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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Baldwin (DD-624), 1943-1961

USS Baldwin, a 1630-ton Gleaves class destroyer, was built at Seattle, Washington, and commissioned at the end of April 1943. During 1943 and early 1944 she escorted convoys across the Atlantic to North Africa. During the June 1944 Normandy landings and the invasion of Southern France two months later Baldwin provided gunfire support, carried out patrols and protected invasion shipping. In January and February 1945 the destroyer escorted the heavy cruiser Quincy as she carried President Franklin D. Roosevelt at the time of the Yalta conference.

After service along the U.S. East Coast, in July 1945 Baldwin went to the Pacific, but the war with Japan ended before she had been there long. She was flagship for minesweeping efforts off China and Korea during the first months of the post-war era, and returned to the U.S. East Coast early in 1946. Decommissioned in June of that year, she was laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. Though she had no further active service, Baldwin suffered a notable accident at sea in mid-April 1961, when she broke loose while under tow between Reserve Fleet facilities and went ashore off Montauk Point. Though refloated a few weeks later, she was not worth repairing. USS Baldwin was stricken from the Navy list at the beginning of June and scuttled at sea on 5 June 1961.

This page features the only views we have concerning USS Baldwin (DD-624).

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

Photo #: 80-G-367829 USS Baldwin (DD-624) In the Suez Canal, Egypt, on 9 February 1945. Photographed from USS Quincy (CA-71), which had President Franklin D. Roosevelt embarked. Baldwin's camouflage is Measure 32, Design 3D. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 58KB; 740 x 550 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.
Photo #: 80-G-367828 USS Satterlee (DD-626) In Belfast Lough, Northern Ireland, with other destroyers, 14 May 1944, while preparing for the invasion of France. Photographed from USS Quincy (CA-71). USS Baldwin (DD-624) is in the middle distance, with USS Nelson (DD-623) beyond. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 92KB; 740 x 625 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.
Photo #: NH 99107 USS Baldwin (DD-624) Aground at Montauk Point, Long Island, New York, shortly after she came to rest. The "mothballed" destroyer had broken free from her towline on 16 April 1961 and drifted ashore. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 113KB; 740 x 615 pixels
Photo #: NH 99108 USS Baldwin (DD-624), at right During operations to refloat her at Montauk Point, Long Island, New York, at 1030 Hrs. on 28 April 1961. The "mothballed" destroyer had broken free from her towline on 16 April 1961 and drifted ashore. Among the ships engaged in the salvage effort are USS Hoist (ARS-40), USS Salvager (ARSD-3), USS Windlass (ARSD-4) and a fleet tug (ATF). Photographed from an airplane based at Naval Air Station Quonset Point, Rhode Island. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 76KB; 740 x 610 pixels

In addition to the views referenced above, the National Archives appears to hold other photographs of USS Baldwin (DD-624). The following listing describes some of these images:

The images listed below are NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections.
DO NOT try to obtain them using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions".

Photo #: 80-G-227581 USS Baldwin (DD-624) underway on course 085 off the U.S. East Coast (position 36-52N, 74-40W), at 1100 Hrs., 9 March 1944. Photographed from a blimp of squadron ZP-14, based at NAS Weeksville, North Carolina. Starboard broadside aerial view. The ship is painted in Camouflage Measure 22 (a horizontal two-tone scheme). Photo #: 80-G-366323 USS Baldwin (DD-624) comes alongside USS Card (CVE-11) for refueling, 12 May 1945 (4 days after World War II ended in Europe). Port bow surface view, taken from about the height of Baldwin's gunfire director. The ship is painted in the disruptive pattern Camouflage Measure 32, Design 3D. Photo #: USN 1054320 USS Baldwin (DD-624) aground off Montauk Point, Long Island, New York, 20 April 1961. Aerial view, taken from almost directly astern. Reproductions of these images should be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system for pictures not held by the Naval Historical Center. The images listed above are NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections. DO NOT try to obtain them using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions".

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Page made 7 February 2004