1950s San Francisco, as seen through a submarine periscope (USS Catfish SS-339)

IO9 ^ | May 25, 2013 | Lauren Davis

[DogByte6RER]

1950s San Francisco, as seen through a submarine periscope

In 1951, the USS Catfish (SS-339), a WWII-era diesel submarine, cruised into San Francisco Bay. The crew snapped a handful of pictures through the periscope, showing what the city and Alcatraz looked like from the submariners' perspective.

It's a bit eerie to see the city through the periscope's reticles, almost as if it were a target. It offers a historical perspective a largely pre-skyscraper San Francisco, but also creates the sense that the city being spied on.

[wetgundog]

Wonderful pictures of a “DEAD” San Fransicko in the movie “On The Beach”

[PLMerite]

Looks like the crosshairs are on the “Homo Maru” cruising out of San Fran.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The year I was born...