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

Photo # NH 97001:  USS Solar in New York Harbor, 22 July 1944

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

USS Solar (DE-221), 1944-1946

USS Solar, a 1400-ton Buckley class destroyer escort, was built at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania. Commissioned in February 1944, she served in the Atlantic on convoy escort and training duties during the remainder of World War II. Late in 1945, Solar was assigned to the Operational Development Force. On 30 April 1946, while discharging ammunition at Earle, New Jersey, an explosion wrecked the ship's forward structure, killing 165 sailors and injuring many others. Though Solar did not sink, she was wrecked beyond repair and was scuttled at sea in June 1946.

This page features all the views we have concerning USS Solar (DE-221).


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 97001

USS Solar (DE-221)


In New York harbor with a barge and harbor tug alongside, 22 July 1944.
Photographed from a 300-foot altitude by Naval Air Station New York aircraft.

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

Online Image: 107KB; 740 x 625 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 75610

Christening of Six Destroyer Escorts (DE)


In a drydock at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, 29 May 1943.
The three ships in the foreground are (from left): USS Enright (DE-216), USS Coolbaugh (DE-217) and USS Darby (DE-218).
Those in the background are (from left), USS J. Douglas Blackwood (DE-219), USS Francis M. Robinson (DE-220) and USS Solar (DE-221).

Courtesy of James Russell, 1972.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 147B; 740 x 600 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 104777

USS Solar
(DE-221)

Following the explosion of her forward magazine while she was at Naval Ammunition Depot, Earle, New Jersey, on 30 April 1946.
Note that her forward superstructure has been folded back, crushing her smokestack and other midships fittings. The barrel of one of her forward 3"/50 guns is inside her after 3"/50 gun tub, with other parts of the ship's forward structure resting nearby.

Donation of Dr. Neal Dinowitz, 2007.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 132KB; 1200 x 475 pixels

 


In addition to the images presented above, the National Archives appears to hold other views of USS Solar. 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-299987
    USS Solar (DE-221) underway at sea, 29 April 1944.
    Starboard bow surface view, taken from USS Card (CVE-11). Solar is painted in two-tone camouflage, presumably Measure 22.

  • Photo #: 80-G-237529
    USS Solar (DE-221) moored in New York harbor, 22 July 1944, with a barge and harbor tug alongside.
    Starboard bow high aerial view, taken by Naval Air Station, New York.

  • Photo #: 80-G-237714
    USS Solar (DE-221) underway on 23 July 1944, southeast of New England, steaming northwesterly (position 41-53N, 69-27W, course 335).
    Starboard broadside low aerial view, taken by a blimp from squadron ZP-11. Solar is still painted in two-tone camouflage, presumably Measure 22.

  • Photo #: 80-G-382841
    USS Solar (DE-221) off Boston, Massachusetts, 1 October 1944.
    Starboard bow surface view, taken by the Boston Navy Yard. The ship has been repainted into a "dazzle" camouflage scheme that appears to have the port side pattern of Measure 31/32, Design 3D painted on the ship's starboard side. See Photo # 80-G-105505 (Measure 31, Design 3D for DE 5-50 class). Note: This photo (80-G-382841) is NOT reversed. Hull number "221" is clearly visible on Solar's bow.


    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."


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 1 October 1999
    New image added 19 April 2007