Marie Joseph du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, was born at Chateau Chavaniac, Auvergne, France,
6 September 1757. He entered the French y at the age of 14 and 6 years later left France to assist
the American colonists in their fight for freedom. His brilliant military contributions to the
victory of the Americans were climaxed by the final campaign in which his skillful maneuvering
played a major part int he defeat of the British at Yorktown.
Taking the gratitude of the American people with him, he returned to France in 1781 and later aided his own people in the disturbed days of the French Revolution. As commander of France's eastern Army, Lafayette was captured by the Austrians in August 1792. He was imprisoned for 5 years, and released after Napoleon's rise to power. For the rest of his life he actively participated in movements for liberty and freedom in France and the world. He died in Paris 20 May 1834. |
(AP-53: dp. 53,400 (estimated); l. 1,029'4"; b. 117'9"; dr. 37'6"; s. 29 k.)
French luxury liner Normandie was laid down in 1931 by Compagnie General Transatlantique, St. Nazaire, France; launched 29 October 1932; and completed her first Atlantic crossing in 1935. Interned in New York at the beginning of World War II, Normandie was seized 12 December 1942; formally requisitioned by the Maritime Commission 4 days later; transferred to the Navy on the 24th; and renamed lafayette and designated AP-53.
A contract for her conversion to a troop transport was awarded to Robins Dry Dock & Repair Co., a subsidiary of Todd Shipyards, Inc., 27 December. During conversion she caught fire at 1430 on 9 February 1942 and capsized 0245 on the 10th. After one of the largest salvage operations in history, Lafayette was righted 7 August 1943. She was reclassified APV-4 on 15 September and placed in drydock the following month. However, extensive damage to her hull, deterioration of her machinery, and the necessity for employing manpower on other critical war projects prevented resumption of the conversion program.
Her hull remained in the custody of the Navy until her name was struck from the Navy list 11 October 1945. She was sold as scrap 3 October 1946 to Lipsett, Inc., New York City.