Click On Image
For Full Size Image |
Size |
Image Description |
Contributed
By And/Or Copyright |
 |
48k |
John Charles England (11 December 1920 - 7 December 1941) was born in Harris, Mo. He enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve as an Apprentice Seaman at Los Angles on 6 September 1940. After active duty training on board the USS New York from 25 November to 21 December 1940 he attended Naval Reserve Midshipman's School, New York NY and was appointed Midshipman, USNR, 6 March 1941. He completed his training on 5 June and was commissioned Ensign, USNR, 6 June 1941. On 3 September 1941, he reported for duty in USS Oklahoma (BB-37), and was killed in action during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941. Ensign England survived the initial attack and escaped topside as the ship was capsizing. He remembered the men still in the radio room. He returned three times to the radio room, each time guiding a man to safety. He left to go back below decks for the fourth time and was never seen again. He was one of twenty officers and 395 enlisted men were killed on board USS Oklahoma that morning.
USS England (DE-635) was the first ship named in his honor, she was later followed by DLG-22.
(US Navy photo #NH-85190 from the US Naval Historical Center) |
Bill Gonyo |
 |
91k |
26 September 1943: San Francisco CA - USS England (DE-635) is christened by Mrs. Harry B. England, mother of Ensign John C. England, the ship's namesake, during launching ceremonies at the Bethlehem Steel Company shipyard. (US Navy Photo #19-N-51897 from from the Bureau of Ships Collection at the National Archives) |
Bill Gonyo |
 |
47k |
26 September 1943: San Francisco CA - Launch (US Navy Photo #19-N-51896 from the National Archives) |
- |
 |
60k |
9 February 1944: off San Francisco CA (US Navy Photo #19-N-60938 from the National Archives) |
- |
 |
58k |
9 February 1944: off San Francisco CA (US Navy Photo #19-N-60940 from the National Archives) |
- |
 |
56k |
9 February 1944: off San Francisco CA (US Navy Photo #19-N-60941 from the National Archives) |
- |
 |
67k |
9 February 1944: off San Francisco CA (US Navy Photo #19-N-60942 from the National Archives) |
- |
 |
65k |
9 February 1944: off San Francisco - The famous DE England, which sank six Japanese submarines in just a few days in the Pacific. Note the large rangefinder on the bridge. [US National Archives photo, from the book "Allied Escort Ships of World War II (A Complete Survey)", by Peter Elliott] |
Edib Krlicbegovic,
Bosnia - Hercegovina |
 |
40k |
21 July 1945: The Philadelphia Navy Yard - She was there for repairs after being hit by a "Kamikaze" off Okinawa on 9 May 1945. |
- |
 |
72k |
Damage from a "Kamikaze" hit received off Okinawa on 9 May 1945. This view, taken at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, on 24 July 1945, shows the port side of the forward superstructure, near where the suicide plane struck. Note scoreboard painted on the bridge face, showing her Presidential Unit Citation pennant and symbols for the six Japanese submarines and three aircraft credited to England. Also note fully provisioned life raft at right. |
 |
143k |
showing Kamikaze damaged bridge.. (US Navy Photo #80-G-336953 from the National Archives) |
 |
152k |
24 July 1945: Philadelphia Navy Yard - Burned-out officers' stateroom in the forward superstructure, from a "Kamikaze" that hit near her bridge while she was off Okinawa on 9 May 1945. (US Navy Photo #80-G-336950 from the National Archives) |
