Tour the “Pirate of the Pacific”, the only vessel in the history of the US Navy to be granted permission to fly a pirate flag. The USS Kidd (DD-661) is a fully restored World War 2 Fletcher-class destroyer moored in downtown Baton Rouge. This attraction includes an indoor museum and a self-guided tour of the ship.
Don’t miss seeing:
- The dented helmet of an infantryman who stormed the beaches of Normandy
- The X on the ship’s starboard side marking the site of a kamikaze attack
- Louisiana Veterans Museum and War Memorial
History: USS Kidd
The USS Kidd was commissioned in 1943 and saw action in World War 2 and the Korean War. A Japanese kamikaze attacked the ship in 1945 killing 38 men and wounding 55.
The ship was named after Rear Admiral Isaac Campbell Kidd, Sr. who was killed on board the USS Arizona during the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941. He was the highest ranking casualty at Pearl Harbor, the 1st US Navy flag officer killed in World War 2, and the 1st Navy flag officer in American history to die from a foreign enemy attack. He posthumously received the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Why Does the USS Kidd Fly the Pirate Flag?
Rear Admiral Kidd was nicknamed “Cap” after the famous pirate, Captain Kidd. When the ship was first commissioned the crew adopted the pirate as their mascot. On their behalf, Rear Admiral Kidd’s widow asked and was given permission for the ship to fly the Jolly Roger flag and for a pirate to be painted on the smokestack. The ship became known as the Pirate of the Pacific. One way it lived up to its name was by “ransoming” rescued pilots for ice cream.
Tips:
- There are steep ladders and no A/C on the ship. Wear comfortable clothing.
305 South River Road
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
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