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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 Pinkney (APH-2), 1942-1957 --
Later USNS Private Elden H. Johnson (T-AP-184)

USS Pinkney, a 11,500 ton evacuation transport, was built in Oakland, California. Originally intended for civilian use under the name Alcoa Corsair, she was taken over by the Navy while still under construction and commissioned in November 1942. During 1943 and most of 1944, Pinkney operated in the South Pacific, evacuating the wounded and sick from the combat zones to rear areas and providing general transportation services. From September 1944 through April 1945, she took part in operations to capture the Palaus, the Philippines and Okinawa, taking in combat forces and taking out injured men. On 28 April 1945, while off Okinawa, she was crashed by a Kamikaze, receiving damage and casualties. Following repairs, Pinkney spent the last part of 1945 and the first months of 1946 supporting the occupation of Japan and returning veterans to the United States.

In September 1946, Pinkney was transferred to the U.S. Army Transportation Service and reentered service as the U.S. Army Transport Private Elden H. Johnson in 1947. In March 1950, she was taken over by the Military Sea Transportation Service and became U.S. Naval Ship (USNS) Private Elden H. Johnson (T-AP-184). She operated mainly in the Atlantic area until December 1957, when she was placed out of service, stricken from the Navy List and transferred to the Maritime Administration.

This page features our only views of USS Pinkney and USNS Private Elden H. Johnson.

USS Pinkney was named in honor of Medical Director Ninian Pinkney, USN, who had a distinguished career before, during and after the Civil War.

For additional images of this ship , see: U.S. Army Transport Private Elden H. Johnson.

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 77400

USS Pinkney (APH-2)


Off San Francisco, California, 10 December 1945.

Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1973.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 77KB; 740 x 605 pixels

 
Photo #: USMC 94719

Pavuvu, Russell Islands


Transports steam in column off Pavuvu, August 1944, probably during exercises preceding the Palaus operation.
Photographed from USS Fayette (APA-43), looking forward, showing her kingposts and LCVPs stowed on deck.
USS Pinkney (APH-2) is leading the column, followed by USS Elmore (APA-42) and USS DuPage (APA-41).
Photographed by Sgt. McBride, 1st Marine Division.

U.S. Marine Corps Photograph.

Online Image: 150KB; 740 x 610 pixels

 
Photo #: 80-G-342629

Okinawa Campaign, 1945


Ships in Kerama Retto anchorage spread an anti-kamikaze smoke screen, 3 May 1945, seen from USS Sargent Bay (CVE-83). TBM and FM-2 aircraft are on her flight deck.
Ship in left center is USS Pinkney (APH-2), which had been damaged by a Kamikaze on 28 April.
Photographed by Photographer's Mate 1st Class Oliver E. Pfeiffer.

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

Online Image: 89KB; 740 x 605 pixels

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

 


The following photographs show this ship during her service as USNS Private Elden H. Johnson in 1950-57:

Photo #: NH 97237

USNS Private Elden H. Johnson (T-AP-184)


Photographed during the 1950s.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the Military Sealift Command collection at the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 81KB; 740 x 600 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 97238

USNS Private Elden H. Johnson (T-AP-184)


Photographed in February 1952.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the Military Sealift Command collection at the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 122KB; 740 x 600 pixels

 

For additional images of this ship , see: U.S. Army Transport Private Elden H. Johnson.


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.

6 February 2000