Navy Yard in Southeast Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

USS Balao (SS-285)

Photographed By Richard E. Miller, August 12, 2008

1. USS Balao (SS-285) Marker

Inscription.
Battle Flag of USS BALAO [illustration]

Displacement: 1,526 [tons](surfaced), 2,414 (submerged)
Length: 311' 9"
Draft: 16' 10"
Speed: 20.25 k. (sufaced), 8.75 k. (submerged)
Complement: 6 officers and 60 enlisted men
Armament: 10 21" torpedo tubes, 1 4" gun, 2 20mm. A.A. guns
Class: BALAO

USS BALAO's keel was laid by the Portsmouth (NH) Navy Yard on 26 June 1942. She was launched 27 October 1942 (sponsored by Mrs. Theodore C. Aylward) and commissioned on 4 February 1943, LCDR Richard H. Crane commanding.

BALAO's combat operations spanned the period from 25 July 1943 to 27 27 August 1945. She carried out 10 war patrols, during the course of which she was credited with sinking seven Japanese ships, totaling in excess of 32,000 tons, as well as 1,100 tons of small craft sunk by gunfire. BALAO earned nine battle stars for her World War II service. Her battle flag was designed by a Disney artist at the request of Motor Machinist Mate 3rd Class William G. Hartley in 1945.

BALAO returned to the United States in 1946, ultimately arriving at New London, Connecticut, where she was decommissioned on 28 August 1946 and placed in reserve.

Recommissioned on 4 March 1952, she was assigned to the Atlantic Fleet and based at Key West, Florida. There, she

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served primarily as a training ship for antisubmarine units and the Special Development Force in the Key West and Guantanamo Bay operating areas. She was decommissioned on 11 July 1963, and her name was struck from the Navy list on 1 August 1963. Her hull was sunk as a target off the northern coast of Florida on 6 September 1963; however, before this occurred, her conning tower was removed, and it has been restored by the Naval Supply Systems Command for display here on the waterfront of the Washington Navy Yard.

Erected by U.S. Navy.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: War, World II • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is February 4, 1943.

Location. 38° 52.376′ N, 76° 59.921′ W. Marker is in Southeast Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in Navy Yard. Marker can be reached from Isaac Hull Avenue Southeast south of Tingey Street Southeast, on the right when traveling south. The marker is on the starboard side of the restored conning tower which is on the lawn, near the Anacostia River, approximately 70 yards southwest from the corner of Sicard Street and Isaac Hull Avenue Southeast. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 614 Sicard Street Southeast, Washington DC 20003, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. "4-in. 40 caliber rifles" (within shouting distance of this marker); River Revival

USS Balao (SS-285) Monument and Sail image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, August 1, 2008

2. USS Balao (SS-285) Monument and Sail

(about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Frank W. Crilley Building (about 400 feet away); Mildred Belle (about 500 feet away); The Leg of Colonel Ulric Dahlgren (about 500 feet away); Crane Runway (about 700 feet away); Willard Park (about 700 feet away); Washington Navy Yard Chapel (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Southeast Washington.

More about this marker. Parking is restricted during business hours. Visitors without military identification are required to enter the Yard via the west (Isaac Hull Avenue) entrance off M Street Southeast. Drivers must obtain a visitor's pass and proceed to an authorized parking area as directed.

Regarding USS Balao (SS-285). Please feel free to edit the following change to the caption that appears beneath the Balao battle flag: This is the original Battle Flag created in 1944 by Bill Hart. Bill together with shipmate Joe Klein donated the flag to the Department of the Navy Historical Center at the Washington D.C. Navy Yard in 1982.

Also see . . .

Photographed By Richard E. Miller, August 12, 2008

3. USS Balao

restored conning tower, displayed near Washington Navy Yard waterfront.

USS Balao Photos. More photos of the USS Balao. (Submitted on August 18, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

Additional commentary.
1. "Battlin Bee" emblem
In a number of places on the internet, including this site, it is stated that the "Battlin' Bee" emblem of the U.S.S. Balao (SS 285) was "designed by a Disney artist". The artist was in fact Pearl Harbor veteran Bill Hart, who was like my father Joseph F. Williams, a 1943 Balao plank-owner. I have an original painting of the "Bee" emblem given to me by Bill Hart many years ago, with the following inscription: "This is a replica of the original "Battlin' Bee" designed and painted by me on the fifth war patrol of the USS Balao (SS 285) in 1944.

The original emblem was flown on a burgee type of flag... as the Balao skimmed in under the Golden Gate Bridge in October of 1944. I now have the original flag in my posession. A copy of the battle flag (with the "bee" emblem) was made and additional Japanese ensigns added. At last report the flag occupied a space in the EM Club at Pearl Harbor." Bill Hart died at Seattle in 2002, and his old Balao shipmate and best friend my dad, died aboard the U.S.S. Nerius (AS-17) in San Diego

USS Balao (SS-285) Battle Flag image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bruce Williams

4. USS Balao (SS-285) Battle Flag

This print of a U.S. Naval Historical Center photograph was included on the mounting of the artwork which was donated to the contributor by the original artist, Bill Hart.

Harbor fifty years ago this month, September 1959 at the age of 37 years.

If anyone has an interest in an email copy of Bill Hart's "Battlin' Bee" motif or his supporting letter, I am happy to provide it. As for the Disney connection, Bill Hart had the opportunity to work as a cartoonist for Disney after the war, but he decided to work for Boeing instead.

— Submitted October 1, 2009, by Bruce Williams of Centerville, Massachusetts.

USS Balao (SS-285) Battle Flag Artwork image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bruce Williams, October 1, 2009

5. USS Balao (SS-285) Battle Flag Artwork

A picture of the original artwork on the USS Balao battle flag provided by the artist, Mr. Bill Hart.

Photographed By Bruce Williams, October 1, 2009

6. USS Balao (SS-285) Battle Flag Artwork

Note made by the artist, Mr. Bill Hart, on the back of the mounting of the original battle flag artwork. Provided to the contributor 20 years previously.

Photographed By Larry Sorensen, circa March 16, 1962

7. USS Balao (SS-285) Marker

Mark 16 torpedo recovery ops

Credits. This page was last revised on January 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 17, 2008, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. This page has been viewed 2,869 times since then and 35 times this year. Last updated on October 2, 2009, by Bruce Williams of Centerville, Massachusetts. Photos: 1. submitted on August 17, 2008, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 2. submitted on August 18, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 3. submitted on August 17, 2008, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 4, 5, 6. submitted on October 1, 2009, by Bruce Williams of Centerville, Massachusetts. 7. submitted on August 16, 2012, by Larry Sorensen of Cumming, Usa. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.