It is not very often that I see a Slick anywhere in the Bay Area. Since I have had mine i have had 5 spottings of Slicks. One was seen twice so that makes just 4 total between 64-66. This was the first 65 I have spotted on 4/18/12. I was leaving AAA and drove right past it in the back lot before making a big U-turn to snap a picture. Has that used look but had no dents on it including the typical high front fender dent or double ripple in the front bumper.

 

^ The front bumper is tweaked, its right side below the headlamp is bent downwards. Is that a small dent I see on the right front fender-front side, or an optical illusion?

I see a lotta Slicks in the Bay Area, the Santa Monica Bay Area, that is. These trucks are not that hard to spot around here in LA LA Land.

There are 2 located within three miles of my residencia, 6 more down the hill in Whittier. I see at least 1 every week while whizzin' around town.

When the USS Iowa is restored to her former glory, opened to the public sometime this summer (no one knows exactly when), you can whiz on down to San Pedro for a look-see. Keep your eyes peeled for Slicks along the way.

btw: I acquired a new book on battleships, there's an overhead pic taken 11/1945 of the Alameda NAS and it also shows the (carriers) USS Saratoga, USS Enterprise, USS Hornet and USS San Jacinto docked there.

The Saratoga soon set sail for Bikini Atoll where it was A-bombed, the Enterprise & San Jacinto were scrapped, but we know where the USS Hornet is located, don't we.

 

Optical illusion as far as the dent as I went right by the front. It is tweaked downward though.

I probably won't be down to see the Iowa for awhile. Remember I have seen quite a bit of it and basic visitors will see much less than what I have seen. I will only go on with Dick so I can see midships aft from decks 2-7 besides entering a turret via the lower deck assess hatch. Walking decks 2 & 3 would be boring. Been there done that on my own.

 

You mean this one. Have it in my collection. She is in exactly the same position right now as in that picture. CV-8 was in exactly the same position when Doolittle's B-25s were loaded. The 70th Anniversary is coming up and there will be a dinner onboard celebrating the event complete with 3 Raiders, CV-8 crew, Chinese rescuers and Doolittle family.

 

That's the same picture I mentioned.

It's too bad that Jimmy cannot attend the 70th anniversary. In the late 1940's, we lived on Margarita Street in Santa Monica, across the street and a coupla houses east of us lived Jimmy Doolittle.

My dad, a former USN Commander that first served in the Asiatic Fleet (1940/42), later in the PTO (1945) was awed by the very sight of him.

USS Iowa: The plan is to allow visitors to tour (escorted) almost the entire ship, from the bilge keel to the base of the mast. Gonna take a lotta work with a lotta volunteers to accomplish this.

If you get bored working on the Hornet, c'mon down and work on the Iowa. I will be when it arrives (supposedly) in late May.

 

Oh, I seriously doubt anybody will be allowed below Deck 3. Simply too dangerous in many places as the Iowa Chief Engineer well knows. There are really no ladders that can get you from 4 down to 9 as in Hornet or a Iowa or New Jersey. You get down by climbing the rungs welded onto the bulkheads in a trunk. One slip and you are toast as you bounce off one bulkhead to another on your way down. On the Hornet one must be over 12 years old to access the engine room. The insurance liability is way too great. Remember these ships were made to be crewed by guys between 17-21 for the most part. On top of that watch the shoes people wear when coming on board and you see another reason why it is dangerous. Now the base of the mast is not a problem.

 

I've been aboard the Missouri a coupla times, but my height precludes me from venturing too far inside. The first time I was there, I bonked my head on the overhead in Admiral Halsey's cabin.

Also been aboard the Texas, if you think the overhead is low on Iowa Class BB's, just wait until you tour the Texas! Members of her crew could not have been much over 5-10.

 

Doolittle was in town when they opened up the JD library at UT Dallas some years ago.

I remember they had a flyover by three B-25's and that was awesome.

Ha ha. I guess my dad wasn't a fan. When I asked my dad (USAAF 1942-45) if he wanted to go to the opening, he replied "I saw enough of Jimmy Doolittle during the war to last me for the remainder of my life".

Never got the whole story, but it was obvious there was no love lost there.

ND, I recall from some of my reading the average uniform size issued during WWII was a 36 regular. Guess folks were smaller then. Texas was older, seeing action in WWI also.

 

He he he,, being 5'9" has it's advantages,,, have yet to have stitches in my melon from walking in to anything,,, but 5'9" at 205 is not good for insurance charts,,, and they wont do a body fat test,,, they just think your fat,,,idiots,,

I have 2 of 4 Slicks in town,, one of them,, he IS the original owner and drives it often,, the other is a guy who bought it and did a nice resto on,, can't wait to get my 63 goin soon!!

 

The USS Texas (BB35) is the only battleship extant that served in two World Wars. Duriing WWI, was part of Admiral Hugh Rodman's North Sea Squadron

 

Yesterday was an amazing day for 65's. I actually saw two of them. First, was a 65 with a utility bed driving south on 680 by Pleasant Hill. I was heading towards a speed shop myself. After the speed shop I drove out the exit and what do I see? Another red 65 but not the one above. This one has the stainless steel outie caps while the one above had the innies. Both are V8"s.