Submariner’s Plaque – “PLANK HOLDER” USS Finback SOLD

Description

Submariner’s Plaque – “PLANK HOLDER” USS Finback (SS – 230).

The submariner’s Insignia is highly detailed, being 8.5 inches in length, and mounted on a scolloped heardwood board.  Applied by a member of the crew is a silver over copper plate screwed down, and stamped “SS 230 / FINBACK/ PLANK HOLDER.”  A plank holder is a Navy term for one of the original crew members that came aboard  Finback’s commissioning.

I wish I knew the name of the person, but important enough as is.

USS Finback was laid down at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine on 5 Feb. 1941. Launched in August, and commissioned on 31 January, 1942.  Decommissioned in April of 1950.

Finback reached Pearl Harbor in late May, 1942, and 2 days later was patrolling during the Battle of Midway.  She put out to sea toward the Aleutians  and had her first combat against 2 Japanese destroyers and received repeated depth charge attacks.  All said, USS Finback has 12 combat patrols; received 13 battle stars all in the Pacific Theater of Operations.

On her 10th war patrol she was assigned to lifeguard duty in the Bonins, and guided allied aircraft. Finback rescued 5 downed Navy flyers.  One of those flyers, unbeknownst to the crew then, was Lt. George Herbert Walker Bush, who would become the 41st President of the United States (see photo).  Another pilot was rescued close inshore under Japanese shore batteries from Haha Jima, the pilot having to hold on to the periscope while the Finback, being partially submerged, pulled back out of range of the guns. For more of a quick story, go to Wikipedia.

I believe the plaque has some age, maybe from the 60s-70s.  I can’t find this company currently listed for business in the Providence area.  It is similar to other Vietnam era plaques in style.  It took some time with loving care to whip away some of the silver plating off of the smaller plaque.

A most historic piece for a WWII submarine that saw a great deal of combat, and rescued a future president of the U.S.

Fine condition.