Artifact of the Week: Flag that Flew Above the Glomar Explorer
In the early 1970s, Howard Hughes announced the construction of the Hughes Glomar Explorer, a gigantic vessel that would mine the ocean floor for manganese nodules. This CIA cover story hid its real mission – to recover a sunken Soviet submarine from the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.
Fifty years ago, on 4 July 1974, the ship began its two-month-long covert salvage operation, all the while allaying suspicions of curious Soviet ships nearby. This flag flew atop the Glomar Explorer during its daring mission.
Although our museum is not open to the public, we regularly share new artifacts to give you a virtual peek inside.
Learn more. https://www.cia.gov/legacy/museum/artifact/flag-that-flew-above-the-glomar-explorer/
