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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Kenneth Whiting (AV-14)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Alpha - Whiskey - Golf
 NAWG
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 Medal (2)
Second Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal
Third Row - Korean Service Medal - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)
Personnel Awards

Purple Heart (5 on 21 June 1945 at Okinawa)
Kenneth Whiting Class Seaplane Tender:
  • Laid down, 19 June 1943, as a Maritime Commission type (C3 hull) at Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co., Seattle, WA.
  • Launched, 15 December 1943
  • Commissioned USS Kenneth Whiting (AV-14), 8 May 1944, CDR. R. R. Lyons in command
  • During World War II USS Kenneth Whiting was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 1 to 11 April 1945     		3d Fleet operations against Japan, 10 to 25 July 1945

  • Following World War II USS Kenneth Whiting was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 2 September to 5 December 1945
  • USS Kenneth Whiting was assigned to Joint Task Force 1, Task Unit 1.1.2 (Technical Group - Instrumentation Units) for Operation Crossroads the atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll in July 1946
  • Decommissioned, 29 May 1947, at San Pedro, CA.
  • Recommissioned, 24 October 1951, at San Diego, CA.
  • USS Kenneth Whiting was assigned to China service for the following periods:

    China Service Medal (extended)
    5 June to 2 July 1955
    9 to 26 July 1955
    31 July to 8 August 1955
    29 August to 2 September 1955

  • Decommissioned, 30 September 1958, at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 July 1961
  • USS Kenneth Whiting earned two battle stars for World War II
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 21 February 1962, to Union Minerals and Alloys Corp
    Specifications:
    Displacement 8,510 t.(lt) 12,610 t.(fl) 14,000 t.(lim)
    Length 492'
    Beam 69' 6"
    Draft 22'
    Speed 18.7 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 113
    Enlisted 964
    Largest Boom Capacity 20 t.
    Armament
    two single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mounts
    two quad 40mm AA gun mounts
    two twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    sixteen single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Fuel Capacities
    NSFO 9,675Bbls
    Diesel 760Bbls
    Gasoline 312,475 Gals
    Propulsion
    one Allis Chalmers steam turbine
    two Foster and Wheeler D-type boilers, 465psi 765°
    double Falk Main Reduction Gears
    three turbo-drive Ship's Service Generators, 500Kw 450V A.C.
    one propeller, 8,500shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Kenneth Whiting
    Namesake

    CDR Kenneth Whiting, photographed aboard USS Saratoga (CV-3) while serving as her executive officer, 1927 to 1929.
    US Navy Historical Center photo         		Fabio Peņa
    Kenneth Whiting 38k USS Kenneth Whiting (AV-14) underway, date and location unknown. Note she is painted in camouflage scheme Measure 32/8x.
    US Navy photo         		Haze Gray & Underway
    Kenneth Whiting 23k USS Kenneth Whiting (AV-14) at anchor, circa 1943, location unknown. Note she is painted in camouflage scheme Measure 32/8x. .
    Kenneth Whiting 111k USS Kenneth Whiting (AV-14) at anchor, and location unknown. Note she is painted in camouflage scheme Measure 32/8x and has a PB2Y "Coronado" on her after deck.
    US Navy photo from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command.    		 Robert Hurst
    Kenneth Whiting 48k USS Kenneth Whiting (AV-14) underway, circa 1950s location unknown
    US Navy photo         		Haze Gray & Underway
    Kenneth Whiting 60k USS Kenneth Whiting (AV-14) underway in th harbor at Sydney, Australia, date unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Hyperwar US Navy in WWII
    Kenneth Whiting 128k USS Kenneth Whiting (AV-14) underway, circa 1956, location unknown.
    US Navy photo from "Jane's Fighting Ships 1956-57".    		 Robert Hurst
    Kenneth Whiting 58k USS Kenneth Whiting (AV-14) underway, date and location unknown. Richard MIller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Kenneth Whiting 522k "Navy Times" article dated 1 November 1961 and photo with caption dated, 29 November 1961 announcing the donation of USS Kenneth Whiting (AV-14)'s bell to Santa Rosa County, FL. Robert Hurst
    USS Kenneth Whiting (AV-14)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01CDR. Lyons, Raymond Richard :RADM8 May 1944 - 12 July 1945
    02CAPT. Truslow Jr., Alfred Russell12 July 1945 - ?
     Decommissioned29 May 1947 - 24 October 1951
    05CAPT. Gallaher, Wilmer Earl :RADMJuly 1953 - June 1954
    06CAPT. Hollister, William WallaceJune 1954 - July 1955
    07CAPT. Stevens Jr., Lemuel MussetterJuly 1955 - June 1956
    08CAPT. Strean, Bernard Max (Smoke) :VADMJune 1956 - July 1957
    09CAPT. Mini, James Haile :RADMJuly 1957 - May 1958
    10CAPT. Robertson, Charles Edward, USN (USNA 1933)May 1958 - 30 September 1958
    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
    US Navy Patrol Squadrons - USS Kenneth Whiting (AV-14)
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 19 February 2016