Shipmates,

The following is a profile and history of Ben Bastura and his task of maintaining the Submarine Library and Museum.

This is probably the largest privately owned Submarine Museum in the United States.

Ben and his brother started this outstanding library and museum in 1954 and have been adding to it ever since. It is a totally private endeavor that has been Ben's avocation over the years. He has 18 full file cabinets that contain a wealth of pictures and information on every boat from the USS HOLLAND to the newest Trident boats

He lives in an old fashioned duplex which is approximately 70 years old. Bernard occupies 3 rooms as living quarters, the other 9 rooms, upstairs and downstairs are used for the museum. 

(Address & phone number deleted due to Ben's passing)

Due to the Connecticut weather conditions his winter hours of operation are somewhat reduced and parking is often limited - but he is always there - and more than happy to answer any questions you may have. He can be reached to set up a visit and learn the days and hours of operation. Please call or write. Believe me, he'll be happy to see you!

Everyone is welcome: Students, Sub Vets, General Public and admission is free.

Donations of mementos and Artifacts, Photos, etc., are always welcome

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Mr. Bastura and his Submarine Library and Museum are indeed a National Treasure. It has been my sincerest pleasure to be able to call Ben my friend!

John Wynn

In 1954 at the age of 21, Bernard A. (Ben) Bastura of Middletown, Connecticut started something he never realized would become so important to so many people throughout the country; he took a ride to "The Submarine Capital of the World" - Groton, Conn. 

While in Groton he stopped at the Submarine Museum - which at that time was in a white stucco building on Thames Street, adjacent to, and owned and operated by, the General Dynamics/Electric Boat Co.

After touring the museum Ben was so impressed with the subject of submarines and their history that the following week he returned with note pad and pencil. From this point on submarines became a major part of Ben Bastura's life.

He then purchased an expandable cardboard file folder and whenever articles pertaining to submarines appeared in the local newspapers, he would cut them out and put them in his submarine file. Ben also purchased books as well as plastic models, that were available in local stores. These were assembled and proudly displayed throughout his house. It was then that his interest in submarines really took hold

As the years went by a few books turned into a sizable collection. The expandable file reached it's full capacity and was bulging at the seams so he went out and purchased the first of 18 steel four-drawer file cabinets.

Ben made movies

Additionally, he spent many long tedious hours in Groton just sitting in the car, waiting for the submarines that were either coming back or were leaving the submarine base. All of these submarines were recorded on 8MM color movie film.

For years when the submarine base had open house and cameras were allowed on both the upper and lower base, Bernard was there with his trusty movie camera. His movie collection consists of all the old WWII Fleet Boats that were stationed at the Submarine Base plus others that came there for visits and for training purposes. Also included are movies of submarine special events, and launchings. There isn't anyone, anywhere except Ben, that actually knows what treasures he had recorded on film in his collection.

At that time the fleet boats were being used as reserve training submarines. He either took movies of all these reserve submarines himself or he sent rolls of movie film to the officers in charge. They would then have someone take the movies of the boat and send the film back to Ben. By using this system, he has recorded movies of all these old submarines from throughout the country. Now those submarines are gone and can never be brought back again except through Ben's collection of movies.

A ride on the USS CAVALLA

In 1964 Ben, along with a local Submarine Veteran by the name of Louie Royball, whom he got to know very well, (Louie had been a cook aboard the USS CAVALLA SS-244 during WWII), were invited by Cdr. Williams, CO of the USS CAVALLA SS-244, for a full day cruise aboard that submarine.

After the cruise was over and before he left the boat, Cdr. Williams presented Ben with an Honorary Crewmember CAVALLA I.D. card, a CAVALLA ship's plaque and ship's patch, and a photo autographed by the entire crew and officers. 

The USS CAVALLA SS-244 was the first U.S. Navy Submarine to be inducted into Ben Bastura's growing submarine library and museum.

Writing letters

From that point on the task of acquiring ship's plaques and patches was started. Tons of letters were sent to each and every commanding officer and to each and every U.S. Navy submarine in commission. Letters were sent back to Ben stating that, they did not send this type of material to youngsters or to individuals or to private collectors.

Ben would sit down and write another letter to the same boats, explaining the scope of and the purpose of the museum. Many times it took 3 to 4 letters to one boat before they finally understood and sent the plaque, patch, photo and all the information pertaining to the submarines.

Persistence was the key word for Ben Bastura. He did not quit and his venture finally paid off because today, the Submarine Museum has on display numerous original ship's plaques and approximately 300 ship's patches.

Next came the ordeal of procuring photos and histories of all these boats for the files.

Again, luck was with Ben because today he is only 33 to 36 photos short of having a complete set of submarine photos ranging from the USS HOLLAND SS-1 to our newest Trident Boats.

In this museum is one of the largest and most complete set of files on submarines on the East Coast and possibly in the country. There are individual files on each and every submarine from the Holland to the Tridents, plus individual files on all the submarine tenders, submarine rescue, ship yards, either government or privately owned. There are files on submarine bases, naval facilities, personnel, each and every research vehicle (government or privately owned), oceanography, and hundreds of other subjects pertaining to submarines.

Also in this museum is housed one of the largest collections of submarine models. Most of these models are hand carved and highly detailed.

Numerous battle flags are on display, including the USS HAMMERHEAD battle flag donated by Capt. A. F. "Art" Rawson. Ben's close and good friend Adm. "Fearless" Freddie Warder, donated a solid brass model of the USS SEAWOLF, and a Khaki uniform that he actually wore while commanding the USS SEAWOLF SS-197.

Ben and President Truman receive an honor

In 1968, Bernard along with former President of the United States, Harry S. Truman were voted in and accepted as "Honorary Life-time members" of the U.S. Submarine Veterans WWII, at the Cincinnati National Convention.

If it was not for each and every submarine veteran throughout the country that donated mementos and artifacts, and if it was not for each and every submarine commander who donated the ship's plaques, patches, etc., there would be no submarine library and museum here in Middletown, Conn.

Thank you shipmates, for making this museum what it is today, a reality - a full-size and complete submarine museum that you can all be proud of. There are battleflags, pennants, name boards, gangplank canvases that are on permanent display along with all the other priceless historical mementos and artifacts.

Through the use of the museum's files and books, the history of the submarine could be traced as far back as "Alexander the Great in 2300 A.D.," to the present day Trident Submarines. The heart and soul of each and every submarine veteran throughout the country is enshrined in this museum.

I'll be looking forward to meeting and greeting all of you here at the Submarine Library and Museum.

Ben