Photographic History of the United States Navy
ARCHIVE
| NavSource Main Page | FAQ | Contact us | Search NavSource |
| |
NavSource Naval History Photographic History of the United States Navy |
DESTROYER ARCHIVE |
One of the most interesting parts of this project is that every once and a while, some very special images or in this case a whole collection of special images are found and shared with us for the visitors of NavSource. This is the case of this very special collection of images from the album of Robert L. Dean Sr. sent to us by his son Robert L. Dean Jr. He relates; "I am sorry the quality is so poor, but 1918 was a LONG time ago. My father died in 1981. He kept these pictures in a little brown cardboard box in his dresser drawer all those years. It seems to me there may have been other photos but these are all that is left. Dad ran away from the farm at age 17. He tried to join the navy but the enlistment officer told him he did not weigh enough to make the minimum weight requirement. Dad went down to the produce market and ate down several pounds of bananas, then rushed back to the recruiters and passed the weight limit. He served on several sub-chasers and destroyers including the USS McCook (DD-252). The largest ship he served on was the heavy cruiser USS Charleston (C-22/CA-19), as Mail Clerk in 1918. He told me of times when the weather was so rough out in the North Atlantic that the whole ship would go under water with nothing but the masts and smoke stacks sticking up. For a young farm boy, high in the crows nest standing watch, this must have been some experience."
Tommy Trampp found this album of images by a crewmember of the USS Cowell (DD-167) which he shares here with you. Descriptions are limited in this collection to those actually written in the scrap book itself. It is suggested that you read the Cowell's DANFS history for this period to get an idea of where these images were taken.
This is collection of images from the album of BM2 Albert Wahler USN who served aboard the USS Ludlow (DD-112/DM-10) from 1921 to 1922. This is his personal photo collection gathered during his career. I wish to thank his son Mr. Francis Wahler, who is a himself a veteran of the US Navy serving aboard the LST-983. These images capture a rare glimpse of the Navy and Navy Life during the early 1920's along with some interesting scenes from the Territory of Hawaii.
This is collection of images from the album of CPO Hobart Sampson Butcher USN who served aboard the USS Gilmer (DD-233) from 1920 to 1921. This is his personal photo collection gathered during his career. I wish to thank his daughter Bette Butcher Topp. These images capture a rare glimpse of the Navy and Navy Life during the early 1920's along with some interesting scenes from Italy.
This is the collection of images from the album of TM3 Ralph Fugh USN who served aboard the USS Lawrence (DD-250) from 1935 to 1936. This is his personal photo collection gathered during his career. I wish to thank his son Mr. Larry K. Fugh, who is a himself a veteran of the US Navy Minesweeper force serving as an EM2. These images capture a rare glimpse of the Navy and Navy Life during the middle 1930's along with some interesting locations as they then appeared.
Amazingly a shipmate of Ralph Fugh, Stepehen Urbani, also kept a very special collection of images from his time aboard the Lawrence and afterward. His collection begins at Boot Camp in Norfolk and continues through Gyro Compass School in San Diego in 1942, from S3c to EM1c. I wish to thank his nephew, Paul Urbani, who took the time to send the collection on to us. These images, again, capture a rare glimpse of the Navy and Navy Life during the 1930's along with some interesting locations as they then appeared.
This is the collection of images from the album of Willie Starnes, a crewman on the USS Hyman (DD-732), from World War II to 1946. Many thanks to Jana Reid who forwarded these images to us.
Our friends C. C. Wright and Ed Zajkowski came across this document dated January 1920 which gives an overview of the Destroyer Program during World War I. What follows are the scanned pages of the entire publication.
During July 1983 Ed took a series of images of the USS Harold J. Ellison (DD-864) as she prepared for decommissioning and transfer to the Pakistani Navy. Then in October he recorded the ceremonies as the turnover was accomplished. I think those Snipes out there will really enjoy this feature.
Ed crossed paths with Admiral Arleigh Burke both during his service with Tin Can Sailors and during the Christening and Commissioning ceremonies of the USS Arleigh Burke (DDG-51). This Tribute to the Admiral includes Ed's memories of those occasions and images from the Admiral's storied career as a Tin Can sailor.
FRAM was the Fleet Rehabilitation And Modernization project designed to extend the sea service life of the Destroyer Force. This page is a tribute to that project and includes images from the many ships and Shipyards that took part from the late 1950's into the early 1960's. Many thanks to Ed Zajkowski who came up with the idea and contributed over 50 images from his private collection.
Many ex-Navy men spend a few days every year restoring and maintaining the ships in the Historic Fleet. They are located around the country and include destroyers, cruisers, battleships, aircraft carriers, submarines, etc. This special photo feature show the story of these Fields Days over the years aboard the USS Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. (DD-850). Many thanks to Ed Zajkowski who came up with the idea and contributed the images from his private collection.
The ultimate fate that befalls a US Navy ship, when she is decommissioned, may be prolonged by transfer to a foreign navy, their use as a museum or even an artificial reef. However, the vast majority will sit in a Reserve Fleet or Navy Yard for many years but ultimately they will be sold to private contractors as scrap. This special photo feature shows the story of the demise of our former homes. Many thanks to Ed Zajkowski who came up with the idea and contributed and/or coordinated the acquisition of the images. Also a Bravo Zulu to Brian Kroenung who sent us the section on the scrapping of the USS Coontz (DLG-9/DDG-40).
As with any Government organization, paperwork is a primary concern. Chris Wright and Ed Zajkowski present here some of the documents that were produced during World War II by every ship. These include the Action Reports, Personnel Casualties, Battle Damage, War Diaries, TBS Radio Messages and various Endorsements by higher authority. The featured ship in this case is the USS Norman Scott (DD-690) covering 1943 until 1945.
Please remember every old shoe box stored in the attic could hold a potential treasure chest of history. Once thrown away these snap shots of history are lost forever. I want to thank the above named people for saving these priceless images and for the honor of allowing us to display them here.
