USS Curtiss

The USS Curtiss AV-4 was the first purpose-built Seaplane Tender in the US Navy. She was commissioned on November 15, 1940. On December 7, 1941, the USS Curtiss was anchored on the opposite side of Ford Island from Battleship Row near the entrance to Middle-Loch. She was one of the few ships that were able to get underway during the attack. The USS Curtiss claimed to shoot down one Japanese plane. This plane crashed into the USS Curtiss, destroying one of her aircraft handling cranes. She was hit by another bomb that did moderate damage to the ship. About an hour into the attack, the USS Curtiss spotted a periscope and began opening fire on the submarine. It returned fire with a torpedo which the Curtiss evaded. A destroyer, the USS Monaghan, then engaged the sub, ramming it and then depth charging it. The USS Curtiss suffered 19 dead and a large number of wounded. With minor damage, She sailed to San Diego for permanent repairs, which were completed in four days. From there, she sailed for the Pacific. The USS Curtiss served in the Pacific Theater until the end of the war. The USS Curtiss was decommissioned on September 24, 1957. Below is a list of the personnel killed on December 7, 1941. Please view the list to learn the names of those who lost their lives on that day.