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0413430 |
296k |
Starboard quarter view while on sea-trials prior to her commissioning.
U.S. Navy photo.
|
David Buell |
0413431 |
277k |
Starboard side view while underway date and location unknown.
U.S. Navy photo.
|
David Buell |
0413424 |
84k |
USS Des Moines (CA-134) underway taking in on fuel
from an unidentified 'Midway'-class aircraft carrier. |
Robert Hurst |
0413437 |
153k |
Port bow view, late 1950's, location unknown.
U.S. Navy photo
|
David Buell |
0413438 |
93k |
Port bow view, late 1950's, location unknown.
U.S. Navy photo
|
David Buell |
0413434 |
47k |
Liberty boad departing, date and location unknown. |
Louis Lockwood |
 |
53k |
Taken 15th November, 1948, as completed. Location unknown
(Caption updated by Bob Hirst). |
USN |
 |
126k |
Undated (1950's), Image as she appeared in service. |
Randy Kimes |
0413425 |
455k |
Port bow view while underway during Operation "Long
Step" in November 1952. |
Robert Carey |
 |
157k |
Port bow view, in Norfolk, 1954. USS
Missouri (BB-63) (right) is tied up at pier 7, USS
Macon (CA-132) is tied up to pier 5 and Des Moines rafting
on Macon. Across pier 5 is the USS
Randolph (CV-15). |
Larry Bohn |
 |
325k |
Taken during the 1955 Cruise Able: Norfolk - Malaga, Spain
- Plymouth, England - Guantanamo, Cuba - Norfolk. It was taken as the
ship passed Gibralter inbound to Malaga. The midshipman not on watch were
on deck to view the scenery. |
Stan Cochran |
 |
196k |
Taken during the 1955 Cruise Able: Norfolk - Malaga, Spain
- Plymouth, England - Guantanamo, Cuba - Norfolk. It was taken while the
ship was at anchor at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in July 1955. |
Stan Cochran |
0413423 |
307k |
Port bow view, possibly in the Med, 1957. |
Larry Blumenthal, PH3, 1957-1961,
"US Navy photos" |
025970 |
252k |
USS
Severn (AO-61) refueling USS
Forrestal (CVA-59) and heavy cruiser USS Des Moines (CA-134)
near Barcelona, Spain, June 13, 1957.
(Thanks to Ken Killmeyer, USS Forrestal Association historian, who
helped date these photos).
|
Image courtesy of
Larry Blumenthal, PH3, 1957-61.
"US Navy Photos" |
025970a |
252k |
USS
Severn (AO-61) refueling USS
Forrestal (CVA-59) and heavy cruiser USS Des Moines (CA-134)
near Barcelona, Spain, June 13, 1957.
(Thanks to Ken Killmeyer, USS Forrestal Association historian, who
helped date these photos).
|
Image courtesy of
Larry Blumenthal, PH3, 1957-61.
"US Navy Photos" |
 |
419k |
Port side view while at anchor in port at Venice, Italy
during the summer of 1958. |
Harry M. Funkhouser |
0413436 |
71k |
Taken during the July 1959 Villefranche in-port period, with the Ship
at Full Dress for the 4th and 14th!! As a side note, the Ship is moored
at Buoy #1 in 100 fathoms of water - the deepest natural harbor in the
Med. It was a good mile into the Fleet Landing at the quai right in
the middle of Villefranche, right in front of Mom Germaine's Restaurant.
(I read a story in the July '59 issue of Reader's Digest about her and
as I was awaiting orders, thought it would be nice to be assigned to
a place like that!! (A Ship had not been mentioned in the article.)
Three weeks later I received orders to the USS DES MOINES and picked
he up at Cadiz Spain, across the bay from Rota. Four weeks later after
Gibraltar, Lisbon, and Barcelona, we pull into Villefranche and there
is Mom Germaine', and I was on boat crew!!!!! [Boat Crews and SP's had
free run of Mom's from 2300 to 2400, or till the food ran out!!]
U.S. Navy Photo
|
Louis Lockwood |
0413432 |
66k |
The crew practice manning the rail on 30 November 1959 for an upcoming
visit by President Eisenhower. Note that there are men even on top of
the Gun Directors.
U.S. Navy Photo
|
Louis Lockwood |
0413433 |
80k |
President Eisenhower arrives aboard, 15 December 1959 at 1259 while
anchored off Piraeus Greece (seaport of Athens). The Sideboys' OinC
is Ens. Pat Dillon, and I am the second Sideboy on the left side (Ship's
Starboard - Ike's right) from the camera. Ike's arrival for five days
aboard of R&R - right!!!! Only that afternoon and the third day.
The morning of the 16th saw an Air Show unknown to Sixth Fleet Sailors
- lots of tax dollars landed in the Med that morning. Three hours of
constant bombing runs, strafing runs, and sidewinder air-to-air demo
(including some wild flying to escape missile lock-on)!! At 1300 hrs
a four hour Allied/Nato Passing Ship Review commenced. On Day 3 the
Ship anchored off of Tunis, Tunisia for Ike to attend a two hour conference
with that Country's Head of State. Day four saw Putt-Putt Golf and Skeet
Shooting on the Fantail, with very limited Officer participation only!
Day 5 the Ship arrived at Toulon France at 1000 hrs and Charles DeGaulle
arrived aboard at 1100 hrs. Degaulle and Ike departed at approximately
1500 hrs, and the departed bound for Villefranche (ETA "0755"
the next morning!). The weather all five days was mirror calm to just
a 'twinkle' on the water!! Overnight out of Toulon we hit a Gulf du
Lyons storm and took a 28 degree roll - that's huge for a CA!! We also
lost two vehicles overboard and had lots of broken windows in the remaining
ones!! (All the Flag vehicles had been driven back to Villefranche where
as the Ship's vehicles were aboard prior to departing Toulon.)
U.S. Navy Photo
|
Louis Lockwood |
 |
84k |
Seen here in reserve, "Mothballs" at South Boston Naval
Annex, July 1961. Note the Ensign still flying on the aft mast (Thanks
to ISC Art Cappabianca for noticing it). |
© Richard Leonhardt |
 |
45k |
Seen here in reserve, "Mothballs" at South Boston Naval
Annex, July 1961. Good detail of the Protective "Cocoons" that cover the
secondary armament and gave the name to ships in reserve. |
© Richard Leonhardt |
0413435 |
86k
|
The three sisters at the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance
Facility, Philadelphia, PA in the 1980's. From left to right: Newport
News, Salem, Des Moines. |
Louis Lockwood |
 |
88k |
Port bow view while moored at the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance
Facility (NISMF) in Philadelphia, PA on 31 AUG 2002. |
Roy J. Brooks |
 |
168k |
Starboard bow view while moored at the NISMF in Philadelphia,
PA on 31 AUG 2002. |
Roy J. Brooks |
 |
33k |
Port side view while moored at the NISMF in Philadelphia,
PA on 31 AUG 2002. |
Roy J. Brooks |
 |
47k |
Port bow view of USS Des Moines in the Reserve basin
at the old Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. The Des Moines has called
the basin home for over thirty years, but is slated to become a museum
in Milwaukee, |
Brian S. Bell AO3 USNR |
 |
171k |
Years of neglect are apparent in this image of the Daisey
Mae's aft deck. This image was taken in 2002, fourteen years after the
ship was stricken from the Naval Register. All maintainance was ceased
and only the systems which alert the inactive ships office of flooding
or intrusion are still functioning. |
Brian S. Bell AO3 USNR |
 |
271k |
The poor condition of the teak decking on Des Moines
is apparent in this accompanying photo. Fortunately, this seems to be
the worst aspect of the ship. Rust is limited to those areas where water
is laying, and thanks to layers and layers of paint, it can be easily
remedied. The moss growing between the planks is something you will likely
not find aboard any other ship in the reserve fleet. |
Brian S. Bell AO3 USNR |
 |
168k |
View looking aft from the forward 20mm gun tub. The ship
is a bit messy but very much intact. Unfortunately, the covers have been
removed from the 8 inch gun barrels and the cocoons from the remaining
anti-aircraft batteries are also missing. These are the worst areas for
rust, but hopefully clean-up will soon begin. Note also the marine railways
for submarine repair to the right, as well as the Spruance and Coontz
class destroyers, and Belknap class cruiser to the left. |
Brian S. Bell AO3 USNR |
 |
81k |
Still moored at the NISMF June 2005. |
Mark Hager |
 |
89k |
Still moored at the NISMF June 2005. |
Mark Hager |
 |
108k |
Still moored at the NISMF June 2005. |
Mark Hager |
 |
99k |
Still moored at the NISMF June 2005. |
Mark Hager |
 |
88k |
Still moored at the NISMF June 2005. |
Mark Hager |
 |
93k |
Still moored at the NISMF June 2005. |
Mark Hager |
0413426 |
180k |
Taken on June 26, 2006 of the Des Moines on the
first day she was open to the museum ships to remove equipment. |
Joe Hood, USS North Carolina Living History Crew |
0413428 |
224k |
Taken on June 27, 2006 of the Des Moines Combat Information
Center. This picture was taken before Museum personnel began removing
different pieces of equipment. |
Joe Hood, USS North Carolina Living History Crew |
0413427 |
193k |
Taken on June 28, 2006 of the Des Moines from the
Starboard beam. From here you can see much of the surface rust that is
slowly taking over the ship. |
Joe Hood, USS North Carolina Living History Crew |
09375111 |
55k |
Grasp
(T-ARS-51) tows Ex-Des Moines (CA-134) up the Brownsville
ship channel enroute to the ESCO scrapping yard, at Brownsville, TX.,
circa 2006.
Photo ©Michael Martin, Brownsville, TX., 2006.
|
TJ Tropea with permission of Michael Martin |
0413429 |
1mb |
Photo taken on Jan 9, 2007 of the Des Moines alongside Esco
Marine in Brownsville, TX. Quite a bit of the upper deck has been removed.
Photo ©Michael Martin, Brownsville, TX., 2006. |
C. Busack with permission of Michael Martin |
