Charles Momsen
| Charles Bowers Momsen | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Nickname(s) | "Swede" |
| Born |
June 21, 1896 Flushing, New York |
| Died | May 25, 1967 (aged 70) |
| Place of burial | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Navy
|
| Years of service | 1916-1955 |
| Rank |
 Vice Admiral
|
| Commands held |
O-15 (SS-76) S-1 (SS-105) South Dakota |
| Battles/wars |
World War II **Pacific War |
| Awards |
Navy Cross Navy Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit Navy Commendation Medal |
Charles Bowers Momsen (June 21, 1896 – May 25, 1967), nicknamed "Swede", was born in Flushing, New York. He was an American pioneer in submarine rescue for the United States Navy, and he invented the underwater escape device later called the "Momsen lung", for which he received the Navy Distinguished Service Medal in 1929. In May 1939, Momsen directed the rescue of the crew of Squalus (SS-192).
Momsen entered the U.S. Naval Academy in 1914, but he was dismissed after a widespread cheating scandal during the spring of his first year there. However, Momsen pursued another appointment to the Academy, received it, repeated his plebe year, and graduated in 1919 — one year early, due to the involvement of the United States in World War I.
From 1919 to 1921, Momsen served on the battleship Oklahoma (BB-37). In 1921, he entered the Submarine School in New London, Connecticut, graduating in January 1922. 18 months later, he took command of the submarine O-15 (SS-76). A few years later, he was given command of S-1 (SS-105), one of the newest US Navy designed submarines of that time.
It was aboard S-1 Momsen's attention became drawn to the urgent need for a way to rescue trapped submariners.
On September 25, 1925, S-1's sister ship, S-51 (SS-162), collided with freighter City of Rome in the vicinity of Block Island and sank in 130 feet (40 m) of water. Momsen was ordered to take S-1 to search for the crippled submarine. S-1 found the oil slick marking the spot where S-51 had sunk, but without any sonar, there was no way for his crew to locate her on the bottom, nor was there a way for trapped crewmen to escape.
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Wikipedia