Photo: USS California assisted by USS Bobolink, USS Vireo and YW-10 at Pearl Harbor, 7 Dec 1941

View of USS California (BB-44), taken a day or two after the Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. USS Bobolink (AM-20), at left, USS Vireo (AM-52), and YW-10 are off the battleship’s stern, assisting with efforts to keep her afloat. The “birds” would stay at California’s side for three days. Morison noted in his book, “Although minesweepers Vireo and Bobolink closed the battleship and applied their pumps, and numerous ‘handy billies’ (portable gasoline-driven pumps) were obtained from other vessels, California slowly settled.” Naval History & Heritage Command photograph NH 95569.