Full Speed Into the Nuclear Age
Making Groton the Submarine Capital of the World
EB built the world’s first nuclear submarine, the Nautilus, in the 1950s. Now it struggled to standardize construction and business processes, meet the Navy’s growing demands and understand the needs of the men taking submarines to sea in the early years of the Cold War. It wrestled with horrific tragedies, including the loss of the Thresher and a fire that killed three shipyard workers on the Flasher.
EB’s dominance would be challenged in the decades ahead. But by the end of the ’60s, it had established itself as a truly modern yard.
The stories were recorded in the fall of 2014 by Barbara Nagy of Groton, who covered EB for The Day and then The Hartford Courant in the 1990s. She edited the interviews into the excerpts you see here today. The recordings and transcripts will be archived at the Groton Public Library for public use.
The 1960s cemented Electric Boat as America’s premier designer and builder of nuclear-powered submarines for the U.S. Navy. This exhibit is about the tradespeople, engineers, managers and support staff who made it possible. It tells their story through the voices of 30 people who worked at EB then. Sponsored by the Groton Public Library with support from Connecticut Humanities and the Town of Groton.
Make a selection from below to learn more:
Ann Lamb
Ann Lamb: Started in 1954 in the Steno Pool; Retired in 1996 as a Personal Secretary
An Office of 40 People, Four of them Women
Beth Komorowski: Started in 1963 after Two Years of Engineering at UConn
‘Come on Kid, Get out of the Way!’
Bob Rosso: Started in 1963 as a Pipefitter
I Was Directing Traffic in the Sail
Bruce Caron: Started in 1958 as a Machinist; Retired as a Supervisor
She Said, ‘I Got to Put this Valve in, Dad’
Bruce Caron: Started in 1958 as a Machinist; Retired as a Supervisor
Jackie Kennedy Visits EB
Connie Stoddard: Started in 1958 as a Clerk; Retired in 1993 as a Private Secretary
The Legacy of the Thresher
Dan Hall: Joined the Design Workforce in 1965
With a Drafting Pencil, You Could Have Style
Don Degidio: Started in April 1966 as a Bottom-Step Learner in Design
Nobody Knew How Fast Nuclear Would Grow
George Lucas: Started in Ships Management in the Fall of 1953
‘What the Hell Are You Doing with Your Car?’
George Lucas: Started in Ships Management in the Fall of 1953
My Goal? To be the Best Welder EB Ever Had
George Strutt: Started as a Welder on November 16, 1964
Building an Efficient, Modern Shipyard
Henry Nardone: Started in 1959; Retired as Director of the Trident Program
Getting Feedback from Cold War Skippers
Henry Nardone: Started in 1959; Retired as Director of the Trident Program
‘The President Needs a Secretary of Peace’
Herman Sheets: Hired in 1953; Left in 1969 (Recounted by Paulann Sheets)
It Doesn’t Take an Enemy Attack to Lose a Ship
Jack Komorowski: Started in R&D in September 1965
A Rhode Island Trooper Is at the Gate for You
Jack Komorowski: Started in R&D in September 1965
A Beautiful Paint Job?
Jack Pillar: Started as an Inspector in 1962; Later Joined the Design Workforce
Fire on the Flasher
Jack Pillar: Started as an Inspector in 1962; Later Joined the Design Workforce
I suppose I am a trailblazer
Jane Manley: 2nd Woman Draftsman in EB History
‘Get That Place Running Properly’
Jim Burbank: Hired as a Planner in the Late 1940s
Experimenting with a Midget Submarine
Jim Carnell: Worked at EB as an Engineer from 1956-63
‘Are You Getting Ready for College?’
Jim Colonis: Started as a Pipefitter; Later Became a Draftsman
‘Welcome Sinners’
John Azzinaro: Started as a Welder in 1963; Retired as a Supervisor
Try to Kick your Foot through this Door
John Azzinaro: Started as a Welder in 1963; Retired as a Supervisor
We Listened to Tapes of Soviet Submarines
Ken Brown: Started in 1961 as a Nuclear Engineer; Retired as VP of Operations
Diesel Boats Forever
Larry Jacobsen: Started in the Mold Loft in 1940; Became a Design Supervisor
The Percussionist in the Shipyard Band
Mike Coffey: Started as a Shipfitter in 1957
I Had Pride in What I Did Because of my Father
Mike Dunphy: Hired as a Machinist in 1962
When Friends Cross the Picket Line
Mike Dunphy: Hired as a Machinist in 1962
If You Screwed It Up, Raise Your Hand
Mike Toner: Started June 28, 1965 as a Nuclear Engineer; Became President of EB in 2000
‘I Worked on this Ship. I Want to See it Float.’
Mike Toner: Started June 28, 1965 as a Nuclear Engineer; Became President of EB in 2000
Want to Put a Submarine on the Moon?
Niel Spillane: Started in 1953 as a Planning Engineer; Left in 1977
You’re Lucky to Work with a Guy Like Jimmy
Ralph Martin: Started in 1959 as a Rigger
The 1st Deep Dive after the Thresher
Richard Wren: Started as a Hydraulic Engineer in 1960
My Father Said, ‘You’re Going to Work at EB’
Ron Britagna: Third-Generation EB Shipfitter
When You’re Accountable, You Learn
Sam Grills: Started in October 1956 as a Shipfitter; Still Working as a Design Tech
Their Clothes Would be Full of Asbestos
Richard E. “Soupie” Desrosiers: Started in 1963 as a Pipefitter
It Was a Living Wage
Richard E. “Soupie” Desrosiers: Started in 1963 as a Pipefitter
‘I’m Going to Make You a Ship Superintendent’
Tom Bonelli: Started in 1965 as a Piping Inspector and Retired as an Area Superintendent
The Foremen Were People Like my Father
Wayne Chiapperini: Started in 1967 in Nuclear Engineering
We Helped Win the Cold War
Wayne Magro: Started August 18, 1959 as an Electrician; Retired as a Program Manager
It’s the American Dream. Hard Work Does Pay.
Wayne Magro: Started August 18, 1959 as an Electrician; Retired as a Program Manager
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