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NavSource Online: Army Ship Photo Archive

USAT George F. Downey


Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal


Oil Tanker:
  • Built by Saginaw Shipbuilding Co. Saginaw, MI (YN 147)
  • Laid down as the Design 1074 "Laker" Lake Gardeau (USSB hull 1765), date unknown
  • Launched, 08 January 1921
  • Completed for United States Shipping Board as SS Lake Miraflores (ON 221008), April 1921
  • Sold to Stanley Hiller, Inc, San Francisco, CA, and converted to a tanker, 1926
  • Sold to Santa Cruz Oil Co., Portland, OR, 1930
  • Used as factory ship, processing sardines into fish oil and meal
  • Allocated to the US Army Transportation Corps, renamed USAT George F. Downey, early 1942
  • Served in Alaskan waters during World War Two
  • Returned to the War Shipping Administration and laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA, 05 March 1946
  • Offered for scrap sale at Fort Mason, CA (PD-X-134), March 1946
  • Sold for scrapping to Franklin Shipwrecking Co., Hillside, NJ (PD-X-377), 11 July 1947
  • Delivered to purchaser for breaking up, 27 October 1947
  • Departed San Francisco for Portland, OR, in tow of tug Agnes Foss, 29 October 1947
    Specifications:
    Displacement 2702 gross tons / 1672 net tons
    Length 253'
    Beam 44'
    Draft 28'
    Speed unknown
    Complement
    Cargo Capacity unknown
    Cruise Radius unknown
    Propulsion
    one reciprocating steam engine
    one screw, 1,500shp

    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Source
    Namesake
    George F. Downey
    302020201
    14k

    George Faber Downey was born 30 July 1866 at Whipple Barracks, Prescott, Arizona Territory, the son of Brevet Major George M. Downey, post commandant of Fort Verde. He saw active service in the Philippines during the Spanish-American War. Following this, he became Chief of Receipts and Disbursements at Manila. His Philippine service ended in 1904, when he became Chief Paymaster of the American Army occupying Cuba. He returned to Washington in 1907, where he served in various capacities until he was ordered to France in September 1918. On his return he was for two years Corps Area Quartermaster, and at his retirement in 1923 was Assistant Quartermaster General in the War Department. Brigadier General Downey died 01 April 1935 in Washington, DC, and is interred in Arlington National Cemetery.
    Photo from 1922 passport application.

    Dave Wright

    There is no history record available for USAT George F. Downey at NavSource
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    MARAD Vessel History Database
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    This page was created by Gary P. Priolo and is maintained by David L. Wright
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    Last Updated 02 October 2020