshiro, from 154th Wing Hawaii Air National Guard, make transportation plans for the 40-foot mast that was originally attached to USS Oklahoma (BB 37). The battleship Oklahoma, named after the 46th state, was sunk during the Dec. 7, 1941 attack. The mast itself was dredged up more than 60 years later to be transported to the Muskogee War Memorial in Oklahoma. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Mark Logico)

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USS Oklahoma mast

Airman 1st Class Rodolfo Fabro and Master Sgt. Daryl Oshiro, both assigned to 154th Wing Hawaii Air National Guard, strap in the 40-foot mast that was originally attached to USS Oklahoma (BB 37). The battleship Oklahoma, named after the 46th state, was sunk during the Dec. 7, 1941 attack. The mast itself was dredged up more than 60 years later to be transported to the Muskogee War Memorial in Oklahoma. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Mark Logico)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
USS Oklahoma mast

Command Chief Master Sgt. John Waller, from the 137th Air Refueling Wing Oklahoma Air National Guard, and Master Sgt. Daryl Oshiro, from 154th Wing Hawaii Air National Guard, make transportation plans for the 40-foot mast that was originally attached to USS Oklahoma (BB 37). The battleship Oklahoma, named after the 46th state, was sunk during the Dec. 7, 1941 attack. The mast itself was dredged up more than 60 years later to be transported to the Muskogee War Memorial in Oklahoma. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Mark Logico)

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USS Oklahoma's Mast Finds New Home

Published June 25, 2010
By MC2 Robert Stirrup
Navy News

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR HICKAM, Hi. -- Personnel assigned to Commander, Navy Region Hawaii, the Oklahoma Air National Guard and Hawaii Air National Guard moved the Battleship USS Oklahoma's mast from Ford Island to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, in preparation to for its transit to the Muskogee War Memorial in Muskogee, Okla.

Oklahoma was sunk by Japanese bombs and torpedoes in the Dec.7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, taking 429 of the crew with her as she capsized.

The ship's mast was recovered during dredging operations around Pearl Harbor mooring Foxtrot 5, where the ship was moored at the time of the attack.

"The mast is a historic artifact that will contribute greatly to the heritage that is already in the patriotic state of Oklahoma," said Lt. Col. Andrew Sroczynski, assigned to the Oklahoma Air National Guard, 137th Air Refueling Wing.

Master Sgt. Daryl Oshiro, assigned to the Hawaii Air National Guard, 154th Wing, talked about what it felt like to move the giant mast.

"The mast weighs approximately 22,000 pounds, and it's by far the heaviest piece of equipment that we've transported before," said Oshiro. "It's amazing that the mast was under water for more than fifty years, and now its here and ready to go to Oklahoma."

"Oklahoma's mast is headed to an appropriate and proper home," said Rear Adm. Dixon Smith, commander, Navy Region Hawaii and Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific.

The mast will be flown from Hawaii to Tinker Air Force Base by the Mississippi Air National Guard via a C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft. From Tinker Air Force Base, the mast will then be transported to the Muskogee War Memorial.

USS Oklahoma mast

USS Oklahoma mast

USS Oklahoma mast

USS Oklahoma mast

USS Oklahoma mast

USS Oklahoma mast

USS Oklahoma mast

USS Oklahoma mast

USS Oklahoma mast