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Museum Submarine Discussion / Merry Christmas & Happy Hanukkah
« on: December 24, 2014, 03:32:57 PM »
Merry Christmas and happy Hanukkah (for the last few hours) to all and our best to everyone in the coming year! 
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Museum Submarine Discussion / FM engine spares? Here is a link to a lead for spare parts!
« on: December 11, 2014, 07:45:26 PM »
From the Rontini BBS someone has a lead on where you might find spares for FM engines...
Good luck!
http://messdeck.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=27334&title=spare-parts-for-fm-engines
Good luck!
http://messdeck.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=27334&title=spare-parts-for-fm-engines
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Museum Submarine Discussion / Who is pissed at Batfish?
« on: March 13, 2014, 01:19:05 AM »
I got an email the other day from someone who is canvasing submarine memorial folks and "every Oklahoma State senator.." with his long-winded photo bitch session on what he thinks are problems at Batfish. Some of the points are valid... and who doesn't have issues that someone with a chip on their shoulder could "ping on us" for?... and some are just not issues... looks like someone had a bad day when they visited and wanted to drop a brown bomb in the punch bowl. I think Batfish might want to be aware... and contact me if they have no clue.
Paul pfarace@att.net
Paul pfarace@att.net
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Museum Submarine Discussion / Uncle Sam is an idiot when it comes to light bulbs!
« on: December 28, 2013, 03:36:59 AM »
So as we say farewell to 2013, we are also going to see the last of 40-60 watt incandescent bulbs on store shelves. Our government has seen to it that we can not buy them. Just they outlawed the higher wattage bulbs last year. Now I understand that if you want to spend $15+ on a bulb using new technology (LED) you can eventually save some money. But two things burn me up about this "mandate" ... one- the old saying that if you build a better mousetrap the world will beat a path to your door. Well today the government doesn't think that's the way things should work. Instead they want to outlaw your old mousetraps and force you to buy what they think is a better mouse trap. Big Brother... get off my sub! Because here is how their law is hurting the memorial sub community (gripe 2): We need to look 1945... or 1952... not 2013 with squiggly CFL bulbs hanging in our sockets. And since many of the bulbs in a fleet boat are enclosed in steam-tight fittings, the expensive new technology bulbs will cook themselves to an early grave. My 75-cent traditional bulbs don't mind the heat... but the new tech bulbs fry themselves in short order based on our tests over the last year. BTW: in your house... yes you save money on electricity with the new bulbs, but guess what... if you're in the heating zone of the USA, you will find that you have to turn up your furnace! Yes, because those incandescent bulbs actually heat your rooms more efficiently than your furnace! But instead of suggesting Americans switch out their incandescent bulbs when they turn on their air conditioners, we are treated like children and have our bulbs pulled out of our lamps by Uncle Sam!
I have gone to great lengths to ensure as much period accuracy aboard USS COD, but now I have to find ways to stretch my limited supply of 40-w incandescent bulbs and disguise the few LED bulbs that sorta look like the old bulbs.
THANK YOU NANNY STATE GOVERNMENT!!!
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Museum Submarine Discussion / COD puts on a SeaShow!
« on: October 30, 2013, 02:25:01 PM »
On Labor Day, with the sequestration cancelling our big airshow, we put on a seashow... here is a local TV station's coverage:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKDyFDFkTfU&feature=youtu.be
cut and paste it into your browser...
It was our biggest paid attendance day ever... and made possible by our dedicated crew!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKDyFDFkTfU&feature=youtu.be
cut and paste it into your browser...
It was our biggest paid attendance day ever... and made possible by our dedicated crew!
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Museum Submarine Discussion / COD's Halloween history program
« on: October 28, 2013, 12:45:36 AM »
Well we completed our second annual Halloween history program (the Strange Tide of History)... it wasn't pimply faced teens jumping out of the dark with rubber knives... but rather the very real and very true and very weird tales of COD and some other subs in WW II! (we decided not to tell any stories involving scary boat handling by the crew of the USS COBIA, that would really frighten the poor visitors! ) ... the boat was rigged in full red (I know not all the boat was red, but for maximum lighting effect and safety, we blazed her in red!). Six creepy tales told below rounded out the evening. The public also was treated to hot chocolate and cookies while waiting to go below (cold and rainy was better than windy and snowy that threatened). 
The 100+ attendees loved it... even when prodded for critical input! We learned how to improve our performances and produce an even better program if the crew wants to do it again next year! The benefits go far beyond cash... (in fact it's not a major goal)... but rather we use it to provide the crew with an opportunity to show their stuff... keep the boat in the eye of the public, and have FUN!
Anyone else do such a program? I'd like to hear how yours works!
) ... the boat was rigged in full red (I know not all the boat was red, but for maximum lighting effect and safety, we blazed her in red!). Six creepy tales told below rounded out the evening. The public also was treated to hot chocolate and cookies while waiting to go below (cold and rainy was better than windy and snowy that threatened). The 100+ attendees loved it... even when prodded for critical input! We learned how to improve our performances and produce an even better program if the crew wants to do it again next year! The benefits go far beyond cash... (in fact it's not a major goal)... but rather we use it to provide the crew with an opportunity to show their stuff... keep the boat in the eye of the public, and have FUN!
Anyone else do such a program? I'd like to hear how yours works!
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USS Cod (SS-224) / COD Labor Day event photos
« on: September 10, 2013, 12:27:10 AM »
We lost our airshow (thank you Mr. Prezzy 
) so COD decided Labor Day wouldn't be a holiday without some noise and smoke, even if it came from a fleet sub instead of the Blue Angels! So our SeaShow included hourly deck gun fire (you could set your watch to it!) and running some of the engines are various times during the day. Big turnout of visitors and a wonderful opportunity for the crew to show off their talents to the public. Well done to all who participated!
) so COD decided Labor Day wouldn't be a holiday without some noise and smoke, even if it came from a fleet sub instead of the Blue Angels! So our SeaShow included hourly deck gun fire (you could set your watch to it!) and running some of the engines are various times during the day. Big turnout of visitors and a wonderful opportunity for the crew to show off their talents to the public. Well done to all who participated!8
Museum Submarine Discussion / COD NAVSEA inspection 2012
« on: November 01, 2012, 01:07:00 AM »
I received the US Navy ship inspection report today from NAVSEA. It contains a few items they would like us to address, including the fact that there is one gallon of water in the engine room bilge (if it weren't there, I'd have to pump it in to make the boat look more authentic! ) Most of it is very positive on the material condition of our submarine.
Understand that most of the report is a check list. But there is space at the end for general remarks by the Navy inspectors. Let me quote from these final remarks in the report:
"Museum personnel were extremely helpful and knowledgeable with regard to the craft. This boat is in impeccable condition and is an outstanding example of how a donated ship should be maintained. The ex-Cod and the city of Cleveland should be proud to have such a fine vessel."
Great stuff here guys! I want to thank every one of your for your efforts to make COD such an outstanding memorial vessel. It truly is a team effort, from our COB, our deck gang, our hard-working painting crew, our tour guides who make sure our visitors understand the great history of COD, and to the ship keepers who make sure we have the revenue to fund these efforts. To all: WELL DONE and BRAVO ZULU!
) Most of it is very positive on the material condition of our submarine.Understand that most of the report is a check list. But there is space at the end for general remarks by the Navy inspectors. Let me quote from these final remarks in the report:
"Museum personnel were extremely helpful and knowledgeable with regard to the craft. This boat is in impeccable condition and is an outstanding example of how a donated ship should be maintained. The ex-Cod and the city of Cleveland should be proud to have such a fine vessel."
Great stuff here guys! I want to thank every one of your for your efforts to make COD such an outstanding memorial vessel. It truly is a team effort, from our COB, our deck gang, our hard-working painting crew, our tour guides who make sure our visitors understand the great history of COD, and to the ship keepers who make sure we have the revenue to fund these efforts. To all: WELL DONE and BRAVO ZULU!
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USS Cod (SS-224) / Our Navy inspection...
« on: November 01, 2012, 01:04:22 AM »
I received the US Navy ship inspection report today from NAVSEA. It contains a few items they would like us to address, including the fact that there is one gallon of water in the engine room bilge (if it weren't there, I'd have to pump it in to make the boat look more authentic! ) Most of it is very positive on the material condition of our submarine.
Understand that most of the report is a check list. But there is space at the end for general remarks by the Navy inspectors. Let me quote from these final remarks in the report:
"Museum personnel were extremely helpful and knowledgeable with regard to the craft. This boat is in impeccable condition and is an outstanding example of how a donated ship should be maintained. The ex-Cod and the city of Cleveland should be proud to have such a fine vessel."
Great stuff here guys! I want to thank every one of your for your efforts to make COD such an outstanding memorial vessel. It truly is a team effort, from our COB, our deck gang, our hard-working painting crew, our tour guides who make sure our visitors understand the great history of COD, and to the ship keepers who make sure we have the revenue to fund these efforts. To all: WELL DONE and BRAVO ZULU!
) Most of it is very positive on the material condition of our submarine.Understand that most of the report is a check list. But there is space at the end for general remarks by the Navy inspectors. Let me quote from these final remarks in the report:
"Museum personnel were extremely helpful and knowledgeable with regard to the craft. This boat is in impeccable condition and is an outstanding example of how a donated ship should be maintained. The ex-Cod and the city of Cleveland should be proud to have such a fine vessel."
Great stuff here guys! I want to thank every one of your for your efforts to make COD such an outstanding memorial vessel. It truly is a team effort, from our COB, our deck gang, our hard-working painting crew, our tour guides who make sure our visitors understand the great history of COD, and to the ship keepers who make sure we have the revenue to fund these efforts. To all: WELL DONE and BRAVO ZULU!
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Museum Submarine Discussion / USS COD HDR image
« on: September 05, 2012, 02:09:56 PM »
James Popovic is our photographer aboard COD... his work is outstanding. Sample here ---- (in case you want to know how it is to stand on deck at sunset with the wet mount in front of you). Fantastic!
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USS Cod (SS-224) / COD HDR image
« on: September 05, 2012, 02:06:56 PM »
James Popovic is COD's topnotch photog... this is a sample of the work he turns out. Yea, he's that good! 
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Museum Submarine Discussion / COD Reenactor sunset shots
« on: September 04, 2012, 01:54:07 AM »
Here are some shots from a fast-paced sunset shoot aboard COD during our Labor Day weekend bivouac. Some of our reenactor friends, spending the weekend aboard during the bivouac (held during the Cleveland National Airshow next door), posed for some interesting portraits. I know there are reenactors here, so I thought you'd like to see these.
OK, one isn't reenactors (my wife and I)...
OK, one isn't reenactors (my wife and I)...
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Museum Submarine Discussion / We lost a friend and leader...
« on: July 07, 2012, 01:24:46 AM »
John C. Fakan
Dr. John C. Fakan, a long-time resident of Vermilion, Ohio, and skipper of the U.S.S. COD Submarine Memorial in Cleveland, entered his eternal rest on Thursday, July 5 after a long and courageous battle against cancer. John was born on May 10, 1934 in Cleveland, Ohio. After graduating from John Marshall High School he went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Ohio University (1957), a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (1966) and a PhD in Systems Engineering (1968) from Colorado State University.
Considered to be a modern-day Thomas Jefferson due to his unquenchable thirst for learning and tireless public service, “Dr. John,” as he was known to his many friends, was a member and past-President of the Cleveland Philosophical Society, a trustee of the Great Lakes Historical Society, a member of the Board of Directors of the Historic Naval Ships Association, and the President of the Cleveland Coordinating Committee for COD, the group that oversees the preservation of the U.S.S. COD World War II submarine.
John was a brilliant man who spent thirteen years as an Aerospace Engineer in the Electromagnetic Propulsion Division of NASA’s Lewis Research Center in Brookpark, Ohio. He helped develop and test the electronic and propulsion systems that enabled America’s lunar landing and the design of quieter jet engines for commercial airliners. He received a number of patents for his work and an Apollo Achievement Award from NASA.
John left NASA to found and direct the Medical Data Systems Corporation, one of the first in the country to provide real-time, automated information systems for physicians’ offices, hospitals and clinics. During the 1970s, he also served as a senior consultant for the design of the Great Lakes Very High Frequency Communications System and designed a cutting edge, automated radio-telephone system that covered the Great Lakes via fourteen unmanned computerized shore stations controlled from a central operations center. John was scheduled to test part of the system aboard the Steamship Edmund Fitzgerald in November 1975 but had to cancel at the last minute when his colleague fell ill; the ship sank on the voyage with all hands lost.
For the past twenty-five years, John directed a crew of dedicated volunteers restoring and maintaining the U.S.S. COD, a National Historic Landmark on Cleveland’s North Coast Harbor. Submarine COD is a floating memorial to those who gave their lives in defense of our Nation in the 112-year history of the U.S. Navy’s Submarine Force. In 2011 the Historic Naval Ships Association presented him with its highest honor—the Casper J. Knight, Jr. Award, noting that he had led the “transformation of COD into one of the finest warship restorations in the world.”
Dr. John will be fondly remembered by the thousands of individuals whose lives he touched during his 78 years of life. None will miss him more than his family. John is survived by his wife of 53 years, Helene K. (Csincsak) Fakan, son Stephen G. Fakan, daughters Debra A. Shattuck and Sandra M. Fakan, grandchildren, Sarah M. Holecko, David L. Shattuck, Matthew A. Fakan, Kristen A. Haegele, and Kathryn J. Shattuck, sisters Diane Kay, Sherry Ross, Marceda Ryan, Lynn Bucaro and brother, Brian Fakan.
Fair winds and following seas, as you commence eternal patrol, John.
Visitation will be at Dovin Reber Jones Funeral Home in Amherst, Ohio on Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m., followed by mass at St. Mary’s Church on Monday at 11:00 a.m.
Dr. John C. Fakan, a long-time resident of Vermilion, Ohio, and skipper of the U.S.S. COD Submarine Memorial in Cleveland, entered his eternal rest on Thursday, July 5 after a long and courageous battle against cancer. John was born on May 10, 1934 in Cleveland, Ohio. After graduating from John Marshall High School he went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Ohio University (1957), a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (1966) and a PhD in Systems Engineering (1968) from Colorado State University.
Considered to be a modern-day Thomas Jefferson due to his unquenchable thirst for learning and tireless public service, “Dr. John,” as he was known to his many friends, was a member and past-President of the Cleveland Philosophical Society, a trustee of the Great Lakes Historical Society, a member of the Board of Directors of the Historic Naval Ships Association, and the President of the Cleveland Coordinating Committee for COD, the group that oversees the preservation of the U.S.S. COD World War II submarine.
John was a brilliant man who spent thirteen years as an Aerospace Engineer in the Electromagnetic Propulsion Division of NASA’s Lewis Research Center in Brookpark, Ohio. He helped develop and test the electronic and propulsion systems that enabled America’s lunar landing and the design of quieter jet engines for commercial airliners. He received a number of patents for his work and an Apollo Achievement Award from NASA.
John left NASA to found and direct the Medical Data Systems Corporation, one of the first in the country to provide real-time, automated information systems for physicians’ offices, hospitals and clinics. During the 1970s, he also served as a senior consultant for the design of the Great Lakes Very High Frequency Communications System and designed a cutting edge, automated radio-telephone system that covered the Great Lakes via fourteen unmanned computerized shore stations controlled from a central operations center. John was scheduled to test part of the system aboard the Steamship Edmund Fitzgerald in November 1975 but had to cancel at the last minute when his colleague fell ill; the ship sank on the voyage with all hands lost.
For the past twenty-five years, John directed a crew of dedicated volunteers restoring and maintaining the U.S.S. COD, a National Historic Landmark on Cleveland’s North Coast Harbor. Submarine COD is a floating memorial to those who gave their lives in defense of our Nation in the 112-year history of the U.S. Navy’s Submarine Force. In 2011 the Historic Naval Ships Association presented him with its highest honor—the Casper J. Knight, Jr. Award, noting that he had led the “transformation of COD into one of the finest warship restorations in the world.”
Dr. John will be fondly remembered by the thousands of individuals whose lives he touched during his 78 years of life. None will miss him more than his family. John is survived by his wife of 53 years, Helene K. (Csincsak) Fakan, son Stephen G. Fakan, daughters Debra A. Shattuck and Sandra M. Fakan, grandchildren, Sarah M. Holecko, David L. Shattuck, Matthew A. Fakan, Kristen A. Haegele, and Kathryn J. Shattuck, sisters Diane Kay, Sherry Ross, Marceda Ryan, Lynn Bucaro and brother, Brian Fakan.
Fair winds and following seas, as you commence eternal patrol, John.
Visitation will be at Dovin Reber Jones Funeral Home in Amherst, Ohio on Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m., followed by mass at St. Mary’s Church on Monday at 11:00 a.m.
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Submarine Related Chatter / Who knows what this is???
« on: December 08, 2011, 07:01:28 PM »
If you have a fleet boat in your life, you need at least two...
What is it? (and yes, it's in bad shape, but you'd be too if you were made in 1943 and had been sitting out in the weather for much of that time!
What is it? (and yes, it's in bad shape, but you'd be too if you were made in 1943 and had been sitting out in the weather for much of that time!
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Museum Submarine Discussion / USS Stringray engine homecoming/USS COD
« on: November 15, 2011, 01:44:24 AM »
To see the entire collection of images of the homecoming of the STINGRAY engines in Cleveland go here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/108684722082944983666/USSCODGM248SubmarineEngineHomecoming#
ArcelorMittal Steel Company gets a big salute from USS COD for providing a safe, secure and free home for these GM 248 diesels built in Cleveland in 1942 and used to power STINGRAY around the globe.
https://picasaweb.google.com/108684722082944983666/USSCODGM248SubmarineEngineHomecoming#
ArcelorMittal Steel Company gets a big salute from USS COD for providing a safe, secure and free home for these GM 248 diesels built in Cleveland in 1942 and used to power STINGRAY around the globe.