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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

SP-1128 / AT-54 Conestoga

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
World War I Victory Medal
Conestoga Class Fleet Tug:
  • Built in 1904 at Maryland Steel Co., Sparrows Point, MD.
  • Purchased by the Navy, 14 September 1917
  • Commissioned USS Conestoga (SP-1128), 10 November 1917, LTjg C. Olsen, USNRF, in command
  • Redesignated AT-54, 17 July 1920
  • Final Disposition, declared lost with all her crew, 30 June 1921
    Specifications:
    Displacement 420
    Length 170'
    Beam 29'
    Draft 16'
    Speed 13 kts.
    Complement 56
    Armament one 3" gun mount
    Propulsion system unknown
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    Commercial Service
    Conestoga 61k Conestoga in commercial service. Photographed before being acquired by the U.S. Navy
    US Navy photo # NH 89793 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    USS Conestoga (SP-1128 / AT-54)
    Conestoga 54k Conestoga (SP-1128) in port, prior to World War I.
    US Navy photo # NH 89794, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Conestoga 66k Conestoga at San Diego, CA., circa early 1921, shortly before she disappeared while en route from Mare Island Navy Yard to Samoa, by way of Pearl Harbor.
    US Navy photo # NH 71299, Courtesy of W.P. Burbage, 1970, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Conestoga 64k Conestoga at San Diego, CA., February 1921. She was lost without a trace after leaving Mare Island Navy Yard on 25 March 1921, en route to Samoa.
    US Navy photo # NH 102094, Courtesy of H.E. ("Ed") Coffer, 1988, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Conestoga 107k Artist conception (made from contemporary tugs) shows how Conestoga (AT-54) might have appeared before she disappeared in 1921.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, March 1958.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    USS Conestoga (AT-54) Crew Photos
    Conestoga 113k Conestoga (AT-54) Ship's Company beside and on Conestoga, at San Diego, CA., circa early 1921.
    Officers and Chief Petty Officers in front row are (from left to right):
    Chief Boatswain's Mate Elias Melvin Zimmerman;
    Chief Carpenter's Mate John Wesley Powell;
    Machinist Louis A. Liscomb, Engineering Officer;
    Lieutenant Ernest L. Jones, Commanding Officer;
    Boatswain Roy E. Hoffses, Ordnance Officer;
    Boatswain Harvey H. Reinbold, Executive Officer;
    Chief Water Tender Charles Ingerson Westover; and
    Chief Machinist's Mate George F. Kaler.
    The Sailor marked by an arrow (top row, 6th from left) may be Seaman 1st Class W.P. Burbage.
    US Navy photo # NH 71503, Courtesy of W.P. Burbage, 1970, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Conestoga 89k Conestoga (AT-54) Ship's Company beside and on Conestoga, at San Diego, CA., circa early 1921.
    Officers, seated in front row, are (from left to right):
    Machinist Louis A. Liscomb, Engineering Officer;
    Lieutenant Ernest L. Jones, Commanding Officer;
    Boatswain Harvey H. Reinbold, Executive Officer; and
    Boatswain Roy E. Hoffses, Ordnance Officer.
    Chief Petty Officers, in 2nd row center, are (from left to right):
    Chief Boatswain's Mate Elias Melvin Zimmerman;
    Chief Water Tender Charles Ingerson Westover;
    Chief Machinist's Mate George F. Kaler; and
    Chief Carpenter's Mate John Wesley Powell.
    The Sailor marked by an arrow (top row) may be Seaman 1st Class W.P. Burbage.
    US Navy photo # NH 71506, Courtesy of W.P. Burbage, 1970, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Conestoga 97k LT. Ernest L. Jones, USN, Commanding Officer, USS Conestoga (AT-54), standing alongside his ship, at San Diego, circa early 1921. He was among those lost when Conestoga disappeared after leaving Mare Island in March 1921.
    US Navy photo # NH 71504, Courtesy of W.P. Burbage, 1970, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Conestoga 94k Conestoga (AT-54) Ship's Officers at San Diego, California, circa early 1921.
    They are (from left to right):
    Machinist Louis A. Liscomb, Engineering Officer;
    Lieutenant Ernest L. Jones, Commanding Officer;
    Boatswain Harvey H. Reinbold, Executive Officer; and
    Boatswain Roy E. Hoffses, Ordnance Officer.
    All were lost when Conestoga disappeared after leaving Mare Island in March 1921.
    US Navy photo # NH 71501, Courtesy of W.P. Burbage, 1970, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Conestoga 89k Conestoga (AT-54) Ship's Chief Petty Officers, at San Diego, circa early 1921.
    They are (from left to right):
    Chief Machinist's Mate George F. Kaler;
    Chief Carpenter's Mate John Wesley Powell;
    Chief Water Tender Charles Ingerson Westover; and
    Chief Boatswain's Mate Elias Melvin Zimmerman.
    All were lost when Conestoga disappeared after leaving Mare Island in March 1921.
    US Navy photo # NH 71502, Courtesy of W.P. Burbage, 1970, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Conestoga 74k LT. Ernest L. Jones, USN, Commanding Officer, USS Conestoga (AT-54), with the ship's Quartermasters (one of whom has been cut out of the image), at San Diego, circa early 1921.
    US Navy photo # NH 71505, Courtesy of W.P. Burbage, 1970, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Conestoga 90k Conestoga (AT-54) Deck Division posed beside the ship, at San Diego, circa early 1921.
    Seated in chairs are (from left to right):
    Chief Carpenter's Mate John Wesley Powell;
    Boatswain Harvey H. Reinbold, Executive Officer;
    Boatswain Roy E. Hoffses, Ordnance Officer; and
    Chief Boatswain's Mate Elias Melvin Zimmerman.
    The Sailor marked by an arrow (top row) may be Seaman 1st Class W.P. Burbage.
    US Navy photo # NH 71507, Courtesy of W.P. Burbage, 1970, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Conestoga 99k Conestoga (AT-54) Engineering Division posed beside the ship, at San Diego, California, circa early 1921.
    Seated in chairs are (from left to right):
    Chief Water Tender Charles Ingerson Westover;
    Machinist Louis A. Liscomb, Engineering Officer; and
    Chief Machinist's Mate George F. Kaler.
    US Navy photo # NH 71500, Courtesy of W.P. Burbage, 1970, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Conestoga 84k Conestoga (AT-54) Gunnery Department posing with her 3"/50 gun, 1921. The Sailor at left, marked "me", may be Seaman 1st Class W.P. Burbage.
    US Navy photo # NH 71510, Courtesy of W.P. Burbage, 1970, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Conestoga 138k Memorial crew list of the officers and men serving in Conestoga (AT-54) when she disappeared while en route from Mare Island to Samoa.
    US Navy photo # NH 71508, Courtesy of Courtesy of W.P. Burbage, 1970, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    View the Conestoga (AT-54)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center web site
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    Not Applicable to this Vessel
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Back to the Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Civilian Ship Photo Index (ID and SP) Back To The Service Ship Photo Index Back To The Fleet Tug Photo (AT) Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 6 May 2005