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USS Wright (AZ-1)
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Namesake
Orville Wright was born on August 19 , 1871 on 7 Hawthorn Street in Dayton, Ohio. He was the fourth child of Bishop Milton Wright and Susan Catharine Wright. Orville grew up in an atmosphere that was loving, and that nurtured all types of expression. The two libraries in the Wright house were especially encouraging of academic pursuits. Orville was the more mischievous of the two brothers, had a healthy childhood, and wasn't inclined to excessive study. He was also "a champion bicyclist and so the brothers went into the bicycle business, which gave full vent to their mechanical aptitude." His adventurous nature and drive to succeed combined with his brother Wilbur's research skills to achieve what is considered by many to be the greatest, most influential accomplishment of the 20th century. Their feat changed the way we live our lives, the way we see the world and "revolutionized both peace and war." Following Wilbur's death in 1912, Orville carried their legacy alone towards an exciting future. However, the hot new arena of aviation business proved volatile, and Orville sold the Wright company in 1916. He also stayed active in the public eye, promoting aeronautics, inventing, and the historic first flight that he made. April 29, 1936: Orville Wright was elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences. January 30 1948: Orville Wright died in Dayton, Ohio, at the age of 76, thus ending his 28 years as a member of the NACA. NASA was created from NACA 10 years after Orville's death. In his lifetime, the speed of the airplane had been increased from 0 mph to almost 1,000 mph.
Digital ID: ppmsc 06102 Source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division |
Bill Gonyo |
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104k |
USS Wright (AZ-1) probably shown arriving on 31 October 1920 under tow at her conversion shipyard in
Hoboken, N.J., from her builder's yard at Hog Island, Pa. She grounded in attempting to enter her slip (possibly shown here) and was
floated and tied up temporarily to other vessels. She is a standard Hog Island Type B transport (EFC Design 1024) with many items in the
after part of the ship, including both goalpost masts, not installed. Photographed by Todd Shipyards Corp., owner of the Hoboken yard.
US National Archives RG-19-LCM. 80-G-1017222 or 19-N-7909 a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the
US National Archives, courtesy Shipscribe.com. |
Mike Green |
09410154 |
60k |
Panorama view of U.S. Navy Yard, Philadelphia, PA., looking out into the Delaware River, circa 1921. Visible ships include (left to right):
Lighter-than-Air Aircraft Tender USS Wright (AZ-1);
Submarine Tender USS Fulton (AS-1);
Collier USS Saturn (AG-4);
Cargo Ship USS Gold Star (AK-12);
Oiler USS Kaweah (AO-15);
Stores Ship USS Yukon (AF-9)
and the
Destroyer Tender USS Dobbin (AD-3).
U.S Naval History and Heritage Command. Photo # S-574-I |
Robert Hurst |
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USS Wright (AZ-1) in drydock in January 1922 at New York Navy Yard after conversion to a
heavier-than-air aircraft tender. The sides of the kite balloon well are clearly visible below the balloon platform, which covers the entire
after portion of the ship. The 100-foot long well is covered with pieces of canvas. The ship's armament, which included two 5"/51 guns on the
stern under the balloon platform, has not yet been mounted.
US National Archives, RG-19-N box 1, Photo # 19-N-7882 a US Navy Bureau
of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives, courtesy Shipscribe.com. |
Mike Green |
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USS Wright (AZ-1) in drydock in January 1922 at New York Navy Yard after conversion to a
heavier-than-air aircraft tender. The superstructure was modified and the forward well filled in to allow the ship to tend seaplanes as well
as kite balloons. Note the Williamsburg Bridge is in the background.
US National Archives, RG-19-N box 1, Photo # 19-N-7883
a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives, courtesy Shipscribe.com. |
Mike Green |
09410150 |
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Lowering a kite balloon into USS Wright (AZ-1) balloon well after a flight. The empty observers' basket is already near the bottom of the well and
numerous crewmen are manning lines to guide the balloon into the well.
Photo # None. Courtesy of Shipscribe |
Robert Hurst |
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54k |
USS Wright (AZ-1), port broadside view, date and location unknown.
US Navy photo |
Submitted by Elaine C. Witty, Charpentier, photo from the collection of Gerald M. Charpentier |
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USS Wright (AZ-1) passing through Gatun Locks in the Panama Canal, circa 1923.
US navy photo. |
Tommy Trampp |
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USS Wright (AZ-1) with USS Sandpiper (AM-51)
alongside at the time of Fleet Problem I in the Panama area circa February 1923. The photo was probably taken from one of Wright's F5L seaplanes and shows another F5L
anchored in the distance. Wright no longer operated kite balloons but was still classified AZ-1 and retained her balloon platform and well aft.
Sandpiper was one of three minesweepers assigned in 1919 to duty supporting aviation; she and eight sisters were reclassified to small seaplane
tenders (AVP-1 class, q.v.) in 1936.
US Naval History and Heritage Command, Photo # NH 100449, courtesy Shipscribe.com. |
Mike Green |
USS Wright (AV-1)
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09410151 |
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USS Wright (AZ-1 or AV-1) in her original configuration as a lighter-than-air aircraft tender (AZ), although by the time this photograph was taken
(circa 1923-1925) she may have been reclassified as a heavier-than-air aircraft tender (AV). The raised balloon platform covers the entire after third of the ship.
U.S. National Archives, RG-19-N box 1. Photo # 19-N-11829. |
Robert Hurst |
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USS Wright (AV-1) underway, date and location unknown |
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USS Wright (AV-1) moored, date and location unknown.
US Navy photo. |
Jim Kurrasch
Battleship Iowa Pacific Battleship Center |
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USS Wright (AV-1) bow and stern photos of USS Wright (AV-1) moored, date and location unknown. |
Tommy Trampp |
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USS Wright (AV-1) arriving at Boston, 22 December 1927, with pontoons to assist in raising USS S-4 (SS-109) |
Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection |
09410152 |
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USS Wright (AV-1) taken in February 1926, very soon after completion of her conversion from a lighter-than-air aircraft tender (AZ) to a
heavier-than-air aircraft tender (AV). The balloon well and nearly all of the balloon platform have been removed, leaving the ship with clear deck space both fore and aft for tending seaplanes.
The surviving bit of the balloon platform probably held the winches for the kingposts just aft of the superstructure.
U.S. National Archives, RG-19-N box 1. Photo # No. 19-N-11827. |
Robert Hurst |
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LCDR Charles Graham McCord, USN, USS Wright (AV-1), February 12, 1928. LCDR McCord was first an engineer and then Air Exec. |
Art Kaufmann for his grandfather LCDR Charles Graham McCord. |
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USS Wright (AV-1) underway, date and location unknown |
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USS Wright (AV-1), starboard aerial view
US National Archives photo # 80-G-463531, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives |
Ray Meiser |
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USS Holland (AS-3) anchored in San Diego Bay, with USS Wright (AV-1) and USS Langley (CV-1) moored pierside at NAS North Island in the background, circa 1931-32.
Photo by Teddy Krueger, USS Holland. |
Rick Larson, MMCM(SS) Ret. |
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USS Wright (AV-1) transiting the Panama Canal circa 1930s. Note the two seaplanes on deck on the stern.
US National Archives, RG-19-LCM. Photo # None, courtesy Shipscribe.com. |
Robert Hurst |
09410133 |
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USS Wright (AV-1) underway, 5 February 1930, location unknown.
US National Archives photo # 80-G-466339, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives |
Rick Davis |
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USS Nautilus (SS-168),
USS Langley (CV-1) and USS Wright (AV-1) at Pearl Harbor, circa 1934.
US Navy photo, courtesy PigBoats.com |
Ric Hedman |
09410146 |
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USS Wright (AV-1) underway at Pearl Harbor, 10 February 1934.
US National Archives Photo # 80-G-410353 a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives. |
Rick Davis |
09410147 |
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USS Wright (AV-1) underway in the Hawaiian Islands, 26 February 1934.
US National Archives Photo # 80-G-452858 a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives. |
Rick Davis |
09410148 |
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USS Wright (AV-1) underway off Maui, Territory of Hawaii, circa 1933 - 1939.
US National Archives Photo # 80-G-452858 a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives. |
Rick Davis |
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USS Wright (AV-1) anchored at Sitka, AK., circa 26 July to 5 August 1936. |
Photo by Albert Weigandt F1/c USS Wright 1936-38
Courtesy James Card QMC USN |
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USS Wright (AV-1) tending a seaplane at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, circa 5 February to 23 February 1937. |
Photo by Albert Weigandt F1/c USS Wright 1936-38
Courtesy James Card QMC USN |
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USS Wright (AV-1) at anchor, circa 1936 to 1938. |
James D. Card QMC for his Grandfather Albert Weigandt F1/c USS Wright 1936-38 |
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USS Wright (AV-1) and USS Ranger (CV-4) moored at NAS North Island in San Diego bay, circa 1936-38. |
Photo by Albert Weigandt F1/c USS Wright 1936-38
Courtesy James Card QMC USN. |
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USS Wright (AV-1), at anchor, overhead view, date and location unknown. |
Bill Koonts AT2 VP56 1953-56 |
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USS Wright (AV-1) at anchor, date and location unknown.
Photo by Albert Weigandt F1/c USS Wright 1936-38 |
Courtesy James Card QMC USN. |
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USS Wright (AV-1) at anchor, date and location unknown. |
Russ Padden |
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USS Wright (AV-1) underway, circa 1937, location unknown. |
Robert Hurst |
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574k |
USS Wright (AV-1) at anchor, 15 April 1939 in Narragansett Bay.
Photo Caption reads;
"WAITS WAR GAMES
THE AIRCRAFT TENDER U.S.S. WRIGHT AT ANCHOR APRIL 15 IN NARRAGANSETT BAY OFF THE RHODE ISLAND COAST WHERE PLANES OF THE ARMY AND SHIPS AND PLANES OF THE NAVY AND THE COAST GUARD WILL COOPERATE NEXT WEEK.TO "DEFEND" THE INDUSTRIAL EAST FROM A THEORETICAL ATTACK."
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO
4-15-39 11:30PES LKM JO. |
From the Michael Strout collection of AP photos, courtesy Jonathan Eno |
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USS Wright (AV-1) at anchor, probably at Pearl Harbor in early 1942. She has received two additional 3"/50 anti-aircraft guns
(for a total of four) forward plus some 20mm guns.
US National Archives, RG-19-LCM. Photo # 19-N-28172,
a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives, courtesy Shipscribe.com. |
Robert Hurst |
Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 4348-43, 6/13/43 |
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USS Wright (AV-1) at Moore Dry Dock Co., Oakland, CA., while conducting inclining experiments, 13 June 1943.
Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 4348-43, 6/13/43 (aft plan view)
Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 4346-43, 6/13/43 (amidships plan view)
Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5000-43, 6/13/43 (aft plan view)
Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5001-43, 6/13/43 (amidships plan view)
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Darryl Baker |
Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 4346-43, 6/13/43 |
125k |
Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5000-43, 6/13/43 |
124k |
Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5001-43, 6/13/43 |
174k |
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USS Wright (AV-1) off Alameda, Calif., 13 July 1943, after receiving wartime alterations at Moore Drydock Co., Oakland, CA.
She departed Moore Drydock Co., 11 July 1943. Alterations included the addition of two 1.1" quad mounts, one fore and one aft, and a lattice radar mast.
1-U.S. National Archives, photo # 19-N-48392 a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives, courtesy Shipscribe.com,
2-Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5117-43, 6/13/43
and
3-U.S. Naval Bureau of Ships photo from RG 19-N now in the collections of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum, Vallejo, CA. |
1-Robert Hurst
2 & 3 Darryl Baker |
Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5117-43, 6/13/43 |
54k |
09410153 |
213k |
09410149 |
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USS Wright (AV-1) moored to a buoy at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides Island, 1 September 1943.
US National Archives Photo # 80-G-58910 a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives. |
Rick Davis |
USS Wright (AG-79)
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319k |
USS Wright (AG-79) crew photo, date unknown. Photo is believed to have been taken prior to name change to San Clemente (AG-79). |
Ray Meiser contributed this photo. His father, Gaelen George Meiser, was a crew member in Wright at the time of the name change |
USS San Clemente (AG-79)
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USS San Clemente (AG-79) moored to a buoy at Shanghai, China, March 1946. |
Warren Walker, EM3/c USS San Clemente |
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111k |
USS San Clemente (AG-79) at San Francisco in May 1946 during a brief stop there enroute the East
Coast for inactivation. She has acquired a new deckhouse, probably for use by the embarked staff, on the former seaplane maintenance area aft.
US Naval History and Heritage Command, photo # NH 77382, courtesy Shipscribe.com. |
Mike Green |
