The U.S.S. Cod Submarine will celebrate 60 years in Cleveland this Sunday, July 21, 2019 with free tours and lots of fun for the whole family. The day will include a salute to Rosie the Riveter and honor the life of Seaman, Andrew G. Johnson, the Cod’s only crewman lost during the war, with a special dedication of a bench in his name.
The U.S.S. Cod served in WWII, in the South Pacific. The submarine was commissioned on June 21, 1943. It is a diesel-electric powered submarine with its five diesel generators built in Cleveland by General Motors.
On July 8, 1945 the U.S.S. Cod came to the aid of the Dutch submarine O-19 which had run aground in enemy territory. After two days of trying to tow the sub off the reef, they realized the only option was to transfer the crew of 55 men from the O-19 to the American submarine and destroy the Dutch sub so it would not fall into enemy hands. For three days the U.S.S. Cod was home to 152 men. This is the only international sub-to-sub rescue in history! The martini glass on the conning tower represents the rescue.
In 1976 the sub was turned over to civilians who set up a fund to convert the sub into a memorial. The Cod Submarine is located between the Rock Hall and the International Women’s Air and Space Museum, in Burke Lake Airport.
Tours of Cleveland offers walking tours of historic downtown Cleveland. Learn more, see our schedule and book your tour at www.toursofcleveland.com.
