USS Ballard, a 1215-ton Clemson class destroyer, was built at Squantum, Massachusetts. Commissioned in June 1919, she served initially in the Atlantic Fleet and made a cruise to Europe in 1919-20. Transferred to the Pacific in 1920, she continued in active service until June 1922, when she was placed in reserve at San Diego, California.
Ballard was converted to a seaplane tender and reclassified AVD-10 in 1940, returning to full commission in January 1941. Her service thereafter was all in the Pacific. In 1942-43, she operated in the Hawaiian area and the South Pacific, including duty at Midway during the June 1942 Battle of Midway. She took part in the Saipan operation in June and July 1944, and the Palaus invasion a few months later. Returning to the U.S. West Coast in December 1944, she was employed in that area until the end of World War II. USS Ballard decommissioned in December 1945 and was sold in May 1946.
This page features, and provides links to, views concerning USS Ballard (DD-267, later AVD-10).
For additional images relating to Ballard, see:
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: NH 78139 USS Ballard (DD-267) Photographed in about 1920, probably while serving in European waters. Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1973. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 71KB; 740 x 465 pixels |
![]() |
Photo #: 19-N-26639 USS Ballard (AVD-10) View of the ship's forward portion, taken at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 5 January 1942. Note details of her conversion from a destroyer to a seaplane tender, including: enlarged forward deckhouse; 3"/50 dual-purpose gun on the forecastle; four .50 caliber machineguns atop the midships deckhouse; 26-foot motor whaleboat stowed alongside the two remaining smokestacks. Steam is being vented over the side from a hose just aft of the midships deckhouse. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. Online Image: 102KB; 740 x 610 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
![]() |
Photo #: 19-N-26638 USS Ballard (AVD-10) View of the ship's after portion, taken at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 5 January 1942. Note motor launch stowed above the main deck between the smokestack and the after deckhouse, with life rafts nearby; 3"/50 dual-purpose gun atop the after deckhouse; large propeller guards at her stern. Two submarines under construction in the background are probably Wahoo (SS-238) and Whale (SS-239). Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. Online Image: 96KB; 740 x 600 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
![]() |
Photo #: 80-G-12147 USS Pensacola (CA-24) Alongside the Sand Island pier, Midway, disembarking Marine reinforcements, 25 June 1942. Aircraft in the foreground, with damaged tail, is a TBF-1 "Avenger" (Bureau # 00380), the only survivor of six Torpedo Squadron Eight (VT-8) TBFs that attacked the Japanese fleet on 4 June 1942. Ship in the right distance is probably USS Ballard (AVD-10). Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives. Online Image: 97KB; 740 x 610 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
![]() |
Photo #: 80-G-11635 Battle of Midway, June 1942 Rear cockpit and .50 caliber machinegun turret of the only survivor of six Torpedo Squadron Eight (VT-8) Grumman TBF "Avengers" that had attacked the Japanese carrier force in the morning of 4 June 1942. Seaman 1st Class Jay D. Manning, who was operating the .50 caliber machinegun turret, was killed in action with Japanese fighters during the attack. Damage to the turret can be seen in this view. The plane's pilot was Ensign Albert K. Earnest and the other crewman was Radioman 3rd Class Harry H. Ferrier. Both survived the action. Ship in the left background is probably USS Ballard (AVD-10). For additional information on this aircraft, see: Photo # 80-G-11635 (Complete Caption). Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives. Online Image: 69KB; 740 x 625 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
![]() |
Photo #: NH 84001 Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Hawaii Navy ships moored in an anchorage area, surrounded by anti-torpedo nets, 12 July 1942. Three ships nested together in the center are (from bottom): USS Ballard (AVD-10); USS Hammondsport (APV-2) and USS Vestal (AR-4). A garbage lighter (YG) is also inside the enclosure, at right. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Forrestal Collection. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 173KB; 740 x 610 pixels |
![]() |
For additional images relating to Ballard, see:
NOTES:
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Page made 17 April 1999
Coding updated 5 May 2009