Whistler, a 50-foot motor boat, was built at Marblehead, Massachusetts, in 1917 as a fast pleasure craft. She was acquired by the Navy in May 1917 and placed in commission as USS Whistler (SP-784) at the end of July. She served in the Boston area, mainly on dispatch and patrol duty, from then until May 1919, when she was decommissioned. Whistler was sold in June 1919.
This page features our only views of the motor boat Whistler, which served as USS Whistler (SP-784) 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 89753 Whistler (U.S. motor boat, 1917) Passing a Nebraska class battleship, probably at about the time she was taken over by the Navy. This high-speed boat was acquired by the Navy on 17 May 1917 and commissioned on 31 July 1917 as USS Whistler (SP-784). The original print is mounted on the "SP" data card for USS Whistler. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 62KB; 740 x 445 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 102372 Whistler (U.S. motor boat, 1917) Probably photographed at the time she was taken over by the Navy. She already has a gun mounting installed just forward of her cockpit. This high-speed boat was acquired by the Navy on 17 May 1917 and commissioned on 31 July 1917 as USS Whistler (SP-784). Stricken on 17 May 1919, she was sold on 30 June 1919. Note small motor boat Argus in the foreground. The original print is in National Archives' Record Group 19-LCM. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 75KB; 740 x 515 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 45268 USS Moosehead (ID # 2047) (left) In Lockwood's Basin, Boston, Massachusetts, circa 1918, with four patrol boats at right. The latter are (from outboard): USS Kiowa (SP-711), USS Skink (SP-605), USS Whistler (SP-784) and USS Lynx II (SP-730). Photographed by Alton M. Blackinton, Boston. This image forms the right half of a panorama with Photo # NH 45269. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 65KB; 740 x 435 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 42147 Lockwood's Basin, Boston, Massachusetts View of the basin looking down the pier, taken by Alton M. Blackinton, Boston, circa 1918, showing USS Moosehead (ID # 2047) in the center and section patrol boats. USS Alacrity (SP-206) is at the far left. The patrol boats in the left center foreground are (from left to right): USS Kiowa (SP-711); USS Skink (SP-605); unidentified; USS Whistler (SP-785); and USS Lynx II (SP-730). U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 69KB; 740 x 445 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 42145 Lockwood's Basin, Boston, Massachusetts View of the basin from on board USS Moosehead (ID # 2047), taken by Alton M. Blackinton, Boston, circa 1918, showing the marine railway, Carpenter's Shop and General Headquarters. Four section patrol boats are tied up in the foreground, just beyond Moosehead's bow. They are (from left to right): USS Lynx II (SP-730); USS Whistler (SP-785); unidentified; and USS Skink (SP-605). U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 77KB; 740 x 445 pixels |
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If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Page made 31 December 2001
New images added 19 May 2002