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Photo # 80-G-218856:  USS Mason's commissioning ceremonies, 20 March 1944

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

USS Mason (DE-529), 1944-1947

USS Mason, a 1140-ton Evarts class destroyer escort, was constructed at the Boston Navy Yard, Massachusetts. She was commissioned in March 1944 with a largely African-American enlisted complement. Mason was employed on convoy escort duties in the Atlantic and Mediterranean through the remainder of World War II. In the early post-war months, she served as a training and experimental ship. Mason decommissioned in October 1945 and was sold for scrapping in March 1947.

USS Mason was named in honor of Ensign Newton Henry Mason, USNR, a pilot with Fighting Squadron Three, who was killed in action during the Battle of Coral Sea, 7-8 May 1942.

This page features, and provides links to, all the views we have concerning USS Mason (DE-529).

For additional images related to this ship, see:

  • USS Mason (DE-529) -- Part II.


    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 #: 80-G-218856

    USS Mason (DE-529)


    Commissioning ceremonies on the ship's fantail, held in a driving snowstorm at the Boston Navy Yard, Massachusetts, 20 March 1944. Her Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander William M. Blackford, USNR, is in the center with some of the crew standing in ranks behind him.
    Ship in the background is an LST, with bow doors partially opened.

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

    Online Image: 66KB; 740 x 610 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: 80-G-44826

    USS Mason (DE-529)


    Gunner's Mates assemble and study a 20mm machine gun, the type they will man aboard ship, during training for Mason's crew at Norfolk Naval Training Station, Virginia, 3 January 1944.
    Instructor is Chief Gunner's Mate Rex Ashley.
    Trainees are (left to right):
    GM3c Albert A. Davis,
    GM2c Frank Wood,
    GM2c Warren Vincent.

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

    Online Image: 92KB; 740 x 605 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: 80-G-214542

    USS Mason (DE-529)


    Quartermasters receive compass instruction, during training for Mason's crew at the Norfolk Naval Training Station, Virginia, 3 January 1944.
    Instructor is QMC L.J. Russell, USNR (left).
    Trainees are (left to right):
    QM2c Charles W. Divers,
    QM2c Royal H. Gooden,
    QM2c Calvin Bell,
    QM3c Lewis F. Blanton.

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

    Online Image: 72KB; 740 x 615 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: 80-G-214543

    USS Mason (DE-529)


    Navigation instruction for Quartermasters, during training for Mason's crew at the Norfolk Naval Training Station, Virginia, 3 January 1944.
    Instructor is QMC L.J. Russell, USNR (right).
    Trainees are (left to right):
    QM2c Charles W. Divers,
    QM2c Royal H. Gooden,
    QM3c Lewis F. Blanton,
    QM2c Calvin Bell.

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

    Online Image: 85KB; 740 x 615 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: 80-G-214544

    USS Mason (DE-529)


    Signal lamp instruction for Signalmen, during training for Mason's crew at the Norfolk Naval Training Station, Virginia, 3 January 1944.
    Instructor is SM1c Ernest V. Alderman (left).
    Trainees are (left to right):
    SM2c Lorenzo A. Dufu,
    SM2c Julius Holmes,
    SM1c William M. Jones.

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

    Online Image: 85KB; 740 x 610 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: 80-G-44827

    USS Mason (DE-529)


    Signalman 1st Class Ernest V. Alderman, USNR, (right) explains various parts of a signal lamp to SM2c Julius Holmes, during training for Mason's crew at Norfolk Naval Training Station, Virginia, 3 January 1944.

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

    Online Image: 74KB; 740 x 605 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: 80-G-214545

    USS Mason (DE-529)


    Signalman Second Class Julius Holmes receives Signal lamp instruction from SM1c Ernest V. Alderman (left), during training for Mason's crew at the Norfolk Naval Training Station, Virginia, 3 January 1944.

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

    Online Image: 65KB; 740 x 610 pixels

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

     


    USS Mason (DE-629) is seen in the background of the following view of the launching of another ship:

    Photo #: 19-N-53951

    USS John M. Bermingham
    (DE-530)

    Launching, at the Boston Navy Yard, Massachusetts, 17 November 1943.
    In the right center distance is the hull of USS Mason (DE-529), which had been launched earlier that day.

    Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 90KB; 740 x 600 pixels

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

     


    For additional images related to this ship, see:

  • USS Mason (DE-529) -- Part II.


    NOTES:

  • To the best of our knowledge, the pictures referenced here are all in the Public Domain, and can therefore be freely downloaded and used for any purpose.

  • Some images linked from this page may bear obsolete credit lines citing the organization name: "Naval Historical Center". Effective 1 December 2008 the name should be cited as: "Naval History and Heritage Command".


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


    Return to Naval History and Heritage Command home page.

    Page made 26 November 1998
    Link added and coding updated 3 March 2010