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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:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --
USS Woodbury (DD-309), 1920-1923
USS Woodbury, a 1190-ton Clemson class destroyer
built at San Francisco, California, was commissioned in October
1920. She placed in the "rotating reserve" shortly after
completion, which kept her inactive in West Coast ports for the
next two years. However, from time to time during this period
her crew was temporarily augmented and she put to sea for brief
sessions of gunnery practice and other combat exercises. Finally,
in February 1923 Woodbury was able to join the fleet for
major maneuvers off Panama. She returned to San Diego in April
and went north to Tacoma, Washington in early July. The destroyer
operated in Pacific Northwest waters for the nearly two months,
then steamed down to San Francisco.
On 8 September 1923, Woodbury left San Francisco to
cruise down the coast of California with other ships of Destroyer
Squadron ELEVEN. Soon after dark that evening, the squadron commander
ordered his force to turn eastward, intending to enter the Santa
Barbara Channel. Unfortunately, an error in navigation on board
his ship caused the turn to be made too early, and much of the
squadron went ashore a few miles north of the channel entrance.
This Honda
Point disaster caused the loss of seven of the Navy's destroyers,
including Woodbury. She struck an islet a few hundred yards
from the mainland. Though her hull was fatally damaged, all of
her crew were able to get ashore on the islet, from which they
were rescued the next day. Left where she lay, USS Woodbury
was gradually broken up by wind and waves.
USS Woodbury was named in honor of Levi
Woodbury (1789-1851), who was Secretary of the Navy in 1831-1834.
This page features, and provides links to, all the views
we have related to USS Woodbury (DD-309).
Click on the small photograph to prompt
a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: NH 95680
USS Woodbury (DD-309)
Steaming off San Diego, California, circa 1923.
Photographed by O.W. Waterman.
Courtesy of Ted Stone, 1985.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 67KB; 740 x 595 pixels |
 |
The following photograph shows USS Woodbury (DD-309)
in the distant background of a view of another ship:
Photo #: NH 69440
USS Rappahannock (AF-6)
Moored off San Diego, California, during the early 1920s.
Several destroyers are tied up in the left distance, among them:
USS Woodbury (DD-309), 2nd from left; and USS Mullany
(DD-325), 4th from left.
Photographed by the Pier Studio, San Diego.
Courtesy of ESKC Joseph L. Aguillard, USNR, 1969.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 88KB; 740 x 610 pixels |
 |
The following photographs all show the wreck of USS Woodbury
(DD-309), after she was lost at Honda Point, California, on 8
September 1923.
For more pictures of USS Woodbury's wreck, see:
USS Woodbury (DD-309) --
Wrecked at Honda Point, September 1923 (Part II); and
USS Woodbury (DD-309) --
Wrecked at Honda Point, September 1923 (Part III).
Photo #: NH 69587
Honda Point Disaster, September 1923
Aerial view of the disaster area, looking northward, seen from
a plane assigned to USS Aroostook (CM-3). Visible are
six of the seven destroyers that ran aground on Honda Point during
the night of 8 September 1923. They are:
USS Fuller (DD-297), at left;
USS Woodbury (DD-309), just ahead of Fuller;
USS Young (DD-312), capsized in the center of the view;
USS Chauncey (DD-296), upright just ahead of Young;
USS Nicholas (DD-311), beyond the rocks in the center;
and USS Delphy (DD-261), capsized in the small cove between
Chauncey and Nicholas.
The remaining ship, USS S.P. Lee (DD-310), is out of sight
behind the rocky point, astern of Nicholas.
Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of Admiral
William V. Pratt.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 76KB; 740 x 560 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 66723
Honda Point Disaster, September 1923
Aerial view of the disaster area, showing the seven destroyers
that ran aground in a fog during the night of 8 September 1923.
Photographed from a plane assigned to USS Aroostook (CM-3).
Ships are: USS Nicholas (DD-311), in the left center;
USS S.P. Lee (DD-310), astern of Nicholas;
USS Delphy (DD-261), capsized in small cove (center);
USS Young (DD-312), capsized in the center of the view;
USS Chauncey (DD-296), upright ahead of Young;
USS Woodbury (DD-309) on the rocks in the center;
and USS Fuller (DD-297), closest to the camera.
Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of Admiral
William V. Pratt.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 99KB; 740 x 610 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 66721
Honda Point Disaster, September 1923
Aerial view of the disaster area, showing all seven destroyers
that ran aground on Honda Point during the night of 8 September
1923. Photographed from a plane assigned to USS Aroostook
(CM-3).
Ships are: USS Nicholas (DD-311), in the upper left;
USS S.P. Lee (DD-310), astern of Nicholas;
USS Delphy (DD-261), capsized in the left center;
USS Young (DD-312), capsized in the center of the view;
USS Chauncey (DD-296), upright ahead of Young;
USS Woodbury (DD-309) on the rocks in the center;
and USS Fuller (DD-297), in the lower center.
The Southern Pacific Railway's Honda Station is in the upper
left.
Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of Admiral
William V. Pratt.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 113KB; 740 x 605 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 66722
Honda Point Disaster, September 1923
Aerial view of the southern part of the disaster area, showing
five of the seven destroyers that ran aground on Honda Point
during the night of 8 September 1923. Photographed from a plane
assigned to USS Aroostook (CM-3). Ships visible are:
USS Delphy (DD-261), capsized in the small cove at left;
USS Young (DD-312), capsized in left center;
USS Chauncey (DD-296), upright ahead of Young;
USS Woodbury (DD-309) on the rocks in the right center;
and USS Fuller (DD-297) on the rocks at right.
The Southern Pacific Railway's Honda Station is in the upper
middle.
Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of Admiral
William V. Pratt.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 83KB; 740 x 605 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 66720
Honda Point Disaster, September 1923
Aerial view of the southern part of the disaster area, showing
four of the seven destroyers that ran aground on Honda Point
during the night of 8 September 1923. Photographed from a plane
assigned to USS Aroostook (CM-3).
Ships visible are USS Delphy (DD-261), capsized in the
lower left; USS Chauncey (DD-296), upright beyond Delphy;
USS Young (DD-312), capsized aft of Chauncey; and
USS Woodbury (DD-309) at right.
Point Arguello lighthouse is in the center distance.
Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of Admiral
William V. Pratt.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 102KB; 740 x 575 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 69585
Honda Point Disaster, September 1923
Aerial view of the disaster area, looking westward, seen from
a plane assigned to USS Aroostook (CM-3). Visible are
five of the seven destroyers that ran aground on Honda Point
during the night of 8 September 1923. They are:
USS Fuller (DD-297), beyond the small rock island in the
center;
USS Woodbury (DD-309), just ahead of Fuller;
USS Chauncey (DD-296), closest to the camera;
USS Young (DD-312), capsized astern of Chauncey;
and USS Delphy (DD-261), barely visible, capsized just
beyond the coast at right.
Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of Admiral
William V. Pratt.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 75KB; 740 x 570 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 69586
Honda Point Disaster, September 1923
Aerial view of the disaster area, looking westward, seen from
a plane assigned to USS Aroostook (CM-3). USS Fuller
(DD-297) is in the center, with her bow toward the camera.
Nearer, and listing to port, is USS Woodbury (DD-309).
Note the oil in the water from these two ships, and from others
that were wrecked at the same time.
Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of Admiral
William V. Pratt.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 106KB; 740 x 605 pixels |
 |
For more pictures of USS Woodbury's wreck, see:
USS Woodbury (DD-309) --
Wrecked at Honda Point, September 1923 (Part II); and
USS Woodbury (DD-309) --
Wrecked at Honda Point, September 1923 (Part III).
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Page made 19 July 2002