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Photo # 19-N-39868:  USS Butler underway off the Philadelphia Navy Yard, 6 October 1942

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Butler (DD-636, later DMS-29), 1942-1948

USS Butler, a 1630-ton Gleaves class destroyer, was built at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. Commissioned in mid-August 1942, she was extensively employed in escort work during the next two years, and also participated in three of the European War's great amphibious operations: the Sicily landings in July 1943, the Normandy invasion in June 1944, and the invasion of Southern France in August 1944. In late October 1944 Butler began conversion to a high-speed minesweeper, and was soon redesignated DMS-29.

In December, after this work was completed, Butler was sent to the Pacific to join the war against Japan. Beginning in late March 1945 she was heavily engaged in supporting the Okinawa campaign, intially by sweeping for mines, then on anti-submarine screening and anti-aircraft picket assignments. On 25 May 1945 Butler was badly damaged by a Japanese suicide plane's bombs. Though able to make port and later return to the United States, her condition did not justify permanent repairs and retention in the post-war fleet. USS Butler was decommissioned in November 1945 and stricken from the Navy list. She was sold for scrapping in January 1948.

USS Butler was named in honor of Major General Smedley D. Butler (1881-1940), one of the U.S. Marine Corps' most noteworthy officers during the first three decades of the Twentieth Century.

This page features all the images we have concerning USS Butler (DD-636, later DMS-29), and provides links to selected views of her construction.

For photographs related to the construction of this ship, see:

  • USS Butler (DD-636) -- Construction, 1941-1942.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: NH 93174

    USS Butler
    (DD-636)

    Off the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, 6 October 1942.

    Courtesy of the James C. Fahey Collection, U.S. Naval Institute.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 89KB; 740 x 575 pixels

     
    Photo #: 19-N-39866

    USS Butler
    (DD-636)

    Off the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, 6 October 1942.

    Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 74KB; 740 x 495 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 19-N-39863

    USS Butler
    (DD-636)

    Off the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, 6 October 1942.

    Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 70KB; 740 x 460 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 19-N-39868

    USS Butler
    (DD-636)

    Underway, off the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, 6 October 1942.

    Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 82KB; 740 x 460 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-260625

    USS Butler
    (DD-636)

    Comes alongside USS Solomons (CVE-67) to refuel, 15 October 1944.
    She is painted in Camouflage Measure 32, Design 3D.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 125KB; 740 x 610 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 19-N-51688

    USS Butler
    (DD-636)

    View on board, looking aft toward the ship's forward 5"/38 guns and pilothouse, with supplies piled on deck in the foreground. Taken at the New York Navy Yard, 3 September 1943.

    Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 73KB; 595 x 765 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     


    A small part of USS Butler (DD-636) is visible on the right side of the following photograph:

    Photo #: 80-G-K-3859 (Color)

    New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York


    Dusk falls over the Navy Yard docks, circa June-September 1943.
    The ship in the center, just beyond the crane, is USS Gherardi (DD-637). USS Luce (DD-522) is at left, with only her bow visible. USS Butler (DD-636) is at right, with only her stern visible. USS Doyle (DD-494) is in the right background. A British light cruiser, painted in yellow primer, is in the left background.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 53KB; 740 x 510 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     


    For photographs related to the construction of this ship, see:

  • USS Butler (DD-636) -- Construction, 1941-1942.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 7 February 2004
    New image added and page divided 23 May 2004