Wisconsin Maritime Museum News

The Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc, Wisconsin held its 7th Annual Commodore’s Ball Saturday October 3, 2009. This year’s theme was “The Burger Tradition: Past and Present,” celebrated the heritage of Wisconsin's own world-class yacht builder by commemorating Burger Boat Company’s rich history dating back to 1863. The black-tie event is a major fundraiser for the museum and includes a raffle as well as silent and live auctions. The highlight of the live auction was a package donated by Burger. It included an exclusive tour of Burger’s facilities and a private cruise, complete with wine and hors d’oeuvres, for eight aboard the 1939 48’ Burger motor yacht Angus. Funds raised from the event are used for educational purposes and day-to-day operations of the museum.

Burger Boat Company announced the acquisition of Angus, a rare 48-foot steel-hulled Burger Cruiser built in 1939. Arriving in Manitowoc on Tuesday November 11, the 69 year old Burger made a brief stop at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum for local interested parties to see before continuing to the Burger shipyard. Angus will be restored to promote Burger Boat Company, its employees, and to celebrate the Burger product and its heritage. She will also be made available to the Wisconsin Maritime Museum for fund raising purposes.

A plaque placed on the aft capstan of the wreckage in the Gulf of Thailand believed to be that of World War II submarine USS Lagarto (SS 371) is seen in this screen grab of video. U.S. Experts at the Naval Historical Center in Washington, D.C., have confirmed that a World War II submarine wreck found in the Gulf of Thailand last year is USS Lagarto (SS 371). Underwater archeologists at the center completed their examination of evidence obtained in June by Navy divers from USS Salvor (ARS 52) and Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 1, both based in Pearl Harbor. "We now know for certain that this is Lagarto," said Rear Adm. Jeffrey Cassias, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet submarine force.

Navy divers completed six days of diving operations June 16 on wreckage in the Gulf of Thailand believed to be that of the lost World War II submarine USS Lagarto (SS 371). Divers will send photographs and video of the submarine to the Naval Historical Center in Washington for further analysis. The divers' observations appear to confirm the discovery made in May 2005 by British wreck diver Jamie MacLeod. "Without a doubt, it's a U.S. submarine, a Balao-class," said U.S. 7th Fleet Diving Officer, Cmdr. Tony San Jose. San Jose and his fellow divers reported identifying twin 5-inch gun mounts both forward and aft, a feature believed to be unique to Lagarto. They also reported finding serial numbers and the word "Manitowoc" engraved on the submarine's propeller.

A rescue and salvage ship USS Salvor (ARS 52) and divers of Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 1 arrived June 11 at the site in the Gulf of Thailand presumed to be the resting place of the WWII–era USS Lagarto (SS 371) and its crew. In May 2005, British diver Jamie MacLeod reported finding Lagarto, which was last seen May 3, 1945. On May 8, 2006, MacLeod joined U.S. Pacific Fleet Submarine Force Commander Rear Adm. Jeffrey Cassias and families of crew members who served aboard Lagarto at a memorial service in the crew’s honor hosted by the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc, Wis. Over the next several days the divers from Salvor and MDSU-1 will conduct diving operations in an attempt to confirm MacLeod’s discovery…