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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Corson (AVP-37)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Yankee - Oscar - Mike
 NYOM
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
Second Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal
Third Row - Korean Service Medal (1) - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Barnegat Class Small Seaplane Tender:
  • Laid down (date unknown) at Lake Washington Shipyards, Houghton, WA.
  • Launched, 16 July 1944
  • Commissioned USS Corson (AVP-37), 3 December 1944, CDR. Samuel P. Weller in command
  • During World War II Corson was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
  • Following World War II USS Corson was assigned to Occupation and China service in the Far East for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    China Service Medal (extended)
    2 September 1945 to 20 January 194611 May to 7 October 1951
     19 April to 4 August 1952
     11 May to 5 June 1953
     5 to 15 July 1953
     14 May to 17 June 1955
  • Decommissioned, 21 June 1946, at Alameda, CA.
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet
  • Recommissioned, 13 February 1951
  • During the Korean War USS Corson participated in the following campaign:

    Korean War Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Third Korean Winter 9 March 1953
  • Decommissioned, 9 March 1956
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 April 1966
  • USS Corson earned one battle star for Korean War service
  • Final Disposition, sunk as a target 1966
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,766 t.(lt) 2,800 t.(fl)
    Length 310' 9"
    Beam 41' 2"
    Draft 13' 6"
    Speed 18.2 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 14
    Enlisted 201
    Aviation Unit Accommodations
    Officers 59
    Enlisted 93
    Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    one quad 40mm AA gun mount
    two twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    four twin 20mm AA gun mounts
    Fuel Capacities
    Diesel 1,955 Bbls.
    Gasoline 84,340 Gals.
    Propulsion
    four Fairbanks Morse 38D8 1/8 Diesel engines
    single Fairbanks Morse Main Reduction Gear
    Ships Service Generators
    two diesel-drive 100Kw 450V A.C.
    two diesel-drive 200Kw 450V A.C.
    two propellers, 6,080shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    Corson
    09433711    		 172k
    Namesake
    Corson - Corson Inlet is a narrow strait on the southern coast of New Jersey. Corson Inlet leads from the Atlantic Ocean through barrier islands off the northeast coast of Cape May, New Jersey. The Inlet separates Ocean City, New Jersey from Strathmere, New Jersey. (Wikipedia)
    Photo - Aerial view of Corson Inlet
    Map - Road map showing location of Corson Inlet    		 Tommy Trampp
    Corson 125k USS Corson (AVP-37) being launched at Lake Washington Shipyards, Houghton, WA., 15 July 1944.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-71508, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the US National Archives    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Corson 78k USS Corson (AVP-37) off Lake Washington Shipyards, Houghton, WA., 29 November 1944. The ship is wearing Measure 33 Design 1F camouflage. She was commissioned four days later.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-79903, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the US National Archives    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Corson 93k USS Corson (AVP-37) off Lake Washington Shipyards, Houghton, WA., 29 November 1944. She is painted camouflage scheme measure 33/1F.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-79905, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the US National Archives    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Corson 94k USS Corson (AVP-37) off Lake Washington Shipyards, Houghton, WA., 29 November 1944. She is painted camouflage scheme measure 33/1F.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-79904, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the US National Archives    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Corson 70k A direct bow view of USS Corson (AVP-37) taken off Lake Washington Shipyards, Houghton, WA., 29 November 1944. She is painted camouflage scheme measure 33/1F.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-79906, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the US National Archives    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Corson 89k A direct stern view of USS Corson (AVP-37) taken off Lake Washington Shipyards, Houghton, WA., 29 November 1944. She is painted camouflage scheme measure 33/1F. Note the twin depth charge racks on the fantail.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-79907, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the US National Archives    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Corson 118k USS Corson (AVP-37) underway shortly after recommissioning in 1951, probably off San Diego, CA.
    US Navy photo # NH 97611 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command     		US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Corson 107k USS Corson (AVP-37) underway shortly after recommissioning in 1951, off San Diego, CA. Note nest of three boats on her fantail.
    US Navy photo # NH 97820 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command     		Robert Hurst
    Corson
    09393712    		 151k USS Corson (AVP-37) off Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, San Francisco, CA., 19 November 1952, following a regular overhaul.
    U.S. National Archives Identifier 7577388, U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships photo 19-NN-AVP 37 Corson-141957.    		 Robert Hurst
    USS Corson (AVP-37)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01CDR. Weller Jr., Samuel Paxton, USN (USNA 1930)3 December 1944 - 21 June 1946
     Decommissioned21 June 1946 - 13 February 1951
    02CDR. Clifton, Joseph Clinton (Jumpin Joe), USN (USNA 1930) :RADM13 February 1951 - 1952
    03CDR. Toth, Joseph Charles, USN (USNA 1931)September 1953 - June 1954
    04CDR. Ashworth, Frederick Lincoln, USN (USNA 1933) :VADM1955 - January 1956
    05CDR. Sutherland, William Thomas, USNJanuary 1956 - March 1956
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Barnegat Class Seaplane Tenders
    Profile and Sky Views - Barnegat Class Small Seaplane Tenders - Lake Washington Shipyard, Houghton, WA.
    Message received by USS Corson at the end of fighting at Okinawa
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To the Service Ship Type Index Back To The Small Seaplane Tender (AVP) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 20 May 2022