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

Photo # NH 99251:  USS Frankford in the New York Harbor area, 19 June 1945

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

USS Frankford (DD-497), 1943-1973

USS Frankford, a 1630-ton Gleaves class destroyer built at Seattle, Washington, was commissioned at the end of March 1943. Soon afterwards she was sent to the Atlantic, where she escorted convoys between the United States, North Africa and the British Isles between June and November. Frankford spent the rest of 1943 and the first three months of 1944 on patrol, escort and training service off the East Coast. In April she went to England to prepare for participation in the invasion of France. During the Normandy Operation on 6 June 1944 she provided gunfire support for the troops fighting to secure "Omaha" Beach. Subsequently employed to screen the invasion area against German counter attacks, she helped drive off enemy motor torpedo boats in an action during the night of 8-9 June.

In July 1944 Frankford steamed to the Mediterranean, where in August she supported the invasion of southern France. In another night battle with motor torpedo boats, on 17-18 August, she disposed of four hostile craft. Returning to the U.S. in October, the destroyer was overhauled and, in January 1945 escorted President Roosevelt during part of his voyage to the Yalta conference. Frankford operated briefly in the Mediterranean, then served on anti-submarine and escort carrier screening duty in the western Atlantic. Refitted for Pacific Ocean service in May and June 1945, she arrived at Pearl Harbor in early August, shortly before the war ended. Continuing on to Japan, she participated in occupation activities until late October 1945, then returned to the U.S. East Coast. USS Frankford was decommissioned in March 1946. Laid up in reserve for the next decade and a half, she was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register in June 1971 and sunk as a target in December 1973.

This page features our only view of USS Frankford (DD-497).


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 99251

USS Frankford
(DD-497)

At anchor in the New York Harbor area, 19 June 1945, after removal of her torpedo tubes and installation of an enhanced battery of 40mm guns.
Photographed from an aircraft based at Naval Air Station New York, NY.

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

Online Image: 110KB; 740 x 580 pixels

 


In addition to the images presented above, the National Archives appears to hold other views of USS Frankford (DD-497). The following list features 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-71316
    USS Frankford (DD-497) underway off the central Atlantic Coast, 20 June 1943. Photographed from a blimp of squadron ZP-14, based at Naval Air Station Weeksville, North Carolina.
    Port broadside (somewhat toward the stern) aerial view. The ship is painted in horizontal two-tone camouflage (probably Measure 22), and carries one bank of five torpedo tubes, mounted between her smokestacks.

  • Photo #: 80-G-366324
    USS Frankford (DD-497) comes alongside USS Card (CVE-11) for refueling, 12 May 1945. Taken from Card.
    Starboard bow surface view, taken from about the height of Frankford's gun director. She is painted in Camouflage Measure 32, Design 3D.

  • Photo #: 80-G-324956
    USS Frankford (DD-497) in the New York Harbor area, 19 June 1945. Photographed from a plane based at Naval Air Station New York.
    Very high aerial view (nearly vertical), taken from above the ship's starboard side. Frankford's torpedo tubes have been removed and she has been refitted with twelve 40mm guns (2 quads on the after deckhouse and 2 twins amidships).


    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 in this box 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".


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

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    Page made 7 April 2004