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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
901 M STREET SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

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

USS Johnston (DD-557), 1943-1944

USS Johnston, a 2100-ton Fletcher class destroyer built at Seattle, Washington, was commissioned in October 1943. She was very active in the Pacific during 1944, participating in the Marshalls, Marianas, Palaus and Leyte campaigns. On 15 May, while operating in the Solomons Islands, Johnston assisted in sinking the Japanese submarine I-176.

On 25 October 1944, while serving with an escort carrier task force in support of the Leyte campaign, Johnston and a few other destroyers and destroyer escorts valiantly attacked an overwhelmingly strong Japanese battleship and cruiser force during the Battle off Samar. Though she was lost in this action, along with most of her crew, Johnston's efforts were instrumental in saving most of the carriers and preventing the Japanese fleet from reaching the Leyte invasion area.

This page features views related to USS Johnston.

If higher resolution reproductions than these digital images are desired, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Photo #: NH 63495 USS Johnston (DD-557) Off Seattle or Tacoma, Washington, 27 October 1943. Courtesy of Mrs. Roger Dudley. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 67KB; 740 x 625 pixels
Photo #: NH 63496 USS Johnston (DD-557) Sliding down the building ways at the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard, Seattle, Washington, 25 March 1943. Courtesy of Mrs. Roger Dudley. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 82KB; 740 x 620 pixels
Photo #: NH 63368 USS Johnston (DD-557) Commissioning ceremonies on the ship's fantail, at Seattle, Washington, 27 October 1943. LCdr. Ernest E. Evans, USN, her Commanding Officer, is speaking in the left center. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 70KB; 740 x 620 pixels
Photo #: NH 63499 LCdr. Ernest E. Evans, USN (1908-1944) At the commissioning ceremonies of USS Johnston (DD-557), Seattle, Washington, 27 October 1943. He was Johnston's Commanding Officer from then until she was sunk in the Battle off Samar, 25 October 1944, and was lost with the ship. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 56KB; 740 x 615 pixels
Photo #: SC 278010 Battle off Samar, 25 October 1944 American survivors of the battle are rescued by a U.S. Navy ship on 26 October 1944. Some 1200 survivors of USS Gambier Bay (CVE-73), USS Hoel (DD-533), USS Johnston (DD-557) and USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413) were rescued during the days following the action. Photographed by U.S. Army Private William Roof. Photograph from the Army Signal Corps Collection in the U.S. National Archives. Online Image: 71KB; 495 x 765 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

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30 October 1998