CHARLES ‘SWEDE’ MOMSEN


Real-life Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy
 “Submerged”

Sunday, May 20 (9-11 p.m. ET) on NBC

U.S Navy Vice Admiral Charles B. Momsen was primarily responsible for the rescue of crewmembers 
and successful salvaging the submarine “Squalus” after she sank in approximately 240 feet of water off 
New Hampshire in 1939, which earned him a commendation from the President of the United States and 
the Secretary of the Navy. 

Charles Bowers Momsen was born in Flushing, Long Island, New York.  Nicknamed "The Swede," 
Momsen was actually of Danish descent.  He was first appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy at 
Annapolis, Maryland, from the Fourth District of Minnesota in 1916.  As a midshipman, he played 
football and baseball, and during the summer of 1918, served on the U.S.S. Kansas on Atlantic escort 
duty during World War I.  He was graduated and commissioned as an ensign in 1919.

Momsen then served a tour of duty at the Design Division of the Bureau of Construction and Repair, 
Navy Department, Washington, D.C.  Later, he was ordered to the Submarine Safety Test Unit aboard 
U.S.S. “S-4,” a floating laboratory.  During this period, which ended in September 1932, he was engaged 
in the design of a submarine escape breathing apparatus, later known as the "Momsen Lung."  For this 
development, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. 

While serving as Officer in Charge of Experimental Diving at the Navy Yard in 1937, he helped develop 
a new set of decompression tables and supported proposals for the use of a helium and oxygen air 
mixture in deep-diving operations.  In 1943 he reported as Commander Submarine Squadron Two, and in 
November of the same year, transferred in the same capacity to Submarine Squadron Four.  Because of 
his special contributions to submarine warfare, he was awarded the Navy Cross, the Legion of Merit, and 
a Gold Star in lieu of a second Legion of Merit, with Combat "V."  He also received a letter of 
commendation from the Commander Fifth Fleet, with authorization to wear the Commendation Ribbon 
and Combat "V," for outstanding service while in command of U.S.S. South Dakota during the support of 
the assault operations on Okinawa.  

When relieved of the command in 1945, Momsen was assigned to Headquarters, Commander in Chief, 
U.S. Fleet, at the Navy Department, Washington, D.C, to prepare for the invasion of Japan.  After the 
Japanese surrender, he was ordered to duty as Administrator, U.S. Naval Shipping Control Authority for 
Japanese Merchant Marine.  The War Department awarded him the Distinguished Service Medal. 

After his return to the United States, he was a member of the General Board, Navy Department and for 
three years thereafter served as Assistant Chief of Naval Operations for Undersea Warfare, Navy 
Department.  In April 1945 he was designated Commander Joint Task Force Seven, and continued to 
serve as such until his retirement in 1955.  

Momsen received many awards for his work: the Navy Cross; the Distinguished Service Medal (Navy); 
the Distinguished Service Medal (Army); the Legion of Merit with two Gold Stars and Combat "V"; the 
Commendation Ribbon with Combat “V”; the WorldWar I Victory Medal, Escort Clasp; the American 
Defense Service Medal, Fleet Clasp; the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal; the American Campaign 
Medal; the World War II Victory Medal; Navy Occupation Service Medal, Asia Clasp; National Defense 
Service Medal, and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one bronze star.  

Vice Admiral Momsen was married to Mrs. Anne I. Schmidt, and has two children by a former marriage, 
who include Commander Charles B. Momsen, Jr., U.S.N. (U.S. Naval Academy Class of 1942) and Mrs. 
Evelyn Momsen Hailey.   After retirement, he served as a consultant to several corporations including 
General Dynamics, Raytheon, and U.S. Rubber.  Momsen died at 70 from cancer in 1967.