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NavSource Online: Cruiser Photo Archive

USS BILOXI (CL 80)


       

Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign: November - Uniform - Mike - Victor

CLASS - CLEVELAND
Displacement 10,000 Tons, Dimensions, 610' 1" (oa) x 66' 4" x 25' (Max)
Armament 12 x 6"/47, 12 x 5"/38AA, 28 x 40mm, 10 x 20mm, 4 Aircraft
Armor, 5" Belt, 6" Turrets, 2" Deck, 5" Conning Tower.
Machinery, 100,000 SHP; Geared Turbines, 4 screws
Speed, 32.5 Knots, Crew 1255.
Operational and Building Data
Ordered 09 SEP 1940
Keel laid 09 JUL 1941 at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, VA
Launched 23 FEB 1943
Commissioned 31 AUG 1943
Decommissioned 29 AUG 1946
Stricken 01 SEP 1961
Fate: Sold for scrap on 05 MAR 1962 to Zidell Explorations, Portland, OR.

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Combat Action Ribbon - China Service Medal
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (9) - World War II Victory
Third Row - World War II Occupation Medal w/JAPAN Clasp - Philippine Presidential Unit Citation - Philippine Liberation Medal



Click On Image
For Full Size Image
Size Image Description Contributed
By And/Or Copyright
Biloxi
0408025
641k Launching of the Biloxi (CL 80) at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company. Dale Hargrave
Biloxi
0408012
43k Starboard side midships looking aft while undergoing Inclining at Newport News Shipbuilding on 21 August 1943 (Caption updated by Darren Large). Pieter Bakels
Biloxi
0408013
38k Looking aft from the bow while undergoing Inclining at Newport News Shipbuilding on 21 August 1943 (Caption updated by Darren Large). Pieter Bakels
Biloxi 25k Starboard bow view while underway on 15 September 1943, inthe Norfolk area (Caption updated by Bob Hirst and Darren Large). USN
Biloxi
0408024
2.2m

View of signal flag "Bags" from atop the forward superstructure with the starboard forward quad 40mm gun mount beyond. Taken during the ship's shakedown cruise, October 1943. Note signal lamp and R.D.F. "Loop'

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives #80-G-K-2830.

National Archives
Biloxi 92k

40mm quad-mounted antiaircraft machine guns in action, during a shakedown cruise battle practice, October 1943.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives #80-G-K-14526.

Scott Dyben/National Archives
Biloxi 121k

Photo is dated 19 February 1945, but was probably taken during the ship's shakedown cruise, circa October 1943.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 98263.

USNHC
Biloxi 2.4m

Underway during her shakedown cruise, October 1943. She is painted in Measure 21 (overall Navy Blue) camouflage.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives #80-G-K-2826-A.

National Archives
Biloxi
0408016
1.8m

Steaming into a turn, during her shakedown cruise, October 1943.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives #80-G-K-12826-B.

National Archives
Biloxi 105k

Underway off the U.S. East Coast, 20 November 1943. Photographed from a blimp of squadron ZP-14, based as Naval Air Station Weeksville, North Carolina.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 98262.

USNHC
Biloxi 187k

Underway at sea, circa late 1943.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 45698.

USNHC
Biloxi 124k

Personnel inspection on the ship's afterdeck, during her shakedown period, circa October 1943. Note her aircraft catapults, with Curtiss SO3C floatplanes on top, and her hangar hatch cover.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives #80-G-K-2832.

National Archives
Biloxi
0408019
2.1m Preparing to catapult a Curtiss SO3C "Seamew" from her starboard catapult, during her shakedown, circa October 1943. Note that the port catapult, and plane have been turned to clear the launching area, prior to training the starboard catapult. National Archives
Biloxi
0408015
2.3k

The U.S. Navy light cruiser USS? Biloxi? (CL 80) turns into the wind to catapult a Curtiss SO3C? "Seamew"? while on shakedown, circa October 1943.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives #80-G-K-2837.

National Archives
Biloxi 145k

Biloxi catapults a Curtiss SO3C "Seamew" floatplane, during her shakedown period, circa October 1943. Note the plane's national insignia, with the red surround briefly used in mid-1943.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives #80-G-K-2836.

National Archives
Biloxi
0408020
1.75m

Biloxi catapults a Curtiss SO3C "Seamew" while on shakedown, circa October 1943.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives #80-G-K-2835.

National Archives
Biloxi
0408017
2.1m

Biloxi firing her 6"/47 main battery guns during her shakedown cruise, October 1943. View looking after on the port side.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives #80-G-K-2849.

National Archives
Biloxi 70k

Firing her 6"/47 main battery guns while steaming in a turn, during her shakedown cruise, October 1943.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives #80-G-K-2850.

National Archives
Biloxi
0408022
1.8m

40mm guns stand by for test firing, during the ship's shakedown, October 1943. Note MK51 director at right bottom

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives #80-G-K-2828.

National Archives
Biloxi
0408018
1.7m

40mm and 20mm machine guns firing during the ship's shakedown cruise, October 1943. Note 40mm gun crew keeping their weapons loaded with ammunition. Also note gun pointer protecting his ears, as the mount operates under director control.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives #80-G-K-2843.

National Archives
Biloxi 126k

40mm quad-mounted guns firing during battle practice while the ship was shaking down in October 1943. The view looks forward along the ship's port side, with a 5"/38 twin gun mount beyond the 40mm guns.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives #80-G-K-2844.

National Archives
Biloxi
0408021
1.7m

40mm quad-mounted antiaircraft machine guns in action, during a shakedown cruise battle practice, October 1943.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives #80-G-K-14526.

National Archives
Biloxi
0408023
95k

On the morning of 27 March 1945 during Okinawa preparations four suicide planes attacked the light cruiser USS Biloxi. Three were shot down in flames but the fourth broke through the umbrella of anti-aircraft fire to smash itself against the cruiser's side. Later investigation revealed a 500-kilogram bomb which failed to explode. Rendered harmless, the bomb became the prized possession of the quarterdeck where it is shown being examined by Major Anthony V. Ragusin (right) of Biloxi, Miss., and Ensign Jack Fisher, USNR, of Natchitoches, La., both of whom are attached to the staff of the Commander in Chief Pacific Ocean Areas. (Quoted from the original caption released with this photograph on 7 September 1945.)

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command.

NHHC
Biloxi 80k

Shelling Japanese positions on Okinawa, 30 March 1945. USS Portland (CA 33) is in the left background, also taking part in the bombardment. Photographed from USS West Virginia (BB 48).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives #80-G-315085.

National Archives
Biloxi
0408026
  Biloxi seen in the Pacific Reserve Fleet at Bremerton in May 1955. Dave Schroeder and John Chiquoine
Biloxi
0408027
  Biloxi is seen being tugged to the breakers' yard near Portland, OR, 1962. Dave Schroeder and John Chiquoine

Commanding Officers
Name/Rank Final Rank Dates
McGurl, Daniel Michael, CAPT   08/31/1943 - 1944
Heineman, Paul Ralph, CAPT   10/20/1944 - 06/1945
Blackledge, Allan Douglas, CAPT   06/1945 - 05/19/1946
Kerr, Robert Hartley, CDR   05/19/1946 - 08/20/1946

(Courtesy of Wolfgang Hechler & Ron Reeves - Photos courtesy of Bill Gonyo)


USS BILOXI (CL 80) History
View This Vessels DANFS History Entry on the U.S. Navy Historical Center website.

Crew Contact And Reunion Information

Contact Name: Mr. Clancey Inman
Address: PO Box 874 Athens, TN, 37371-0874
Phone: None listed.
E-mail: None

Note About Contacts.

The contact listed, Was the contact at the time for this ship when located. If another person now is the contact, E-mail me and I will update this entry. These contacts are compiled from various sources over a long period of time and may or may not be correct. Every effort has been made to list the newest contact if more than one contact was found.


Additional Resources
Hazegray & Underway Cruiser Pages By Andrew Toppan.
Back To The Main Photo Index Back To The Cruiser Photo Index Page

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