Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description		Contributed By
	92k	James C. Owens, Jr., born 5 December 1910 in Batavia, N.Y., was appointed Naval Aviation Cadet, USNR, 3 September 1935. Following flight training at Pensacola, Fla., he served on board Lexington (CV-2); and on 1 September 1941, he joined Torpedo Squadron 8 on board Hornet (CV-8). Appointed Lieutenant 6 January 1942, Owens was with this squadron when it pressed home a courageous and determined attack against Japanese carriers 4 June during the Battle of Midway. Without the protection of lighters or accompanying dive bombers, the gallant pilots exposed themselves to overwhelming firepower; and every plane of the squadron was shot down. By forcing the enemy ships to maneuver radically and eliminating Japanese air cover, the "stark courage and relentless drive" of the torpedo pilots, such as Lieutenant Owens, made possible the American victory that followed. For extraordinary heroism in the face of overwhelming danger, Lt. Owens received the Navy Cross and the Presidential Unit Citation posthumously. Torpedo Squadron Eight (VT-8) Pilots photographed on board USS Hornet (CV-8), circa mid-May 1942, shortly before the Battle of Midway. They are (Front row, kneeling, left to right): Ensign Harold J. Ellison; Ensign Henry R. Kenyon; Ensign John P. Gray; Ensign George H. Gay, Jr.; (Only survivor) Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Jeff D. Woodson; Ensign William W. Creamer; Aviation Pilot First Class Robert B. Miles. (Back row, standing, left to right): Lieutenant James C. Owens, Jr.; Ensign E.L. Fayle; Lieutenant Commander John C. Waldron, Squadron Commanding Officer; Lieutenant Raymond A. Moore; Ensign Ulvert M. Moore; Ensign William R. Evans; Ensign Grant W. Teats; Lieutenant (Junior Grade) George M. Campbell. Courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute, Annapolis, MD. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.		Bill Gonyo
	39k	Undated, DD-776 along side the flag ship of ComSixthFlt for a token refueling. Memorable because our crew was in dress blues. ComSixthFlt appeared on the flag bridge in a T-shirt and ballcap and informed our Captain over the inter-ship phone line that more informal uniforms were to used at sea while under in his command!		Robert B. Shirley
	76k	As above.		Robert B. Shirley
	63k	Undated, swim call for crew, isolated in the middle of the Atlantic. The dummy orange capsule was used for practice of alternate recovery of the Gemini 5 mission which was our standby assignment.		Robert B. Shirley
	23k	Undated picture of the DASH radio controlled ASW helicopter on the after small flight deck.		Robert B. Shirley
	172k	A series of 5 undated photos of highlining between a destroyer escort USS Tills (DE-748) and USS James C. Owens (DD-776).		Robert M. Cieri
	158k	As above. First shot line is fired over to the DE.		Robert M. Cieri
	158k	As above. Owens' doctor is being high lined back to his ship.		Robert M. Cieri
	141k	As above. The doctor about to come aboard the Owens.		Robert M. Cieri
	140k	As above. USS James C. Owens DD-776 breaks away from the DE.		Robert M. Cieri
	82k	Undated, location unknown.		Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
	108k	Undated, location unknown.		Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
	136k	Undated, location unknown.		Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
	119k	At anchor in San Pedro, 1945.		Edmund Conley
	70k	USS James. C. Owens (DD-776) underway off Boston, Massachusetts, July 10 1946. National Archives and Records Administration photo # 19-N-95757.		Robert Hurst
	41k	USS James C. Owens (DD-776) underway off Charleston, South Carolina, circa in 1950. U.S. Navy Burau of Ships photo 19-NN. This media is available in the holdings of the National Archives and Records Administration, cataloged under the National Archives Identifier (NAID) 24743861.		Robert Hurst
	44k	1951, location unknown.		Bill Hunt
	71k	June 3 1952, location unknown.		Bill Hunt
	91k	November 22 1953, location unknown.		Bill Hunt
	120k	Circa mid 1950's, location unknown.		Marc Piché
	20k	DD-776 leaving Charleston, SC for the Med on her 20th birthday, February 17 1965.		Robert B. Shirley
	119k	Departing Pearl Harbor for Charleston following a Vietnam deployment, taken 31 May 1968. US Navy Photo 1132922.		Mike Smolinski/Robert Hurst
	132k	USS James C. Owens (DD-776) in the Tonkin Gulf, circa 1970-71, with a Kaman UH-2C Seasprite hovering above its flight deck. Note the Essex-class carrier in the background. Official U.S. Navy photograph from the USS Perkins (DD-877) 1970-71 Cruise Book.		Robert Hurst
	102k	At Pearl Harbor Spring 1970 just before WESTPAC cruise.		Clinton D. Kennedy (69-73)
	125k	DD776 was drydocked in Japan in the fall of 1970. This picture taken looking forward from the floor of the drydock shows the size of the rudders, screws and shafts for this class of ship. The yard workers were so fast that they were able to dry out the rudders (using steam), patch the holes, sandblast and recoat the hull and do other below the waterline work in just a few days. After the drydocking the ship was actually a bit faster for the same number of screw turns.		Clinton D. Kennedy (69-73)
	105k	Picture was taken from the top of the drydock looking aft. The hull work is almost finished. Clearly visible is the sonar transducer carried by this class of ship. The hull was coated with a hot (melted) material which added to the life the ship.		Clinton D. Kennedy (69-73)
	42k	James C. Owens refueling at Midway Island in November 1970. The ship was on its way back to home port in Pearl Harbor after a Westpac cruise; its last full deployment. An interesting note is that the ship was named after a navy pilot killed in the battle of Midway in early WWII.		Clinton D. Kennedy (69-73)
	102k	1972 at Hunters Point with the USS Ranger in the background.		Bob Canchola
	40k	San Francisco August 1972.		Marc Piché
	52k	San Francisco August 1972.		Mike Smolinski
On Brazilian Service
	32k	As the CT SERGIPE D 35 in the Guanabara Bay, Brazilian Navy Photo.		Luiz BRAZIL Cotta, FT3(Ret. Brazilian Navy)
	34k	As the CT SERGIPE D 35 in the Port of SANTOS, photo by Sílvio Smera.		Luiz BRAZIL Cotta, FT3(Ret. Brazilian Navy)
	41k	As the CT SERGIPE D 35 in the Port of SANTOS, photo by Sílvio Smera.		Luiz BRAZIL Cotta, FT3(Ret. Brazilian Navy)
	61k	As the CT SERGIPE D 35 in the Port of SANTOS, photo by José da Silva.		Luiz BRAZIL Cotta, FT3(Ret. Brazilian Navy)
	48k	As the CT SERGIPE D 35 in the Port of SANTOS, photo by José da Silva.		Luiz BRAZIL Cotta, FT3(Ret. Brazilian Navy)
	80k	As the CT SERGIPE D 35 in New York Harbor July 3 1976 during the Bicentennial celebrations. Photographed from the Staten Island Ferry.		Marc Piché
	76k	The Brazilian Sergipe (ex-USS James C. Owens, DD-776) closing to refuel from RFA Green Rover, South Atlantic, April 1977.		Robert Hurst
Click here to see our Special Feature - Interior Views of Sumner Class Destroyers as Built

CDR Richard Hutchings Blair    Feb 17 1945 - 1946
CDR James Wilbur (Jack) White    1946 - Jun 10 1947
CDR Robert Harper Weeks    Jun 10 1947 - 1949 (Later RADM)
CDR Earl Kenneth Solenberger    1949 - Apr 3 1950
(Decommissioned Apr 3 1950 - Sep 20 1950)
CDR Robert Broussard Erly    Sep 20 1950 - 1952 (Later RADM)
CDR John Curtis Spencer    1952 - 1954
CDR William Davis Craig    1954 - 1956
CDR Edward Lawrence Willey    1956 - 1958
CDR Albert Louis Stickles II    1958 - 1960
CDR William Francis Barry    1960 - 1961
CDR Robert Lindsay Dise    1961 - Jul 1963
CDR Kenneth Clark (KC) Holm    Jul 1963 - 1965
CDR Henry Martin Berry    1965 - 1967
CDR Cornell Carpenter Angleman    1967 - 1969
CDR Stephen Christopher Montgomery    1969 - 1971
CDR Ronald William Kerslake    Jun 1971 - Oct 1972
CDR Francis William McGirr Jr.    Oct 1972 - May 11 1973
CDR Raymond William Hine    May 11 1973 - Jul 16 1973