Sub out of water raises funds for war effort

Imagine a submarine parked at 100 NW 1 (now Park Avenue) with people lined up to look inside.

75 years ago, on Nov. 28, 1943, The Oklahoman reported:

Thousands of Oklahoma City’s men women and children Saturday saw inside a real 2-man Jap[anese] suicide submarine, here as a war stamp salesman.

Estimates of how much was invested in stamps by citizens for a peek at the sub’s interior were not available late Saturday night, but the amount will run into thousands of dollars.

Lines of stamp buyers did not diminish until late afternoon, then picked up as downtown diners and theater-goers coupled with soldiers and sailors to build the lines back again.

“We are more than gratified with the public response to the submarine,” said P.J. Rhoades, war bond official, who hurried arrangements so he could buy stamps and see the sub’s interior himself.

The sub, which will go to Chickasha on Monday, went on exhibit after a parade led by the naval air station’s band, down North Broadway. Stamps were sold by members of the Eastern Star, and the Kiltie band played for the Saturday afternoon crowd ...

The submarine was in Oklahoma City for 13 hours and raised $41,789.73 for the war effort.

If you would like to contact Mary Phillips about The Archivist, email her at gapnmary@gmail.com.

[THE OKLAHOMAN ARCHIVES] A Japanese submarine that was captured on a reef in Pearl Harbor became the main attraction in downtown Oklahoma City in 1943.

[AP PHOTO] A Japanese two-man submarine captured at Pearl Harbor went on a nationwide war bond sale tour in World War II.