Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Patch contributed by Mike Smolinski

Tab contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Duxbury Bay (AVP-38)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Yankee - Sierra - Uniform NYSU

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended)
Second Row - Navy Expeditionary Service Medal (1-Cuba) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (2)
Third Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia Clasp) - National Defense Service Medal

Barnegat Class Small Seaplane Tender:

Laid down, 17 January 1944, at Lake Washington Shipyards, Houghton, WA.

Launched, 2 October 1944

Commissioned, USS Duxbury Bay (AVP-38), 31 December 1944, CDR. Frank N. House in command

During World War II USS Duxbury Bay was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaign:

Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
Okinawa Gunto operation Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 26 April to 30 June 1945	3rd Fleet operations against Japan, 10 to 25 July 1945

Following World War II USS Duxbury Bay performed occupation duty in the Far East including China service for the following periods:

Navy Occupation Service Medal

China Service Medal (extended)


2 September 1945 to 1 October 1946	2 September 1945 to 1 October 1946
18 March to 18 August 1947	14 February to 13 July 1948
13 to 19 June 1949

Decommissioned, 30 April 1966

Struck from the Naval Register, 1 May 1966

USS Duxbury Bay earned two battle stars for World War II service

Final Disposition, sold for scrapping in July 1967

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	Contributed By / Source
09433848	210k	*Namesake* Duxbury Bay - is a bay on the coast of Massachusetts. The west shore of the bay is the town of Duxbury and the bay is formed by a sandbar called The Gurnet extending southeasterly from Marshfield, into Cape Cod Bay. The town of Marshfield was named for the estuarine wetland at the north end of the bay. The bay opens southerly toward Plymouth between Captains Hill to the west and Saquish Head to the east. (Wikipedia).	Tommy Trampp
	136k	Duxbury Bay (AVP-38) being launched at the Lake Washington Shipyards, Houghton, WA., 2 October 1944. US National Archives photo # 19-N-77270, a US Navy photos from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the US National Archives.	Robert Hurst
19-N-82815	71k	Duxbury Bay (AVP-38) photographed off Lake Washington Shipyards, Houghton, WA., 28 December 1944. Her camouflage is Measure 33 Design 1F. US National Archives photo # 19-N-82815, 19-N-82816 and 19-N-82817, US Navy photos from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the US National Archives.	US Naval History and Heritage Command
19-N-82816	85k
19-N-82817	71k
	654k	*USS Duxbury Bay* (AVP-38) servicing PBM E-1 of VPB-27**, on a barge, on the port side of the ship, at Kerama Retto, circa 24 to 31 May 1945. Note "E-1" on the aircraft, just aft of the aft port door. Photos by PHoM 2/c Paul D. Guttman.	Robert Guttman for his father Paul D. Guttman PHoM2/c
	635k		Robert Guttman for his father Paul D. Guttman PHoM2/c
	382k	*USS Duxbury Bay* (AVP-38) at moored in the Whangpoo River at Shanghai, China, April 1946. Outboard of Duxbury Bay may be USS Floyds Bay (AVP-40)**.	Carl Musselman
	322k	*USS Valcour* (AVP-55) moored outboard of USS Duxbury Bay (AVP-38), circa 1951-52, location unknown. Note Duxbury Bay still in her gray paint scheme and still with her 5" gun turret while Valcour** fresh out of the shipyard, sports her new white paint and has lost her 5" gun turret. Photo from 1952 Valcour cruise book.	Carl Musselman
	206k	A view from *USS Valcour* (AVP-55) of USS Duxbury Bay (AVP-38), circa 1951, location unknown. Valcour was arriving in the Middle East to relieve Duxbury Bay** of the duties as flagship for Commander Middle East Forces. Photo from 1952 Valcour cruise book.	Carl Musselman
	85k	*USS Duxbury Bay* (AVP-38)*, photographed during the decade following World War II. She lost her 5"/38 gun in around 1952. US National Archives photo # NH 97626*, a US Navy photo from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	115k	*USS Duxbury Bay* (AVP-38)*, photographed during the decade following World War II. She lost her 5"/38 gun in around 1952. US Navy photo # NH 97627* from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	58k	*USS Duxbury Bay* (AVP-38)** moored at Naval Station Anacostia, Washington, D.C. circa 1952-53	Carl Musselman via SteelNavy web site
	57k	*USS Duxbury Bay* (AVP-38)** starboard side looking aft while moored at Naval Station Anacostia, Washington, D.C. circa 1952-53	Carl Musselman via SteelNavy web site
	289k	Various views of *USS Duxbury Bay* (AVP-38)**'s foremast and mainmast while in port Norfolk, VA, in 1952.	Carl Musselman
	329k
	259k
	362k	*USS Duxbury Bay* (AVP-38)** refueling an HU-16 Albatross seaplane in the Red Sea after passing through the Suez Canal in 1952.	Carl Musselman
	314k	*USS Duxbury Bay* (AVP-38)** refueling an HU-16 Albatross seaplane in the Red Sea after passing through the Suez Canal in 1952.	Carl Musselman
	292k	Banner flown from *USS Duxbury Bay* (AVP-38)** welcoming USS Valcour to the Red Sea/Persian Gulf area to assume flagship duties for Commander Middle East Forces in the spring of 1953.	Carl Musselman
	415k	*USS Duxbury Bay* (AVP-38) being relieved of the duties as flagship for Commander Middle East Forces flagship in 1953 by USS Valcour (AVP-55)**, Photo from Valcour 1953 Cruise book.	Carl Musselman
	183k	*USS Duxbury Bay* (AVP-38)** underway leaving Grand Harbour, Valletta, Malta, circa 1953.	Robert Hurst
	82k	*USS Duxbury Bay* (AVP-38) coming alongside USS Greenwich Bay (AVP-41) at Pier 2, Naval Operating Base Norfolk, VA. in 1954. Moored on the opposite side of Pier 2 is the Fleet Oiler USS Chukawan (AO-100)** US Navy photo.	Carl Musselman
	495k	*USS Greenwich Bay* (AVP-41) and USS Duxbury Bay (AVP-38)** moored side by side at Naval Operating Base Norfolk, VA. in 1956. US Navy photo from USS Coral Sea Cruise book	Carl Musselman
	84k	*USS Duxbury Bay* (AVP-38)*, photographed during the late 1950s. US Navy photo # NH 95370* from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	918k	*USS Duxbury Bay* (AVP-38)** in a Med moor at Genoa, Italy, 3 February 1957.	Photo by Carlo Martinelli
	127k	*USS Duxbury Bay* (AVP-38)** moored at Norfolk Naval Station. during Fleet Week, June 1957.	Photo by Derick S. Hartshorn
	91k	*USS Duxbury Bay* (AVP-38)** photographed in Hampton Roads, VA., 3 October 1957. US Navy photo # NH 97628 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	81k	*USS Duxbury Bay* (AVP-38)*, photographed circa 1959 as Middle East Force flagship. She still displays the naval aviation star on her bow. US Navy photo # NH 97630* from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	105k	*USS Duxbury Bay* (AVP-38)**, photographed circa 1959 as Middle East Force flagship. She still displays the naval aviation star on her bow.	Hazegray & Underway
	32k	*USS Duxbury Bay* (AVP-38) relieving USS Greenwich Bay (AVP-41)** as flagship for COMIDEASTFOR, late 1960. Photo from 1960-1961 USS Duxbury Bay Cruise Book.	Carl Musselman
	70k	*USS Duxbury Bay* (AVP-38)** photographed illuminated at night during a two-day visit to Basra, Iraq, as Middle East Force flagship. Her last two visits to Basra were on 6-8 December 1960 and 12-14 December 1961. US Navy photo # NH 97629 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	127k	*USS Duxbury Bay* (AVP-38)** in the Shatt-al-Arab off Basra, Iraq, on 12-14 December 1961 as Middle East Force Flagship. US Navy photo # NH 102678 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .	Robert Hurst
	64k	*USS Duxbury Bay* (AVP-38) being relieved by USS Valcour (AVP-55)** as flagship for COMIDEASTFOR, late 1961. Photo from 1960-1961 USS Duxbury Bay Cruise Book.	Carl Musselman
	98k	*USS Duxbury Bay* (AVP-38)*, photographed circa 1965 as Middle East Force flagship in her final configuration. She received a new mast and air search radar and a deck house extension during her last shipyard overhaul in the summer of 1962. US Navy photo # NH 69826* from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .	US Naval History and Heritage Command

USS Duxbury Bay (AVP-38) Diorama (1/350 Scale Model)
by Carl Musselman
USS Duxbury Bay (AVP-38) at Kerama Retto, Okinawa in May of 1945 with VPB-27 PBM Mariners E-1 refueling and PBM Mariner E-12 moored to a buoy awaiting refueling

USS Duxbury Bay (AVP-38)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

Commanding Officers
01	CDR. Howe, Frank Northey	31 December 1944 - June 1946
02	CDR. Carver, Lamar Peyton	June 1946 - June 1947
03	CAPT. Parish Jr., Elliott Walter	June 1947 - July 1948
04	CAPT. Ray, Herman Lamar, USN (USNA 1929)	July 1948 - August 1949
08	CDR. Blackburn Jr., Paul Prichard :VADM	July 1951 - July 1952
09	CDR. Needham, Raymond Cannon :VADM	July 1952 - January 1953
10	CDR. Miller, John Meredith	January 1953 - June 1953
11	CDR. Farrington, Elwin Levi	June 1953 - June 1954
12	CAPT. Hale, Henry Henderson	June 1954 - June 1955
13	CAPT. Born, Howard Eugene	June 1955 - June 1956
14	CAPT. Winters Jr., Theodore Hugh	June 1956 - June 1957
15	CAPT. Collins Jr., William Magill	June 1957 - June 1958
16	CAPT. Outlaw, Edward Cobb (Eddie) :RADM	June 1958 - August 1959
17	CAPT. Weymouth, Ralph :VADM	August 1959 - July 1960
18	CAPT. Brewer, William Francis, USN	July 1960 - 26 May 1961
19	CAPT. Geis, Lawrence Raymond, USN (USNA 1939) :RADM	26 May 1961 - June 1962
20	CAPT. Conger, James Watson	June 1963 - March 1964
21	CAPT. Lyons, Robert Francis	March 1964 - 16 April 1965
22	CAPT. Bono, Vernon Cooke	16 April 1965 - 30 April 1966


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.
US Navy Patrol Squadrons - USS Duxbury Bay (AVP-38)

Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page

Back To The Service Ship Type Index

Back To The Small Seaplane Tender (AVP) Photo Index

Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.

This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 17 September 2021