Base Meeting and Events
Meetings
When: 1st Saturday of every month, 12 Noon (unless otherwise posted).
Hope you can join us at our next meeting. Wives and guests are invited.
Saturday, October Meeting - October 7, 2023 -- Location: Mustang Bar & Grill, 482 Gardner St., South Beloit, IL.
Saturday, November Meeting - November 4, 2023 -- Location: Mustang Bar & Grill, 482 Gardner St., South Beloit, IL.
Saturday, December Meeting - December 2, 2023 -- Location: Mustang Bar & Grill, 482 Gardner St., South Beloit, IL.
Directions
From the North: From Beloit, travel South on Broad St., crossing over the Illinois border. Turn left (East) onto Gardner St. (Illinois Rt. 75). The Mustang Bar & Grill is about two blocks East on the right-hand side on the corner of Gardner and Thompson St.
From the East: Take I-90, getting off on Rt. 75 (West) exit. Rt. 75 is Gardner St. Mustang Bar & Grill is about 1.5 miles West on the left side of the corner of Gardner and Thompson St.
From the South via IL Rt. 2 (called Blackhawk Blvd in South Beloit): Go North and exit right onto Gardner St. (Route 75). Turn right onto Gardner St., just after crossing the railroad tracks before entering Wisconsin. The Mustang Bar & Grill is about two blocks East on the right-hand side on the corner of Gardner and Thompson St.
From the South via IL 251: Go North and turn left onto Gardner St. (Route 75). The Mustang Bar & Grill is about four blocks West on the left-hand side on the corner of Gardner and Thompson St.
From the West: Take Rt. 75 (East). Turn left onto Blackhawk Blvd. (IL Rt. 2), going about 2.3 miles to Gardner St. Turn right onto Gardner (Illinois Route 75). The Mustang Bar & Grill is about two blocks East on the right-hand side on the corner of Gardner and Thompson St.
Our Gallery
Join us as we salute submarines within our communities
The USS Illinois Base makes itself known in the community sharing submarine stories with others. We attend a lot of community trade shows, flea markets, fairs, flyovers and other military support events. Next time you attend a special function, look for us, and stop by and introduce yourself. We are most proud of our involvement in "Operation Drydock," which is seeking donations to help preserve a local historical treasurer, the USS Cobia, a WWII submarine moored in the water of the Manitowoc River, in Manitowoc, Wisc. The boat is due for a good cleaning of her haul--especially that below the surface. We are trying to raise $2.5 million to make this possible. Donations are tax-deductible.
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Ticket booth volunteers -
Air rides on B-29 "FiFi" -
Saving WWII Submarine history with USS Cobia "Operation Drydock" -
B-24 "Diamond Lil" always a hit for WWII fans. -
Thousands came through the Gate, which meant USSVI volunteers put on a lot of wristbands. -
You may have attended this WarBirds to see planes, but you left with an appreciate of USS Submarines and their role in WWII.
Join us as we help restore the USS Cobia (SS-245)
Members of the USS Illinois Base joined other “Bubbleheads” in Manitowoc, Wis. three to four times a year to help spruce up the USS Cobia in preparation for SubFest in July. By the end of the trip, they were masters of both scraping and painting. This WWII boat has Smithsonian recognition for volunteers restoring the Cobia to her original 1943 configuration. Interested in help keep submarine history alive? We look for sub sailors and their families, or just submarine enthusiasts to join us in these working parties. Contact us for details.
Share in the Camaraderie
USS Illinois Base is a veteran’s organization based in northern IL and southern WI that holds meetings and events to both honor fallen submariners and foster camaraderie among active and veteran submariners. As a sub-organization of USSVI, we support a strong submarine force. Join us as a member or associate member today! We look forward to seeing you at our next meeting.