Iowa Almanac
Iowa Almanac -- Thursday, November 14, 2024
Evasive action! More from the Iowa Almanac in a moment. Hello Iowa! This is Michael Swanger, owner and publisher of Iowa History Journal. Our November/December issue is packed with stories you won't find in other publications, including the history of the maintenance shop in Ames, the mysterious death of Glenn Miller, UNI basketball, TV, Evangelist Robert Schuller, and more. Pick up Iowa History Journal at High V, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, and Be Riddell Books, or visit IowaHistoryJournal.com in order today. We've told you before that the USS Iowa, built in 1940, was known as the battleship of presidents during its 50 years of service to America. Due to its big guns, heavy armor, fast speed, longevity, and modernization, it was known as the world's greatest naval ship at the time. But on November 14, 1943, the Iowa almost was hit by a torpedo fired by an American destroyer, and the course of history could have been drastically changed. The Iowa was carrying President Franklin Roosevelt and his joint chiefs to a secret meeting with Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin, known to history as the Tehran Conference. At FDR's request, the USS Iowa conducted an anti-aircraft drill that morning to demonstrate her defensive capabilities to the commander-in-chief, a former Navy man himself. Escort ships also participated, including the destroyer William D. Porter. The warship was performing a torpedo drill when the No. 3 torpedo was accidentally discharged from its tube, headed directly toward the USS Iowa. After failing to get the Iowa crew's attention with its blinker light, the Porter crew broke radio silence to sound the warning. The Iowa turned hard to the right to avoid the torpedo, which exploded in the wake of the battleship. Roosevelt had learned of the incoming torpedo, and asked the secret service to move his wheelchair to the side of the battleship for a better view. It was the only evasive action the USS Iowa ever had to take during World War II, and it was to avoid an incoming torpedo from an American destroyer, with the President of the United States on board, on this date in 1943. And that's Iowa Almanac for November 14th. There's more online at IowaAlmanac.com. Until tomorrow, I'm Jeff Stein.