ONBOARD QUEENFISH SS393 IN 1959 FOR FILMING OF OPERATION PETTICOAT

I was a seaman aboard the USS Queenfish (SS-393) in 1959. We were moored alongside the USS Sperry, a submarine tender, in San Diego Harbor.

We got the word that we were to go to the yards in San Diego to film a sequence of a movie for Republic Pictures. It was done over a weekend in 1959. I lucked out and got a small part on the deck with Tony Curtis, who played the Captain of the boat awaiting the arrival of Admiral Cary Grant.

We had filmed several incidents from the deck, such as Grant's wife, Joan O'Brien bumbing into the official car when she arrived for the final departure of the boat. However, that additional scene and several others ended up on the floor.

As a matter of fact, the only part of me that shows up in the film is my left arm and part of my head with earphones on. My role was the bridge talker to the "officer of the deck" who happened to be the real boat captain, who took his orders from Captain Tony Curtis.

As a 19 year old kid I was truly excited to be among such luminaries as Cary Grant, Tony Curtis, Joan O'Brien.

The film company donated $500 to our Christmas Party and we drank to the success of the movie over the holidays.

I subsequently retired from the Navy as a Commander and later from a secod career as a college professor, but I shall always treasure that weekend in 1959 when I walked among stars.

Thanks

John Griffin