Missing for Decades, USS Massachusetts Artifacts Finally Return to Battleship Cove

FALL RIVER (WBSM) — Historical artifacts and records belonging to the USS Massachusetts, believed to be missing for three decades, have been returned to the ship docked at Battleship Cove in Fall River thanks to the efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and a family in Texas.

The Discovery in a Texas Storage Unit

The FBI’s Boston Division announced today that the recovery of the items was made possible thanks to a family in Texas after they found them among their late father’s personal possessions in a storage unit. The father had worked on refurbishing the ship in the 1990s.

Photos of several of the items were posted on social media and spotted by Battleship Cove volunteers. They told the museum curator, who then contacted Fall River Police. The police then reached out to the FBI’s Boston Division, which worked with the Dallas Field Office to secure the items and authenticate them.

The family then voluntarily relinquished the items so they could be returned to the museum.

Get our free mobile app

Courtesy FBI Boston

What Were the Recovered USS Massachusetts Artifacts?

The USS Massachusetts (BB-59), also known as “Big Mamie,” is a decommissioned World War II battleship, and among the nine items returned was a folder labeled “Plan of the Day for 1942,” which the FBI said contained “a rare glimpse into the Navy’s operational planning during World War II.”

⬇️⬇️KEEP SCROLLING TO SEE PHOTOS OF THE ITEMS⬇️⬇️

Also among the items was “a rusted metal crate labeled ‘Missle Hazards Within,’ and a First Lieutenant’s Damage Control Book detailing the exact engineering and structural specifications required to keep the battleship afloat and combat-ready,” according to the FBI.

FBI and Battleship Cove React to Historic Homecoming

“These are enduring pieces of our nation’s history that reflect the courage, sacrifice, and service of the sailors who served aboard ‘Big Mamie.’ Their recovery ensures that future generations will have the opportunity to better understand the legacy of those who defended our freedom during history’s most devastating and defining conflict,” said Ted. E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division.

“My sincere thanks to this family for their honesty, cooperation, and commitment to preserving history. This case also highlights the vital role the public plays in identifying and reporting missing and stolen artifacts,” Docks said.

Courtesy FBI Boston

“We are very grateful to the FBI for their invaluable assistance in bringing these historic artifacts home to Battleship Massachusetts,” said Christopher Nardi, Chief Operating Officer of Battleship Cove.