Continuing to plug away at topics related to the Normandy Invasion, we have posted coverage on Admiral John L. Hall, USN, who as a Rear Admiral directed the Naval aspects of the landings on "Omaha" Beach, and on the destroyer Forrest (DD-461), which participated in the Normandy operation.
Other ships added during the past two weeks include the escort aircraft carrier Makin Island (CVE-93), destroyer Upshur (DD-144), submarines Salmon (Submarine # 19, later renamed D-3) and Cabrilla (SS-288), landing ship LST-792, and gasoline tanker Calamus (AOG-25).
Our coverage on World War I acquired ships and craft was enhanced by new pages on the transports Kroonland (ID # 1541) (an extensive presentation) and Koningin der Nederlanden (ID # 2708); cargo ships Batjan, Bavaria (ID # 2179), Volunteer (ID # 3242), West Lianga (ID # 2758) and Western Front (ID # 1787), which was previously named Nikkosan Maru and Indiana; and the patrol craft Vivace (SP-583), Voyager (SP-361) and Wanderlust (SP-923); as well as on the small tanker Walter Hardcastle, which was considered for use but not taken over.
29 February 2004




In early February the Online Library reached a couple of milestones: The sixth anniversary of its initial opening in 1998, and the posting of its 15,000th image. There's plenty more to come!
This fortnight's most significant new item is a multi-page presentation on General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower, who directed the June 1944 Normandy Invasion and, some nine years later, became the Nation's 34th President. We also added coverage on several ships that were active during the Normandy landings, among them destroyers Baldwin (DD-624), Butler (DD-636) and Jeffers (DD-621); transport Dorothea L. Dix (AP-67); and minesweeper Osprey (AM-56), which was the first U.S. Navy ship lost in the Normandy operation.
Another person who recently joined the Online Library's ranks is Commodore William N. Jeffers, whose long career included several years as Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance. USS Jeffers was named in his honor.
Presentations on a fair number of other ships were also made. Among them are destroyer Meredith (DD-165); submarine Narwhal (Submarine # 17, later renamed D-1), the long-serving auxiliary Argonne (AP-4, later AS-10 and AG-31), and landing ship LST-702.
Freshly posted First World War era acquired vessels include transports Kaiserin Auguste Victoria (ID # 3963) and Virginian (ID # 3920); cargo ships Bath (ID # 1997, later AK-4), West Hobomac (ID # 3335) and West Hosokie (ID # 3695); tugs Barnett (SP-1149) and Virginian; and patrol craft Vision (SP-744), Vision (SP-1114) and Vitesse (SP-1192). We also did a page on the "runabout" motor boat Vitesse, one of many hundred ships and craft that were inspected during World War I but were determined to be unsuitable for Naval service.
16 February 2004




Our project on the Normandy Invasion of June 1944 showed modest visible progress during the past two weeks, consisting of new presentations on two ships lost during the operation: the destroyer Meredith (DD-726) and minesweeper Tide (AM-125), plus a page on Lieutenant Grant G. Andreasen, USNR, who received the Navy Cross for his courageous conduct during the "Omaha" beach landings.
Other ships newly added to the Online Library include the escort aircraft carrier Lunga Point (CVE-94); destroyers Corry (DD-334) and Spence (DD-512); submarines Snapper (Submarine # 16, later renamed C-5) and Snapper (SS-185); escort ship John M. Bermingham (DE-530); patrol vessel Zircon (PY-16) and minesweeper Requisite (AM-109, later AGS-18).
Our latest World War I acquired vessels include transports Huron (ID # 1408) and Imperator (ID # 4080) (the latter one of the World's largest ships in its day); cargo ships Bali (ID # 2483), West Gotomska (ID # 3322) and West Haven (ID # 2159); minesweeper/patrol ship Utowana (SP-951); and small craft Babette II (SP-484), Viking (ID # 3314), Vincent (SP-3246), SP-274 (originally named Virginia) and SP-1965 (also originally named Virginia). Finally, a page was posted on the steam yacht Viking of 1909, which was considered for Navy service in World War I, but not taken over.
2 February 2004




Our big news for the first part of '04 is the posting of the first phases of what will be a very large presentation on the June 1944 Normandy Invasion. Though it's a long way from completed, with some pages still requiring text and others (containing hundreds of more pictures) yet to be prepared, what is presently there introduces the subject, provides a selection of views of the entire operation, plus comprehensive pictorial coverage of some of its more important aspects. Much more will be added over the next few months.
The Normandy project will include pages on some of the men and ships involved. Opening this portion is coverage on four of the ships lost in the operation, transport Susan B. Anthony (AP-72); destroyers Corry (DD-463), Glennon (DD-620); and escort ship Rich (DE-695); as well as on the men in whose honor the last three were named: Lieutenant Commander William M. Corry, Jr. (1889-1920), Rear Admiral James H. Glennon (1857-1940), and Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Ralph M. Rich (1916-1942).
In addition to work on Normandy, we have done some of our "regular" topics. Among them are the not-much-used heavy cruiser Oregon City (CA-122); destroyers Smith (Destroyer # 17) and Hawkins (DD-873, later DDR-873); escort ship Tisdale (DE-33); submarines Bonita (Submarine # 15, later renamed C-4) and Bonita (SS-165) (The latter was originally USS V-3, SF-6); and the collier (and later seaplane tender) Jason (Collier # 12, later AV-2).
The ongoing World War I acquired vessel effort produced coverage on the transports Harrisburg (ID # 1663) which was originally the passenger liner City of Paris and had Spanish-American War service as USS Yale (this page is an updated and expanded version of one of our old ones), and Henry R. Mallory (ID # 1280); cargo ships Vesta (ID # 1506) (which did not actually have any Navy service), West Elcasco (ID # 3661) and West Eldara (ID # 3704); minesweeper B.H.B. Hubbard (SP-416); and patrol vessels Bab (SP-116), Verdi (SP-979), Vergana (SP-519), and Victor (SP-1995).
Finally, in response to a steady flow of inquiries (and some gentle arm-twisting) about what Kidder Breese Street is all about, other than the Naval Historical Center's current mailing address, we have added a page on Captain Kidder R. Breese (1831-1881), without whose long and distinguished service the street would have had to be called something else.
19 January 2004

This page features the Online Library's January and February 2004 "What's New?" entries.

For the more recent entries, and links to previous years' entries, see:

What's New in the Online Library of Selected Images;

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

Return to Online Library listing.

Page made 16 March 2004