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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Bowie (APA-137)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Delta - Oscar - Romeo
 NDOR
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
Haskell Class Attack Transport Laid down, 28 August 1944, as a Maritime Commission type (VC2-S-AP5) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MCV hull 53) at California Shipbuilding Corp., Wilmington, CA.
  • Launched, 31 October 1944
  • Acquired from the Maritime Commission, 21 December 1944
  • Commissioned USS Bowie (APA-137), 23 December 1944, at Terminal Island, CA., CDR. Frank L. Durnell in command
  • During World War II Bowie was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaign:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 10 to 15 May 1945
  • Decommissioned, 8 March 1946, at Norfolk, VA.
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission, 14 March 1946, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Lee Hall, VA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 28 March 1946
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 9 April 1973, to Union Minerals & Alloys Corp., New York City, N.Y.
  • Bowie received one battle star for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 6,873 t.(lt) 14,837 t.(fl)
    Length 455'
    Beam 62'
    Speed 19 kts.
    Complement
    56 Officers
    480 Enlisted
    Troop Accommodations
    86 Officers
    1,475 Enlisted
    Cargo Capacity 150,000 cu. ft, 2,900 tons
    Boats
    2 LCMs
    12 LCVPs
    3 LCPUs
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 dual-purpose gun mount
    four twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    ten single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Propulsion
    one Joshua Hendy geared turbine
    2 Babcock and Wilcox header-type boilers
    1 propeller, design shaft horsepower 8,500
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Bowie 90k USS Bowie (APA-137) at anchor, date and location unknown. Max Holloway, S/2c USS Bowie, Oct.44 to Dec. 45
    Bowie 11k USS Bowie (APA-137), at anchor after landing troops at Okinawa, date unknown. Russ Padden
    View the USS Bowie (APA-137)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Amphibious Forces WWII- USS Bowie APA 137
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Attack Transport (APA) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 17 October 2008