Vice Admiral Allan R. McCann, USN(Retired), (1896-1978)
Allan Rockwell McCann was born in North Adams, Massachusetts, on 20 September 1896. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1917 and served in the battleship Kansas (BB-21) until 1919. He then received instruction in submarines and was then assigned to USS K-6 (SS-37). In 1921-24, Lieutenant McCann commanded the submarines N-4 (SS-56), L-3 (SS-42) and R-21 (SS-98). Two years of technical duties ashore were followed by command of USS S-46 (SS-157) in 1926-29.
During 1929-31, Lieutenant Commander McCann was assigned to the Bureau of Construction and Repair, where he was responsible for final development of a submarine rescue diving bell, which came to be called the "McCann Rescue Chamber". He commanded the submarine Bonita (SS-165) in 1931-34, then had service ashore, was First Lieutenant of the cruiser Indianapolis (CA-35) and served on the staff of Commander, Cruisers, Scouting Force. In 1939, while assigned to the Bureau of Navigation, Commander McCann was sent to help with rescue and salvage operations on USS Squalus (SS-192), which had accidently sunk off Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
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Lieutenant Commander Charles B. Momsen, USN
Charles Bowers Momsen was born in Flushing, Long Island, New York, on 21 June 1896. He attended the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating with the Class of 1920 in June 1919. Following initial service in battleships, he was trained as a submarine officer and commanded three submarines in 1923-27. Following those commands, Momsen was assigned to the Bureau of Construction and Repair. In 1929-32 he was actively engaged in the development of a submarine escape breathing apparatus that came to be known as the "Momsen Lung".
During the remainder of the 1930s, he held positions in submarines and surface ships and was in charge of Navy Experimental Diving. In 1939, Commander Momsen was involved in the salvage of the sunken submarine USS Squalus (SS-192). During World War II, he led two Submarine Squadrons, including service at sea as a "wolf pack" commander, and held other important staff and training positions. Captain Momsen was commanding officer of the battleship USS South Dakota in December 1944 - July 1945.
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