Photographic History of the United States Navy
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NavSource Naval History Photographic History of the United States Navy |
DESTROYER ARCHIVE |
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Size | Image Description | Contributed By |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50k | Ralph Earle, born 3 May 1874 at Worcester, Mass., graduated from the Naval Academy in 1896. He served at sea in several ships, among them Massachusetts (BB-2), Essex, and Hornet. While on board Missouri (BB-11), he won commendations from the President and Secretary of the Navy for his conduct at the time of a disastrous turret explosion. He commanded Dolphin (PG-24) at the occupation of Vera Cruz, Mexico, and later commanded Connecticut (BB-18). Ashore, Earle had duty at the Naval Academy and the Naval Proving Ground. An expert on guns and explosives, he was made Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance shortly before the United States entered World War I. Under his administration the North Sea mine barrage was conceived and executed using a new type of mine, and the plan of mounting naval 14-inch guns on railway cars for use as long-range artillery on the Western Front, was evolved and carried out. After his retirement in 1927, Rear Admiral Earle served as president of Worcester Polytechnic Institute until his death, 13 February 1939. Digital ID: ggbain 28442, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. | Bill Gonyo | |
| 82k | Artist's conception of the Earle as she appeared in World War II by the renowned graphic illustrator John Barrett with the text written by naval author and historian Robert F. Sumrall. Their company Navy Yard Associates offers prints of most destroyers, destroyer escorts, submarines and aircraft carriers in various configurations during the ship's lifetime. The prints can be customized with ship's patches, your photograph, your bio, etc. If you decide to purchase artwork from them please indicate that you heard about their work from NavSource. | Navy Yard Associates | |
| 23k | Undated, location unknown. | Richard Angelini | |
| 77k | Undated, location unknown. | David Buell | |
| 145k | Undated, location unknown. USS Earle (DD-635) and USS Knight (DD-633). | Ed Zajkowski | |
| 145k | Undated, location unknown. | Ed Zajkowski | |
| 120k | Undated, location unknown. | Ed Zajkowski | |
| 155k | Undated, location unknown. | Tom Kerman | |
| 104k | The Boston Navy Yard maintained files concerning ship launchings, which provide an insight into the logistics required to undertake one of the most significant moments in the life of a naval vessel. This sequence relates to the launching of USS Earle (DD-635) on 10 December 1941. This memorandum dated 9 October 1941 from the Bureau of Navigation in Washington notified the Navy Yard Commandant of the identity of the sponsor for USS Earle and directed him to arrange the details of the ceremony with her. Note the name of the bureau chief, then an obscure naval officer but soon to become one of the best-known naval figures of World War II, Chester W. Nimitz. (Records of the Boston Naval Shipyard, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-15404). | Stephen P. Carlson, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard | |
| 126k | December 10 1941 at Boston Navy Yard. | Ed Zajkowski | |
| 107k | Newspaper clipping from December 10 1941 at Boston Navy Yard. | Tommy Trampp | |
| 152k | On 16 October 1941 Aide to the Commandant Lt. Cmdr. Brooke Schumm sent this letter to the sponsor informing her of the tentative date of the launching and asking for her guest list. (Records of the Boston Naval Shipyard, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-15404). | Stephen P. Carlson, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard | |
| 75k | One of the most interesting items in the file is this informal note which accompanied the formal notification letter. It reveals that Cmdr. Schumm was a friend of Mrs. Hines, whose husband was a fellow Navy officer, and is the only document in the file to address Mrs. Hines by her own given name. (Records of the Boston Naval Shipyard, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-15404). | Stephen P. Carlson, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard | |
| 97k | This follow-up letter from Cmdr. Schumm informed the sponsor of the final date of launching and that invitations were about to be sent. At this point in time, the invitations were done in the form of individual letters. Later, formal printed invitations would be used to reduce the workload as the number of christenings grew. (Records of the Boston Naval Shipyard, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-15404). | Stephen P. Carlson, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard | |
| 65k | Two days before the 10 December 1941 ceremony, the yard photographed the“christening fluid”and its container. (U.S. Navy photo NY2 3155-40, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-11011). | Stephen P. Carlson, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard | |
| 183k | Immediately prior to the ceremony, a shipyard photographer took pictures of the sponsor and her party. The sponsor, Mrs. John F. (Mary) Hines, Jr. (center) holds her bouquet of roses. At far left is her husband, Lt. Cmdr. John F. Hines, Jr., while Navy Yard Commandant Rear Adm. William T. Tarrant stands at right. Flanking Mrs. Hines are her mother and Mrs. M. E. Trench. (U.S. Navy photo NY2 3163-40, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-11011). | Stephen P. Carlson, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard | |
| 136k | Mrs. Hines christens USS Earle (DD-635) on 10 December 1941, three days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor brought the county officially into World War II. (U.S. Navy photo NY2 3165-40, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-11011). | Stephen P. Carlson, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard | |
| 151k | USS Earle (DD-635) slides down Shipways 2 of the Boston Navy Yard into Boston harbor on 10 December, 1941. (U.S. Navy photo NY2 3166-40, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-11011). | Stephen P. Carlson, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard | |
| 152k | A tugboat has taken charge of the newly-launched destroyer and is beginning to maneuver her away from the Shipways towards her fitting out location. Note the remains of the launching cradle under the hull to the right of her number. (U.S. Navy photo NY2 3168-40, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-11011). | Stephen P. Carlson, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard | |
| 91k | Following the christening and launching, the Commandant submitted a formal report to the Bureau of Ships. It enclosed copies of the photographs taken on the occasion, and provided information on the sponsor and her party as well as other distinguished guests. (Records of the Boston Naval Shipyard, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-15404). | Stephen P. Carlson, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard | |
| 66k | As above, page 2. | Stephen P. Carlson, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard | |
| 73k | USS Knight (DD-633) and USS Earle (DD-635) fitting out on February 1 1942. | Ron Reeves | |
| 170k | USS Earle (DD-635), January 1943 at New York Navy Yard, USN/ONI photo. | David Buell | |
| 187k | As above. | David Buell | |
| 155k | USS Earle (DD-635) underway with the crew at quarters for either leaving or entering port on June 10 1943. This photograph was retouched by wartime censors to remove radar antennas atop her foremast and Mark 37 gun director. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command. Photo #: NH 107207. | Robert Hurst | |
| 284k | Original DD equipment plaque saved while being scrapped. COURTESY OF THE LOS ANGELES MARITIME MUSEUM. | Ed Zajkowski | |
LCDR Hamilton Wilcox Howe Sep 1 1942 - Aug 24 1943 (Later RADM) CDR George Orrin Hobbs Aug 24 1943 – Dec 31 1944 CDR Martin Norman Chamberlain Dec 31 1944 – Oct 16 1945 LCDR Edward Muhlenfeld Oct 16 1945 - Mar 13 1946
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.
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