USS California (BB-44)

The fifth California (Battleship No. 44) was launched on 20 November 1919 at Vallejo, Calif., by Mare Island Navy Yard; sponsored by Mrs. Barbara S. Zane, daughter of Governor William D. Stephens of Calif.; redesignated as BB-44 on 17 July 1920; and commissioned on 10 August 1921, Capt. Henry J. Ziegemeier in command.

For 20 years from 1921 until 1941, California served first as flagship of the Pacific Fleet, then as flagship of the Battle Fleet (Battle Force), U.S. Fleet. Her annual activities included joint Army-Navy exercises, tactical and organizational development problems, and fleet concentrations for various purposes. “Battle efficiency was her stock in trade,” the Navy’s Office of Public Information glowingly described the ship’s operations during one of those problems.

Lt. Dixie Kiefer made the first night take-off in a plane from a ship when he launched from California in San Diego Harbor, Calif., on 11 November 1924. Kiefer was born in Blackfoot, Idaho, on 4 April 1896, and graduated from the Naval Academy in 1918. “Good-natured, impulsive, generous,” the academy’s annual, The Lucky Bag described the young man, “he makes friends everywhere, and when he gets the ordeal of reporting aboard ship over with, he will make a good officer and, in an emergency, mighty fine ballast.” Kiefer became a naval aviator and served with Observation Squadron (VO) 2 during the event. A full moon lighted the night, and officers in dress blue uniforms swarmed around the catapult and Kiefer’s plane, a Vought UO-1 (BuNo. A-6494). The ship trained her searchlights on a dredge about 1,000 yards away to illuminate the area of the launch, and at 2146 the plane hurtled into the night. The pilot relied on the moon light when he ‘landed’ in the water. Bureau of Aeronautics Weekly News Letter No. 76 of 24 November 1924 observed that “the shot was a success in every respect and illustrates the degree of expertness in handling catapults on shipboard which has been obtained since this development was incorporated in battleship installations during the last two years.” He repeated the operation at 2300 on 13 November, and the following day launched from California while she steamed at sea about 50 miles from San Diego, communicated with the ship, and then flew ashore. Kiefer went on to become a highly decorated officer until his tragic death in a plane crash on Armistice Day 1945.

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From the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, compiled by the Naval History and Heritage Command (California V (BB-44)). A work of the United States Government, in the public domain.