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

Photo #  NH 95903:  Motor boat Blue Bird underway prior to World War I


Online Library of Selected Images:
-- CIVILIAN SHIPS --

Blue Bird (American Motor Boat, 1911).
Previously named Houqua and (perhaps) Parthenia.
Served as USS Blue Bird (SP-465) in 1917-1919

Houqua, a 72-foot motor pleasure boat, was built at Port Clinton, Ohio, in 1911. She was later renamed Parthenia (perhaps) and Blue Bird. In late June 1917 she was leased by the Navy for World War I service. Commissioned as USS Blue Bird (SP-465) in mid-December 1917, the craft was based at Brooklyn, New York, for the next two years, performing transportation and security functions. She was returned to her owner in early February 1919 and remained in use as a pleasure craft until about 1950.

This page features the only views we have of the motor boat Blue Bird, formerly named Houqua and (perhaps) Parthenia, which served as USS Blue Bird (SP-465) in 1917-1919.


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 95903

Blue Bird
(American Motor Boat, 1911)

Underway prior to World War I.
Previously named Parthenia, this pleasure craft was acquired by the Navy on 25 June 1917 and placed in commision as USS Blue Bird (SP-465) on 17 December 1917. She was returned to her owner on 7 February 1919.

The original print is in National Archives' Record Group 19-LCM.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 73KB; 740 x 615 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 102370

USS Westchester
(ID # 3103)

In port, circa the late summer or fall of 1918.
Built in 1896, this small tug (seen in the center of the photograph) was chartered by the Navy on 4 September 1918 and returned to her owner on 14 August 1919.
Though Westchester's data card gives her number as ID 3103, "S.P. 3103" is painted on her bow.
USS Progressive (ID # 2003) is tied up alongside Westchester. The bow of USS Blue Bird (SP-465) is visible at left. USS Mustang (SP-36) is in the left middle distance.

The original print is in National Archives' Record Group 19-LCM.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 105KB; 740 x 530 pixels

 


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


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Page made 14 March 2004