David E. Bishop Oral History
Object NameRecording, Video
Transcript
Narrator
David E. Bishop
Association
USS Growler (SSG-577)
DateSeptember 16, 2016
PeriodCold War
MediumMP4, PDF
ClassificationsCommunication Artifacts
Credit LineCollection of the Intrepid Museum. Gift of David E. Bishop. OHP.118
Object numberOHP.118
DescriptionDavid E. Bishop served on board the submarine USS Growler (SSG-577) from December 1959 until August 1961. He was a torpedoman's mate third class, TM3, and worked in the gunnery department. The Intrepid Museum recorded his oral history at the Growler crew reunion on September 16, 2016.See transcript for complete interview. Below is a summary:
David Bishop began his oral history with a summary of his childhood in Los Angeles and his path into the Navy. He discussed submarine school in San Francisco and coming aboard Growler. He explained that he was sent to Electronics A School but flunked out because of a learning disability, dyslexia, but was able to learn the skills of a torpedoman on the job without a problem.
Next, Bishop recounted a dangerous encounter with an exploding Mark 27 torpedo. The explosion, which damaged Bishop’s hearing, was due to a design flaw, discovered later. At the time, Bishop was found negligent but was not penalized.
The interview then turned to Bishop’s sense of duty and the loss of his father. Bishop chose to finish his patrol rather than leave early when he received word his father died. He said that the chief of boat and officers on Growler were “half a dozen fathers” to him and the other young crew members. Bishop then spoke about Growler’s mission. He recounted Russian vessels searching for Growler and using humor to diffuse tension. He also emphasized how close the crew was, despite race or sexuality. He mentioned a prisoner of war training exercise and crew hijinks.
Next, Bishop described Growler’s torpedoes and the work involved in maintaining them. He detoured briefly to discuss romantic escapades, then returned to the torpedoes, talking about a “snapshot” exercise when Murphy, an officer, mistook a buoy for an enemy ship. He also discussed Murphy as a difficult but thorough officer to qualify under. Then, Bishop walked through the process of firing a torpedo. Bishop also recalled what the crew did off duty–reading, games, studying. He also recounted a few pranks the crew pulled: painting a head (toilet) pink, shooting at yard oilers with signal flare guns.
Toward the end of the interview, Bishop shared the significance of having the crew as a new family and going to school on the G.I. Bill. He also reflected on Growler's role as a museum to recognize what the Growler submariners sacrificed.
Extent: 1 video file; 23 page transcript
On View
Not on viewCollections
David E. Bishop
December 1959–September 1961
Object number: P2017.01.01