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USS O'FLAHERTY (DE-340) |
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| Starboard view of the USS O'Flaherty on 8 June 1944 outside Boston Harbor, just two months after her commissioning. A Butler-class DE, "The Mighty O" is equipped with two 5"/38 calibre main guns, two 40mm twin-barrel Bofors cannons, and twelve 20mm guns. Added to this was the ASW armament which included the hedgehog, the triple 21" torpedo launcher, eight K-guns, and two depth charge racks. National Archives #80-G-382849 | |
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| Port view clearly showing the twin-barrel Bofors. This early photo still shows the 3.5 meter optical rangefinder on the bridge. The only fire directors appear to be Mark 51s, but the photo is not clear enough to be sure. The mast is equipped with the SA air search and the SL surface search radar antennas. National Archives #80-G-382850 | |
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Operational and Building Data |
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Launching of the USS O'Flaherty (DE 340) at Consolidated
Steel Corporation, Ltd., Shipbuilding Division in Orange, Texas. The ship
is just leaving the ways on 14 December 1943.
Click here to see a trip review of today's Orange, Texas shipyard.
National Archives #80-G-268310 |
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Launching of the USS O'Flaherty (DE 340). Ensign Lavada
M. O'Flaherty is christening the ship.
National Archives #80-G-268311 |
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Ensign Lavada M. O'Flaherty, sponsor of the USS O'Flaherty (DE
340).
National Archives #80-G-268312 |
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The sponsor and party at the christening of the USS
O'Flaherty (DE 340) on 14 December 1943 in Orange, Texas.
National Archives #80-G-268313 |
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7 March 1945. Receiving rockets aboard the USS Sargent Bay
(CVE 83) from the USS Paul Hamilton (DD 590). The USS O'Flaherty
(DE 340) is in the rear passing mail to the DD 590.
National Archives #80-G-321526 |
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Sid Morrow was the 1st Lt. aboard the
USS O'Flaherty (DE-340). His interest in photography began in high school
when he was the photographer (and film developer) for his senior year book.
Talk about working under a lot of pressure! He didn't get custody of the ship camera until late in the
war because his first captain wouldn't pictures. The second captain gave
him a lot more leeway and allowed him to take pictures of almost anything
(except the highly classified equipment) and wanted mostly personnel
shots. In his own words "The ship camera was a Kodak Medalist and used 620 roll film and was a very good camera with many of the features of the much later 35mm reflex cameras. Since the first captain allowed no or few pictures I had an accumulation of unused film. My next need was supplies to develop the film. When we were sent back to Guam for repairs, I spent a day hitchhiking about the Island, hospital to hospital, until I found enough people willing to share the needed chemicals. While the others were recreating, I continued to scrounge until I had what I needed to develop the film. This was the first time I had set foot on shore for more than 6 months, so anything ashore was pleasure. Photographs depicting everyday life on a destroyer escort are extremely rare because, out of security worries, most ships did not permit personal cameras on board. The few official "ship cameras" were severely constrained on film use and most were used only for official functions such as VIP visits or war action. And, as Sid relates in his story, the chemicals required to develop the film was difficult to find. From the thousands of photographs viewed in my research at the National Archives and Naval historical Society, well focused, properly exposed, and correctly developed film are rare. Compounding the scarcity was most ship's photographers were inexperienced in photography and film developing and had little time to learn while doing their "real" job on board ship. Thanks to the crew of the USS Flaherty (and Sid's photography skills), we are able to view history. Sid Morrow can be emailed at SISHMorrow@aol.com |
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| 20mm Gun Crew - (No names with this photo). |
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| 20mm gun barrel being cooled in the tube as evidenced by the steam pouring out. A new barrel is being added to the gun. |
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After Steering Hardy 2 1/c at the wheel. This was the auxiliary steering station for the ship. |
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After Officers Quarters Chief Engineer P. V. Guyton is in the bunk. |
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After Officers Quarters Assistant Engineer Thornton is in the bunk. |
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After Officers Quarters Hughes under covers. The temperature was 59 degrees Fahrenheit. |
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Officers Wardroom in August 1945 near Ulithi, Caroline
Islands (L-R): P. V. Guyton, Shelby C. Cooke, Jr., Carl Lund, Steward's Mate Atkins, R. K. Larrabee, J. W. Thornton, Norman C. Givens, Robert D. Piper. |
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| Mess cooks behind the steam table in the mess hall. |
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| Galley Cook - looks like steaks tonight! |
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Chief's Mess Mostly passengers on their way home. Notice the "fiddleboard" leaning against the wall. It was used to hold table settings during "mildly" rough seas and was a lot more effective than "putting a piece of wet bread under your plate to keep it from sliding away", as mentioned by Ernie Pyle. |
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| Crew's mess hall. |
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#2 Fire Room in November 1945 Rowan, Willis and T. W. Martin |
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#1 Fire Room Smith, Unknown, Mann |
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| Kunkle in Engineering. |
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Fire Room #1 Mann and Rury |
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#2 Engine Room High & Low pressure propels the turbines up to 6000 rpm. |
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Engine Room #1 Kuspello and Click |
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Desk beside the evaporators in the #2 Engine Room T. W. Martin and Brillant |
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#2 Engine Room Chief MM Rich Sider |
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#2 Engine Room Switchboard in November 1945 Preston and Matson, EM 1/c |
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IC Room in November 1945 Neffsger, Wiesenburg behind the master gyro compass |
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Ship's Laundry Morgan, SSM 2/c and Marine passenger |
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Pilot house showing Engine Order Telegraph and Rudder
Angle Indicator Wheel Helmsman Howell, S 1/c |
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Radio Shack in November 1945 Koelch sitting at the Underwood typrwriter |
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Radio Room Chief Radioman Clark. The others are not identified. |
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Radio Shack (L-R): Weise RM 2/c, Sharf RM 2/c, Koelch RM 1/c |
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Ship's Office (L-R): Cutler YM 3/c, Blake YM 2/c, Marazo MM 3/c. |
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Sick Bay Coe PHM 2/c and Logonia S 1/c |
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Sick Bay Coe PHM 2/c and Logonia S 1/c |
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Signalmen Jackson and De Binerdi |
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Signalmen by the flagbag Jackson, De Biinerdi and Boyle |
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| Campbell, Cook 3/c |
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