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NavSource Online: Cruiser Photo Archive

USS SALEM (CA 139)

Image courtesy of Al Grazevich

Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign: November - India - Quebec - Yankee
Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign - Varsity

Patch image contributed by Mike Smolinski

CLASS - DES MOINES
Displacement 17,000 Tons, Dimensions, 716' 6" (oa) x 76' 4" x 26' (Max)
Armament 9 x 8"/55, 12 x 5"/38AA, 24 x 3"/50, 24 x 20mm, 4 Aircraft
Armor, 6" Belt, 8" Turrets, 3 1/2" Deck, 6 1/2" Conning Tower.
Machinery, 120,000 SHP; G. E. Geared Turbines, 4 screws
Speed, 33 Knots, Crew 1799.
Operational and Building Data
Keel laid on 04 JUL 1945 by the Bethlehem Steel Co., Quincy, MA
Launched 25 MAR 1947
Commissioned 14 MAY 1949
Decommissioned 30 JAN 1959
Stricken 1 JUL 1991
Fate: Donated as a Museum ship OCT 1994

Patch image contributed by Mike Smolinski

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - World War II Occupation Medal w/Europe clasp - National Defense Service Medal

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By And/Or Copyright
0413942	101k	Starboard bow view date and location unknown. This photo appears to be taken either during Sea Trials or just after Commissioning. Note the high waterline indicating that she has not yet taken on ammunition or stores.	David Buell
	24k	Salem seen here in Oran, North Africa in 1950.	© Frank Doherty
	106k	USS Salem (CA 139) At anchor in Palmas Bay, Sardinia, on 19 May 1950, two days after she became flagship of the Sixth Fleet. She is dressed with flags and flies the three-star flag of Commander, Sixth Fleet, from her foremast. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 97604.	USNHC
0413944	124k	USS Salem in heavy seas, circa 1951.	Steve Singlar ETCS USNR (Ret)
	108k	USS Salem (CA 139) at Toulon, France, 18 June 1951. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.	Fred Weiss
	66k	USS Salem (CA 139) moored in the Canal della Guidecca, during a visit to Venice, Italy, on 23 August 1951. Salem was then flagship of the Sixth Fleet. Note decorated awning rigged forward, probably for entertaining visiting dignitaries. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives #80-G-K-12025.	Scott Dyben/National Archives
	112k	USS Salem (CA 139) at anchor in Naples, Italy, as seen from USS Baltimore (CA 68) in 1952.	George Panos Ex QMS 2/C
	129k	USS Columbus (CA 74) (left) and USS Salem (CA 139) (right), as seen from USS Baltimore (CA 68) in 1952.	George Panos Ex QMS 2/C
		USS Coral Sea (CVB 43) and USS Salem (CA 139) during Med. exercises, 1952. Note helo between Coral Sea and Salem.	George Panos Ex QMS 2/C
	51k	USS Salem (CA 139) Underway in the Mediterranean, bound for Trieste, 16 June 1952. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 97606.	USNHC
	116k	USS Salem (CA 139) Underway in the Mediterranean Sea, en route to Trieste, on 16 June 1952. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 97605.	USNHC
	101k	USS Salem (CA 139) Underway in the Mediterranean, bound for Trieste, 16 June 1952. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 97606.	USNHC
	158k	USS Salem (CA 139) Silhouetted against the Sun, while steaming toward Trieste during her third Mediterranean deployment, 16 June 1952. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 97607.	USNHC
	269k	Starboard bow view taken in the Med, 1954 while serving as the 6th Fleet Flag ship. She is cruising off the coast of Villafrance. U.S. Navy Photo.	John P. Derr, CDR, USN,(Ret)
	116k	Starboard bow view in Algiers, Algeria on 20 May 1954. USS Mercury (AKS 20) to Starboard. USS Roanoke (CA 145) to Port. Almost hidden behind Roanoke is USS Tidewater (AD 31).	Larry Bohn
	151k	Port view of the Bridge of USS Salem taken about 22 September 1954. Note that at this time, the only ribbon mounted on the bridge is the occupation ribbon. Note also the "Bite" taken out of the lower bridge rail to allow the 3" 50 cal. to swing full circle. Firing Cutout Cams inside the gun mount prevented shooting while pointing in an unsafe direction.	Larry Bohn
0413908	556k	United States Navy officers and other officials pose for a photograph on the deck of the USS Salem, 29 January 1956. First row, left to right: Sears; Ekstrom; Cassino; Briscoe; Admiral William M. Fechteler, United States Navy, Commander-in-Chief, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE); Felt; Vice Admiral Giuseppe Lubrano, Italian Navy; Lieutenant Patrick W. Timberlake, United States Air Force; Major General Frank N. Roberts, United States Army; Rear Admiral Elmer E. Yeomans, United States Navy. Second row, left to right: Henderson; two unidentified men; Unia; Lodge; Fiori; Ulantoussis; General Meloni, Italian Army; Young; Brigadier General Cemal Aydinalp, Turkish Army; Bezy. Third row, left to right: Brown; Roby; Hart; unidentified; Noussle; Freeman; and unidentified.	Collection HST-PHC: Photograph Collection Series: Photographs Relating to the Administration, Family, and Personal Life of Harry S. Truman Local Identifier 2017-754 Photo courtesy of catalog.archives.gov
	82k	USS Salem (CA 139) Anchored in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, 25 March 1956. The cruiser was then working up for her final tour as flagship of the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives #USN 1040195.	USNHC
0413957	79k	Photo of USS Salem from her 1956-1958 cruise book.	Tommy Trampp
0413947	79k	Postcard of USS Salem in Valletta, Malta, dated 27 July 1956.	Tommy Trampp
	102k	Piasecki HUP-2 "Retriever" Helicopter (Bureau # 128533), of Helicopter Utility Squadron Two (HU-2) Lowers guard mail to the foredeck of USS Salem (CA 139), during operations in the Mediterranean Sea, 29 April 1957. In the background, USS Caloosahatchee (AO 98) is refueling USS Lake Champlain (CVA 39) and a destroyer. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 97609.	USNHC
0413953	625k	Photo caption: (NY2-June 30) DRY RUN--A bosun's chair provides a calm trip over rough seas for crew members during a transfer operation between Sixth Fleet warships in the Mediterranean. The airborne passengers rode from the cruiser USS Salem (CA 139), background, to the USS Des Moines (CA 134) shortly before the Salem left for home after serving as the Sixth Fleet's flagship for most of the last eight years. (APWirephoto) (JDC20700LN) 58	David Wright
0413911	613k	Rear Admiral Lewis S. Parks Rides Highline, circa 1957.	Collection HST-PHC: Photograph Collection Series: Photographs Relating to the Administration, Family, and Personal Life of Harry S. Truman Local Identifier 2015-1314 Photo courtesy of catalog.archives.gov
04139p01	698k	A painting of USS Salem (CA 139) at anchor in Venice, Italy, circa 1958. The title of the piece is "Evening in Venice" by artist Wayne Scarpaci.	Wayne Scarpaci
0413959	698k	View of a highline transfer of personnel between the U.S. Navy heavy cruisers USS Salem (CA 139), left, and USS Des Moines (CA 134), 1 January 1958. U.S. Navy photo from the USS Des Moines (CA 134) 1958 cruise book.	Robert Hurst
0413958	94k	Retired U.S. Navy ships laid up in the reserve basin of the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Pennsylvania, in 1995. Identifiable are the frigate USS Edward McDonnell (FF 1043) in the foreground, and the heavy cruisers USS Des Moines (CA 134) and USS Salem (CA 139) in the background. A Belknap-class cruiser and two Farragut-class guided missile destroyers are moored in front of Salem. 1 January 1995. Courtesy Jet Lowe. U.S. Historic American Engineering Record, U.S. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs HAER PA,51-PHILA,709W--4.	Robert Hurst
0413946	94k	USS Salem (CA 139) with the USS Des Moines (CA 134) moored to her port side at the Philadelphia Navy Yard Reserve Basin circa 1995. Library of Congress, HAER PA,51-PHILA,709W—3	Mike Green
	55k	Salem being helped by tug on her "Sail Day" in 1995.	USN
0413955	55k	Passing through the Fore River old bridge on her way to becoming a museum, 1995. Photo by Ed Adamson	Yu Chu
The Following 14 Images Show SALEM As Preserved At The Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass. She Is In Excellent Material Condition, But In Sad Need Of Paint.
	122k	Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass., 2 May 1998.	©Richard Leonhardt
	106k	Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass., 2 May 1998.	©Richard Leonhardt
	87k	Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass., 2 May 1998.	©Richard Leonhardt
	139k	Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass., 2 May 1998.	©Richard Leonhardt
	136k	Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass., 2 May 1998.	©Richard Leonhardt
	132k	Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass., 2 May 1998.	©Richard Leonhardt
	157k	Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass., 2 May 1998.	©Richard Leonhardt
	92k	Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass., 2 May 1998.	©Richard Leonhardt
	149k	Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass., 2 May 1998.	©Richard Leonhardt
	133k	Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass., 2 May 1998.	©Richard Leonhardt
	118k	Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass., 2 May 1998.	©Richard Leonhardt
	108k	Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass., 2 May 1998.	©Richard Leonhardt
0413945	86k	USS Salem in drydock, South Boston, MA, January 2000.	Steve Singlar ETCS USNR (Ret)
The following 10 images show SALEM as preserved at the Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass. She was drydocked in 1999/2000 for preservation/painting and as such looks MUCH better than in the previous batch of photos.
	65k	The Cobblers Shop, Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass., 21 July 2002.	©Richard Leonhardt
	45k	The Dentists Office, Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass., 21 July 2002.	©Richard Leonhardt
	85k	A Crew Head, Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass., 21 July 2002.	©Richard Leonhardt
	77k	The Pipefitters Shop, Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass., 21 July 2002.	©Richard Leonhardt
	78k	The Mess Deck, Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass., 21 July 2002.	©Richard Leonhardt
	50k	Office compartment, Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass., 21 July 2002.	©Richard Leonhardt
	57k	The Pilot House, Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass., 21 July 2002.	©Richard Leonhardt
	74k	USS SALEM after her re-painting, Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass., 21 July 2002.	© Richard Leonhardt
	74k	The Tailor shop, Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass., 21 July 2002.	© Richard Leonhardt
	66k	The Wardroom Pantry, Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass., 21 July 2002.	©Richard Leonhardt
0413943	327k	USS Salem (CA 139) taken in Quincy, MA, July 2009. The photographer was Al Coombs.	Steve Singlar ETCS USNR (Ret)
0413956	327k	Stern of USS Salem (CA 139) from Fore River Bridge, 28 August 2010. Photo taken by Todd Van Hoosear.	Robert Hurst

Commanding Officers
Name/Rank	Class	Final Rank	Dates
Daniel, John Cheshire, CAPT	1924	VADM	05/13/1949 - 02/02/1950
Taylor, Edmund Battelle, CAPT	1925	VADM	02/02/1950 - 01/02/1951
Varian, Donald Cord, CAPT	1925	RADM	01/02/1951 - 11/09/1951
Romoser, William Kilian, CAPT	1926	RADM	11/09/1951 - 10/09/1952
Schumm, Brooke, CAPT	1927	RADM	10/09/1952 - 10/28/1953
Creighton, Liles Walker, CAPT	1927		10/28/1953 - 01/14/1955
Maginnis, Jack, CAPT	1927		01/14/1955 - 10/19/1955
Roby, Allan Barkhurst, CAPT	1930	RADM	10/19/1955 - 02/02/1957
Williamson, Francis Thomas, CAPT	1931	RADM	02/02/1957 - 07/01/1958
Ferguson, James DuGué, CAPT	1933		07/01/1958 - 01/30/1959

(Courtesy of Wolfgang Hechler & Ron Reeves - Photos courtesy of Bill Gonyo)

USS SALEM (CA 139) History
View This Vessels DANFS History Entry on the U.S. Navy Historical Center website.

Crew Contact And Reunion Information

Contact Name: Eileen Daniels
Address: 21605 Queen Elizabeth Court, Leesburg, FL 34748
Phone: 352-326-5377
FAX: 352/315-4040
E-mail: bedaniels53@aol.com

Note About Contacts

The contact listed, Was the contact at the time for this ship when located. If another person now is the contact, E-mail me and I will update this entry. These contacts are compiled from various sources over a long period of time and may or may not be correct. Every effort has been made to list the newest contact if more than one contact was found.

Additional Resources
Hazegray & Underway Cruiser Pages By Andrew Toppan.
USS Salem Museum

USS SALEM also starred as the German Pocket Battleship "GRAF SPEE" In "Battle Of The River Platte" (1956)

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