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WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- EVENTS -- World War II Diplomacy --

USS Augusta Transports President Truman to and from the Potsdam Conference, July - August 1945

On 7 July 1945, USS Augusta (CA-31) stood out of Hampton Roads, Virginia, bound for Europe. On board were President Harry S. Truman and his party, en route to attend the "Big Three" conference at Potsdam, Germany. After being escorted through the English Channel by the Royal Navy, Augusta arrived at Antwerp, Belgium, on 15 July. President Truman left the ship there to continue his trip by road and air.

When the Potsdam Conference ended on 2 August, Truman flew to England, rejoining Augusta at Plymouth, where he was visited by King George VI. That afternoon, the cruiser went back to sea. She arrived at Newport News on 7 August, where the President disembarked to return to Washington, DC.

This page presents views of President Truman's voyages to and from the Potsdam Conference.

For photographs taken during the Potsdam Conference, see: The Potsdam Conference.

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

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: 80-G-603322

USS Augusta (CA-31)


Underway on 7-15 July 1945, as she was transporting President Harry S. Truman to Europe, where he participated in the Potsdam conference.
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Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 54KB; 740 x 600 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 

Photo #: SC 209171

USS Augusta (CA-31)
(left center)

Underway at the entrance to the North Sea, 14 July 1945, while transporting President Harry S. Truman to Antwerp, where he disembarked the following day to attend the Potsdam conference. British warships are steaming past after escorting Augusta through the English channel. Destroyer at right is HMS Zodiac (R-54).
Photographed from USS Philadelphia (CL-41), which accompanied Augusta from the United States. The float of one of Philadelphia's OS2U planes is in the upper left. A 40mm twin gun mount is in the foreground.

Photograph from the Army Signal Corps Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

Online Image: 79KB; 740 x 605 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 

Photo #: SC 209538

USS Augusta (CA-31)


Steaming toward Antwerp, Belgium, 15 July 1945, as she carried President Harry S. Truman on his way to take part in the Potsdam conference.
Photographed from USS Philadelphia (CL-41), which escorted Augusta during the trip. The port wing of one of Philadelphia's OS2U floatplanes is at left.

Photograph from the Army Signal Corps Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

Online Image: 81KB; 740 x 600 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 

Photo #: SC 209166

President Harry S. Truman
(center)

Is piped ashore from USS Augusta (CA-31) after arrival at Antwerp, Belgium, en route to the Potsdam conference, 15 July 1945.
Note midships details of this cruiser, including embarkation ladder davit, catapult and heavy side plate riveting. Men are watching from portholes in the catapult tower.

Photograph from the Army Signal Corps Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

Online Image: 115KB; 740 x 605 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 

Photo #: SC 209118

President Harry S. Truman


Goes ashore from USS Augusta (CA-31) after arrival at Antwerp, Belgium, en route to the Potsdam conference, 15 July 1945. He is followed by Secretary of State James F. Byrnes.
Note midships details of this cruiser, including embarkation ladder davit, catapult and heavy side plate riveting. Also very fancy gangway.

Photograph from the Army Signal Corps Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

Online Image: 114KB; 590 x 765 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 

Photo #: SC 209159

President Harry S. Truman


Prepares to board an open automobile for a ride to an airfield near Brussels, while en route to the Potsdam conference, 15 July 1945. He had just arrived at Antwerp on board USS Augusta (CA-31), which is in the background.

Photograph from the Army Signal Corps Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

Online Image: 78KB; 585 x 765 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 

Photo #: 80-G-K-14543 (Color)

USS Augusta (CA-31)


British "White Ensign" and the U.S. Flag flying from the ship's mainmast, while King George VI was visiting President Harry S. Truman on board the ship at Plymouth, England, 2 August 1945.
President Truman was then en route home from the Potsdam Conference.
View looks aft from the forward superstructure, showing the cruiser's aircraft crane, mainmast, searchlights and after smokestack.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives.

Online Image: 76KB; 590 x 765 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 


For photographs taken during the Potsdam Conference, see: The Potsdam Conference.



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23 March 1999