The US Navy

Photos of US Navy, submarine, cruiser, Navy Base, USS Ticonderoga, mine warfare

We have gathered a collection of some of the best and most moving photos taken of African-American soldiers during the Second World War. They are from the National Archives in Washington D.C.
Please browse at your leisure. Meditate on the sacrifices given by these men and women in wartime.

This page is dedicated to African Americans in the US Navy

The crew of the U.S. Navy submarine chaser [PC 1264] salutes the United States flag as the 173-foot long escort vessel is commissioned in a U.S. East Coast port. As soon as they qualify through experience and training, eight members of the crew of 53 Negro sailors will replace the present chief petty officers. May 1, 1944. 208-N-26553 Negro sailors of the U.S.S. Mason (DE 529) commissioned at Boston Navy Yard on 20 Mar. 1944 proudly look over their ship which is the first to have [a] predominately Negro crew. March 20, 1944. 80-G-218861.
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A gun crew of six Negroes who were given the Navy Cross for standing by their gun when their ship was damaged by enemy attack in the Philippine area. Crew members: Jonell Copeland, AtM2/c; Que Gant, StM; Harold Clark, Jr., StM; James Eddie Dockery, StM; Alonzo Alexander Swann, StM; and Eli Benjamin, StM. Ca. 1945. 80-G-334029 Negro messmen aboard a United States Navy cruiser who volunteered for additional duty as gunners. They have been doing proficient work under battle conditions on a task force in the Pacific under the instruction of the officers at the right. July 10, 1942. 80-G-21743
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His crew sank a German submarine. U.S.S. Otter (DE 210). Ca. March 1945. 208-NP-7HHH-1 Capt. H. W. Taylor making award presentations aboard U.S.S. Cowpens (CVL 25). Fred Magee, Jr., St3/c USN, receiving commendation of the Secretary of the Navy. The commendation was for attempting to rescue, at a risk to his own life, a shipmate from drowning. October 1944. 80-G-291220
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Charlie Dunston, S1/c, amputee case at the Naval Hospital, Philadelphia, PA. August 1, 1945. Ens. Thomas Binford. 80-G-377110 Children aboard the SS Jean Lafitte, bound for the States with internees freed from a Japanese internment camp in the Philippines, gather around Pendleton (Bumblebee) Thompson. Thompson volunteered as cook in the camp where they were interned. Ca. April 1945. 80-G-128907
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Coxswain William Green observes safety precautions in checking his pistol while Albert S. Herbert, Quartermaster first class, stands by with a clip of ammunition and holster belt, ready to complete the formalities. N.d. 208-NP-7CCC-1. Enlisted men serving on Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides placing 6-inch shells in magazines at the Naval Ammunition Depot. From left to right: S1/c Dodson B. Samples, S1/c Raymond Wynn, S1/c Edward L. Clavo, and S1/c Jesse Davis. N.d. 80-G-123941
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Entrance to the U.S. Navy Base Camp Annex, Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides. Guards on duty: S1/c Dook Bland and S1/c Taft Gray. N.d. 80-G-123962. Construction of the prefabricated steel storage warehouse [by members of the 34th Construction Bn.] at Halavo Seaplane Base, Florida Island [Solomon Islands]. September 19, 1943. 80-G-89138
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M. D. Shore, S1/c, operating a forklift truck at the Navy supply depot at Guam, Marianas. June 8, 1945. 80-G-330221 Halavo Seaplane Base, Florida Island, Solomons, plumbing department personnel. The entire front row except the CPO are natives N.d. 71-SB-28-3
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34th CBs working on purification of their water supply at Solomon Islands. Ca. August 1945. 80-G-203393. Enlisted men aboard the U.S.S. Ticonderoga (CV-14) hear the news of Japan's surrender. August 14, 1945. Lt. B. Gallagher. 80-G-469544.
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Group of recently appointed Negro officers. Left to right, front row: Ensigns George Clinton Cooper, Graham Edward Martin, Jesse Walter Arbor, John Walter Reagan, Reginald Ernest Goodwin. Back row, left to right, Ensigns Phillip George Barnes, Samuel Edward Barnes, Dalton Louis Baugh, James Edward Hare, Frank Ellis Sublett, and WO Charles Byrd Lear. February 1944. 80-G-300215. Lt. Cmdr. Grady Avent, USNR, Commanding Officer at the Navy's largest Negro base, Manana Barracks, Hawaii, inspects plans presented by Public Works Officer, Lt. Edward S. Hope, USNR, [right] Navy's highest ranking Negro officer. N.d. 208-NP-8E-1.
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A dispensary at a Naval ammunition depot in the Marianas. Prevention against a case of sore throat. Patient--Dan Kennedy, S1/c, Dr. Stanton B. Shaw, PhM2/c, who is in charge. June 8, 1945. 80-G-330215. Group of CBs acting as stretcher bearers for the 7th Marines. Peleliu. September 1944. Sgt. McBride. 127-N-96475.
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Leading petty officers of one of the Navy's new Logistics Support Companies. This company is undergoing combat training by Service Force Advance Base Section at a station on Oahu Island prior to their departure for duty in a combat area. Left to right, front row: Boatswain Mate Second Class James W. Chase and Coxswain John D. Perry. Left to right, back row: Coxswains Raymond C. Vaultz, Elmer Williams, Darrel M. Beech, and Jimmie Cook. May 10, 1945. 208-AA-43TT-1. E. Perry, Seaman 1/c, is splicing steel cable. This is a highly specialized naval activity. Some of the most constructive work at any naval command is performed by the 'riggers.' May 17, 1945. 208-NP-7QQ-6
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Looking to sea from the signal bridge is Napoleon Reid, Seaman 2/c., USNR, shown standing on lookout watch on a ship somewhere in the Pacific. March 19, 1945. 208-NP-7III-1. William Baldwin, first Navy Negro recruit for General Service. June 2, 1942. 208-NP-8B-2.
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Crewmen aboard U.S.S. Tulagi (CVE-72) en route to southern France for Aug. 15th invasion. Miles Davis King, StM 2/c, carrying a loaded magazine to his 20mm gun. August 1944. 80-G-417623 Negro mechanics work on PBY at NAS Seattle, WA, Alvin V. Morrison, AMM 3/c, doing overhaul. April 27, 1944. 80-G-233274.
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Richard Salter, CK 3/c, a talker of a gun station, aboard the U.S.S. Tulagi (CVE-72) off the coast of southern France. August 1944. Lt. Wayne Miller. 80-G-468780. Steward's mates joke as they dry silverware in the wardroom of U.S.S. Ticonderoga (CV-14). November 1944. Lt. Wayne Miller. 80-G-469560.
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[The] tug YTM 466, operating out of the Mine Warfare School, Yorktown, VA. Her captain is T. Perdue, Boatswain Mate 1/c May 17, 1945. 208-NP-7QQ-4. A deck hand loops a manila line. N.d. 208-NP-7QQ-5.
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