On This Date In Twin Cities History - June 16, 1945

On this date in 1945, the Navy ship USS Wacissa (AOG-59) is launched into the Mississippi River at the Savage Shipyards. The Wacissa was a Patapsco-class gasoline tanker built for the U.S. Navy for the task of transporting gasoline to warships in the fleet, and to remote Navy stations during World War II. The Wacissa was the eighteenth and final ship built at the Savage Shipyards, which was operated by Cargill, and employed 3,500 people at its height.