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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- EVENTS -- The Korean War, 1950-1953 --

Activities in the United States, June - Dec. 1950 --
Ship Reactivations

In mid-1950, the U.S. Navy's Reserve Fleet contained 17 large and 67 small aircraft carriers, 14 battleships, 58 cruisers and hundreds of destroyers, escort and patrol ships, minecraft, amphibious ships and auxiliaries. Some of these ships had only recently been "mothballed", during the defense cutbacks of the late 1940s, and these were among the first to be recalled to active duty when the Korean War broke out.

By the end of 1950, one large and five small aircraft carriers, a battleship, a heavy cruiser, several other combatants and dozens of minesweepers, amphibious types and auxiliaries had been recommissioned. Many more were undergoing reactivation work and would reenter service during 1951.

This page features images of Korean War ship reactivation activities in the United States from June to the end of 1950.

For views of other Korean War activities in the United States during this period, see: Activities in the United States, June - December 1950.

For links to more pictures of the first months of the Korean War, see:

  • The North Korean Offensive, 25 June -- 15 September 1950.
  • The United Nations' Offensive, 15 September -- 25 November 1950.
  • The Chinese Offensive, 25 November 1950 -- 25 January 1951.

    For a precis of our Korean War images, and links to more comprehensive pictorial coverage of other aspects of that conflict, see:

  • The Korean War, June 1950 - July 1953 -- Introductory Overview and Special Image Selection.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions.

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

    Photo #: NH 97012

    USS Latimer (APA-152)


    Undergoing reactivation at Norfolk, Virginia, 3 August 1950. She was the first ship of the Norfolk Reserve Fleet to be removed from "mothballs" during the Korean War crisis.

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

    Online Image: 105KB; 740 x 620 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97003

    USS Latimer (APA-152)


    "Doors marked 'Sealed 11-10-48--Do Not Open' were found by Boilerman First Class J.W. Roach ..., when opened aboard USS Latimer ..., first vessel of the Norfolk Reserve Fleet to be readied for recommissioning."
    Quoted caption was released with this photo on 3 August 1950.
    Latimer had decommissioned at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia, on 26 February 1947. She recommissioned on 23 September 1950, as the active fleet was being expanded during the Korean War.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the "All Hands" collection at the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 137KB; 595 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97004

    USS Bairoko (CVE-115)


    "Everybody turns to when it's reactivation time. Here storekeeper striker D.W. Shore ... and Glenn Hobbs ... remove a dehumidifier from the hangar deck of USS Bairoko prior to its actual reactivation by San Francisco Naval Shipyard employees."
    "Navy men like Seaman Hobbs and Storekeeper Shore were given the task of helping in reassembling the ship that would be theirs when the ship departed from San Francisco."
    Quoted caption was released with this photo circa August 1950.
    Bairoko recommissioned for Korean War service on 12 September 1950.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the "All Hands" collection at the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 111KB; 595 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97007

    USS Princeton (CV-37)


    Gunner's Mate Second Class W.F. Patton gives the "OK" signal after inspecting one of the ship's 5"/38 twin gun mounts, as she is being prepared for return to service from the Pacific Reserve Fleet. Standing on the deck nearby are Commander C.S. Judson, Jr., (left) and Chief Gunner's Mate L.W. Brugler. All three men had served in Princeton's Gunnery Department prior to her decommissioning in 1949.
    Photograph was released by the 13th Naval District Headquarters, Seattle, Washington, on 1 August 1950.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the "All Hands" collection at the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 100KB; 595 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97005

    USS Cape Esperance (CVE-88)


    Raising the flag as the ship is recommissioned for Korean War service, at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, 5 August 1950.
    Members of the color detail are (from left to right):
    Quartermaster First Class Howard L. Foley, USNR;
    Seaman Bobby G. Young, USN
    Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Alva L. Dixon, USN;
    Seaman Apprentice Raymond E. Garcia, USN, and
    Seaman Cesar C. Abrajano, USN.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the "All Hands" collection at the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 121KB; 740 x 625 pixels

     
    Photo #: 80-G-423415

    USS New Jersey (BB-62)


    Sailors remove muzzle seals from two of her forward turret's 16"/50 guns, while she was being reactivated at the Naval Supply Depot, Bayonne, New Jersey, in October 1950.
    The battleship had been out of commission since June 1948. She recommissioned on 21 November 1950 for Korean War service.

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

    Online Image: 112KB; 740 x 610 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: 80-G-421957

    USS New Jersey (BB-62)


    Undergoing reactivation work at the Naval Supply Depot, Bayonne, New Jersey, 3 November 1950.
    She was recommissioned on 21 November 1950 and began her first Korean War operations in May 1951.

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

    Online Image: 73KB; 740 x 605 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: 80-G-427320

    USS Chemung (AO-30)


    Commander George G. Molumphy speaking, during ceremonies placing the ship back in commission for Korean War service, 1 December 1950, at San Diego, California.
    Standing behind the speaker are (from left to right):
    Unidentified Commander;
    Rear Admiral Francis X. McInerney;
    Captain Frank T. Sloat;
    Captain Elmer P. Abernethy; and
    Rear Admiral Wilder D. Baker.

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

    Online Image: 69KB; 740 x 605 pixels

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

     

    For views of other Korean War activities in the United States during this period, see: Activities in the United States, June - December 1950.

    For links to more pictures of the first months of the Korean War, see:

  • The North Korean Offensive, 25 June -- 15 September 1950.
  • The United Nations' Offensive, 15 September -- 25 November 1950.
  • The Chinese Offensive, 25 November 1950 -- 25 January 1951.

    For a precis of our Korean War images, and links to more comprehensive pictorial coverage of other aspects of that conflict, see:

  • The Korean War, June 1950 - July 1953 -- Introductory Overview and Special Image Selection.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions.


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    New links 5 August 2000