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35k | Abraham Whipple, 1733-1819, American Revolutionary naval officer, b. Providence, R.I. In 1759-60, as captain of the privateer Game Cock in the French and Indian Wars, he captured numerous prizes. Whipple commanded the party of Rhode Islanders that captured and burned the British revenue cutter Gaspee in Narragansett Bay in 1772, one of the most provocative instances of resistance to the British in the pre-Revolutionary period. At the beginning of the American Revolution he was made commodore of Rhode Island's small fleet and then became fourth-ranking captain in the Continental navy. With the Columbus in 1776 he fought the first sea fight of the war. In 1778, Whipple, commanding the Providence, evaded the British blockade of Narragansett Bay and carried important government dispatches to France. His most daring exploit occurred in 1779 when, as commander of several vessels, he encountered the large, well-protected British Jamaica fleet. Whipple, concealing the guns of his flagship, the Providence, hoisted the British flag and fell in with the fleet for several days. Each night he cut out one of the merchant ships, manned it from his own crew, and sent it to an American port. Eight of the 11 captured ships reached port, making this one of the richest hauls of the war. In 1780 he was charged with the naval defense of Charleston, S.C.; the city fell and Whipple was captured and held prisoner for the rest of the war. | Bill Gonyo | |
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117k | The launching November 6 1919. From the book The Ships of the United States Navy and their Sponsors 1913-1923. | - | |
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40k | Undated, location unknown. | Paul Rebold | |
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66k | Undated, location unknown. Digital ID: ggbain 36377, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. | Bill Gonyo | |
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74k | Photo #: 80-G-1025121, USS Black Hawk (AD-9) at Manila, Philippine Islands, 15 November 1935, with four destroyers and USS Heron (AM-10) nested alongside. The four destroyers are (from left to right): USS Whipple (DD-217); USS John D. Edwards (DD-216); USS Smith Thompson (DD-212); and USS Barker (DD-213). All ships are "full dressed" with flags in honor of the inauguration of Philippine President Manuel Quezon. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. | Tony Cowart | |
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80k | While on exercises in Subic Bay during the spring of 1936, Whipple (DD-217) and Smith Thompson (DD-212) collided on 14 April. The latter suffered such serious damage in the mishap that she had to be scrapped. As a consequence, Whipple, whose own bow had been bent around until it faced sternward, received Smith-Thompson's undamaged bow and soon reentered active service. | Donald Nicholson | |
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48k | Captain's Inspection, about July 29 1943, in port at Casablanca, Morocco. Personnel identifiable are: CO, LCDR Vincent J. MEOLA and directly behind him is Chief Boatswain's Mate SNIDER and Yeoman WESTFALL. | Harvey WESTFALL, LCDR, USN, (Retired) | |
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71k | January 15, 1944 photo getting ready to refuel from escort carrier. | - | |
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134k | Undated, War time image. (Same time frame as above) | - | |
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97k | Nine U.S destroyers in one of the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard's drydocks. Five of the destroyers being scrapped are old flush deckers including the USS Whipple (DD-217) and the USS Stringham (DD-83). The other four are Porter-class destroyer leaders built in the 1930s. The photograph was taken on 14 March 1946 (Author's Collection). Photo from Warship Boneyards, by Kit and Carolyn Bonner. | Robert Hurst | |
USS WHIPPLE DD-217 / AG-117 History
View This Vessels DANFS History Entry
(Located On The hazegray Web Site, This Is The Main Archive For The DANFS Online Project.)
Crew Contact And Reunion Information
Contact Name: Jim Willson
Address: 709 N. Indigo Terrace, Jacksonville, FL 32259
Phone: 904-287-3963
E-mail: kyoko1@comcast.net
Next reunion: San Antonio, TX, November 12-16 2005
Note About Contacts.