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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Brig. Gen. Asa N. Duncan (ARU(F)-4)

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal
Aircraft Repair Ship
  • Laid down, 15 March 1944, as SS Richard O'Brien, a Maritime Commission type (EC2-S-C1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MCE hull 2925), at Todd Houston Shipbuilding, Houston TX.
  • Launched, 25 April 1944
  • Delivered, 5 May 1944, to the War Shipping Administration and simultaneously transferred to the War Department
  • Converted to an Aircraft Repair Ship at Mobile Air Tactical Command Brookley Field, Mobile, AL
  • Commissioned, Brig. Gen. Asa N. Duncan (ARU(F)-4)
  • During World War II Brig. Gen. Asa N. Duncan provided support facilities for the US Army Air Force at Saipan and Iwo Jima
  • Returned, 8 April 1946 to the War Shipping Administration for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Lee Hall, VA.
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 31 July 1972, to N.V. Intershitra (PD-X-942, dated 30 June 1972) for $80,100.00, withdrawn, 21 August 1972
    Specifications:
    Displacement 4,023 t.(lt) 14,550 t.(fl)
    Length 441' 6"
    Beam 56' 11"
    Draft 28' 4"
    Speed 12.5 kts.
    Complement
    Officers, 22
    Enlisted, 345
    Cargo Capacity 7,750 DWT
    Armament
    one 5"/38 dual purpose gun stern mounted
    one 3"/50 dual purpose gun bow mounted
    one 40mm anti-aircraft gun mount
    twelve 20mm anti-aircraft gun mounts
    Fuel Capacity
    NSFO 7,285 Bbls
    Propulsion
    one vertical triple-expansion reciprocating steam engine
    two header-type boilers, 220psi 450°
    Ship's Service Generators
     three recip-drive 20Kw 120V D.C.
     one turbo-drive 60Kw 120V D.C.
    single propeller, 2,500shp

    Honorstates.org
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    Brig. Gen. Asa N. Duncan 81k
    Namesake

    Brig. Gen. Asa N. Duncan was born March 30, 1892, in Madison County AL. Asa North Duncan enlisted in the Army Air Force serving in World War II with Eighth Air Force, Headquarters. Duncan reported missing and ultimately declared dead, November 17, 1942. Recorded circumstances attributed to: "Missing in action or lost at sea". in the Bay of Biscay.    		  
    Brig. Gen. Asa N. Duncan 43k Brig. Gen. Asa N. Duncan (ARU(F)-4) at anchor either at Saipan of Iwo Jima, date unknown
    ROTOR Magazine - Summer 2009    		 Vern Bouwman
    Brig. Gen. Asa N. Duncan
    30010402
    80-G-474348    		 347k Brig. Gen. Asa N. Duncan (ARU(F)-4) moored to a buoy at Guam, May 1945 with USS Azimech (AK-124) moored astern of her.
    US National Archives photos # 80-G-474348 and 80-G-408154.    		 Rick E. Davis
    Brig. Gen. Asa N. Duncan
    30010404
    80-G-408154    		 650k
    There is no history record available for Brig. Gen. Asa N. Duncan (ARU(F)-4) at NavSource
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    MARAD Vessel History Database
    Top Secret Project Ivory Soap - Aircraft Repair Ships
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The US Army Ship Index Back To The US Army Aircraft Repair Ships Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 20 January 2023