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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 Curtiss (AV-4), 1940-1972

USS Curtiss, lead ship of a class of two 8671-ton seaplane tenders, was built at Camden, New Jersey. Commissioned in November 1940, she served in the Atlantic until May 1941, when she was sent to the Pacific. During the next several months, she supported seaplane operations out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and made one voyage to reinforce the garrison at Wake Island. Curtiss was at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, during the Japanese Attack, in which she was damaged by a bomb hit and a Japanese plane that crashed into her superstructure. Following repairs on the west coast, she returned to Pearl Harbor in February 1942 and remained there until mid-year.

For the rest of 1942 and into 1943, Curtiss was stationed at Noumea, New Caledonia, and Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, She acted as a flagship, supported aircraft and repaired warships during the Guadalcanal and Central Solmons campaigns. Transferred to the Central Pacific in November 1943, she served through the rest of the Pacific War at a series of bases, moving forward as the fighting fronts advanced toward Japan. After the end of the conflict, Curtiss operated in the Far East until March 1947.

During the later 1940s and into the 1950s, Curtiss was mainly employed to support scientific endeavors and amphibious operations. She made one Korean War deployment, in the last half of 1950, to tend patrol seaplanes in Japanese waters. In 1951-56, she was on hand during a series of nuclear and thermonuclear weapons tests in the Central Pacific. In early 1957, Curtiss took part in Operation "Deepfreeze", a long-running project for the scientific study of the Antarctic continent. Decommissioned in September 1957, USS Curtiss was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register in July 1963 and transferred to Maritime Administration custody. She was sold for scrapping in February 1972.

This page features the great majority of our views of USS Curtiss (AV-4).

For views of USS Curtiss during the 7 December 1941 Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor, see:

  • USS Curtiss during the Pearl Harbor Attack.

    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 55535

    USS Curtiss (AV-4)


    Photographed soon after her completion, in 1940.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 88KB; 740 x 475 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97415

    USS Curtiss (AV-4)


    Off San Diego, California, during the later 1940s or early 1950s. She is flying a Vice Admiral's flag from her mainmast.
    A pilot boat is at right, and USS LSM-462 is in the left distance.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 101KB; 740 x 615 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97416

    USS Curtiss (AV-4)


    Underway at sea, 1954.
    Note large number of boats stowed on board.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 120KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     
    Photo #: 80-G-43065

    Rear Admiral John S. McCain
    (left)
    shakes hands with
    Rear Admiral Aubrey W. Fitch

    On the occasion of McCain's relief by Fitch as Commander, Aircraft, South Pacific Force, circa 21 September 1942. RAdm. McCain was transferred to Washington, D.C., to become Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics.
    The photo may have been taken on board USS Curtiss (AV-4) at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides.

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

    Online Image: 121KB; 740 x 645 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: 80-G-34803

    Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox
    (center)

    Chats with Lieutenant Colonel Evans F. Carlson, USMC, and Admiral Chester W. Nimitz (at right), on board USS Curtiss (AV-4) at "Button" Naval Base, Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, 20 January 1943.
    Secretary Knox was then touring the Guadalcanal campaign area.

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

    Online Image: 108KB; 740 x 615 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: 80-G-34822

    Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, USN
    ,
    Commander in Chief Pacific and Pacific Ocean Areas (left), and
    Admiral William F. Halsey, USN,
    Commander, South Pacific Area and South Pacific Force

    Confer on board USS Curtiss (AV-4) at "Button" Naval Base, Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, 20 January 1943.

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

    Online Image: 84KB; 600 x 765 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: NH 94616

    Martin PBM-5 "Mariner" Patrol Bomber

    (with the nickname "HOTOGO" painted on its bow)

    Is hoisted on board USS Curtiss (AV-4) in the Korean War zone, 8 November 1950.
    At that time this plane, and others from Fleet Air Wing 6, were engaged in anti-mine patrols off the Korean coast.
    Note twin .50 caliber machine gun turret fully trained to starboard, with guns depressed.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Aviation History Branch, Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 136KB; 585 x 765 pixels

     

    For views of USS Curtiss during the 7 December 1941 Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor, see:

  • USS Curtiss during the Pearl Harbor Attack.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    30 October 2000