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Navsource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive


Ship's tab courtesy of Mike Smolinski

USS George A. Johnson (DE 583)


Flag Hoist / Radio Call Sign:
N - T - W - I
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row: China Service Medal
Second Row: American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ 1 star - European-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal
Third Row: World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal - Philippine Liberation Ribbon w/ 1 star


Specifications:
Class: Rudderow
Type: TEV (turbo-electric drive, long hull, 5" guns)
Displacement: 1,450 tons (light), 1,810 tons (full)
Length: 300' (wl), 306' (oa)
Beam: 36' 9" (extreme)
Draft: 13' 9" (draft limit)
Propulsion: 2 CE boilers, G.E. turbines with electric drive, 12000 shp, 2 screws
Speed: 24 kts
Range: 5,050 nm @ 12 knots
Armament: 2 - 5"/38 Mk30, 4 - 40mm Mk1 AA (2x2), 10 x 20mm/70 Mk 4 AA, 3 x 21" Mk15 TT (3x1), 1 Hedgehog Projector Mk10 (230 rounds), 8 Mk6 depth charge projectors (40), 2 Mk9 depth charge tracks (60)
Complement: 12 / 192
George A. Johnson (DE 583) Building and Operational Data:
  • 24 November 1943: Keel laid by the Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard, Hingham, Mass.
  • 12 January 1944: Launched and christened, sponsored by Mrs. Alfred R. Johnson, Private Johnson's mother
  • 15 April 1944: Commissioned, Lcdr. Alvin Robinson in command
  • 31 May 1946: Decommissioned at San Diego, Cal. after 2 years and 1˝ months of service
  • August 1946: Assigned as 12th Naval District training ship
  • 29 September 1950: Placed "in commission, in reserve", assigned to NRT, 12th Naval District at San Diego
  • September 1957: Decommissioned at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, San Francisco, Cal. after 11 years and 1 month of service
  • 01 November 1965: Struck from the NVR with a total of 13 years and 2˝ months of service
  • 19 September 1966: Sold for scrapping
  • 12 October 1966: Broke her towline leaving San Francisco and drifted aground at Pacifica, Cal., scrapped in place
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Contributed
    By And/Or Copyright
    George A. Johnson
    0658301

    Riley

    46k George Alfred Johnson was born in Fleetwood, Pa. on 26 September 1922 and was the first of seven children: George, Gloria, Mary Jane, Don, Gary, Edna Mae, and William. He was a member of the YMCA, worked part time as a pin-boy at the Y bowling alleys, and later as a welder at Lukens Steel. He is remembered as a very hard worker, and really gave himself to his family and friends. George attended Scott High School in Coatesville, Class of 1942. He left school his senior year to enlist in the Marine Corps on 28 January 1942. He went through basic training at Parris Island, South Carolina, and advanced infantry training at Quantico, Virginia before sailing for the Pacific in April 1942. Attached to the 1st Marine Raider Battalion, Private Johnson participated in the invasion of Tulagi, Solomon Islands on 07 August 1942. During mop-up operations 2 days later, his squad came under rifle fire from a sniper's nest in a nearby cave. Private Johnson rushed to the mouth of the cave and continued to throw in grenades until he was killed, allowing his squad to advance. For his indomitable fighting spirit and outstanding bravery, Private Johnson was posthumously awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart.

    USS George A. Johnson (DE 583) (1944-1957) was the first ship to be named in his honor.

    (Photo Courtesy of  Chester County, Pennsylvania Hall of Heroes thanks to David G. Williams - Administrative Project Leader)
    Bill Gonyo
    Downey, Cal.

    Assoc. Researcher
    Navsource
    George A. Johnson
    0658306
    148k 12 January 1944: Hingham, Mass. - USS George A. Johnson enters the water for the first time.
    George A. Johnson
    0658302
    764k date/location unknown: A war time view of George A. Johnson underway.

    (U.S. Navy photos #CP-DE-583 80-G-245444 from the National Archives and Records Administration, College Park, Md.; courtesy of  Chris Wright)
    Ed Zajkowski
    Narvon, Pa.
    McNulty
    0658306
    71k 04 November 1944: Brooklyn, N.Y. - USS McNulty (DE 581) on the far side of a pier at New York, with USS George A. Johnson (DE 583) on the near side. Both are wearing Measure 33a/26d camouflage scheme.. Two other unidentified DEs are tied to this pier. Both Johnson and McNulty were assigned to Escort Division 67, which left for the Pacific the same day these photos were taken.

    (U.S. Navy photo #80-G-287712 from the National Archives and Records Administration, College Park, Md., courtesy of C. Lee Johnson, Ships of the U.S. Navy in WWII “Dazzle” Camouflage)
    Mike Green
    Port Angeles, Wash.
    George A. Johnson
    0658324
    144k 19 September 1945: Shanghai, China - This is a Signal Corps aerial of USS George A. Johnson in the Whangpoo River at Shanghai. Many naval vessels were arriving that week as TF70.1, for occupation and service duties. Initially she was moored with USS Waller (DD 466).

    (U.S. Navy photo #NA SC221171 from the Boston Public Library)
    John Chiquoine
    West Chester, Pa.
    George A. Johnson
    0658310
    294k Two wartime portraits of George A. Johnson that were given as a panorama view to crewmembers. The photos were in a frame on each side of the War Cruise Map shown below in the memorabilia section. They were probably taken soon after Johnson's return to San Diego on 5 November 1945.

    The top photo was done by Thompson Photo of Los Angeles, Cal.

    The bottom photo of this trio is Paul's Dad, QM1 Edward F. Kemper, the photo was supplied by Paul's Mom, Marie.
    Paul Kemper
    George A. Johnson
    0658311
    368k
    George A. Johnson
    0658312
    33k
    George A. Johnson
    0658320
    738k 22 August 1948: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada - USS George A. Johnson (DE 583) moored port side to on a port visit to Vancouver.
    (Photo #AM1506-S3-3-: CVA 447-4737.2 by Walter E. Frost from the City of Vancouver Archives)
    Mike Smolinski
    Clifton, N.J.

    Manager, Navsource
    DE / FF / LCS Archive
    George A. Johnson
    0658317
    411k 23 August 1948: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada - Two views of USS George A. Johnson (DE 583) outbound following a port visit to Vancouver.

    (Photo #AM1506-S3-3-: CVA 447-4737.1 and AM1506-S3-3-: CVA 447-4737 by Walter E. Frost from the City of Vancouver Archives)
    George A. Johnson
    0658318
    380k
    George A. Johnson
    0658316
    668k 18 June 1949: Vallejo, Cal.- USS George A. Johnson (DE 583) off Mare Island with 130 civilians aboard from the National Editorial Association. Darryl Baker
    PNCM, USNR (ret.)

    Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum
    George A. Johnson
    0658313
    405k August 1949: Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, Cal. - USS George A. Johnson (DE 583) in the Mare Island Channel. She is on the east side of the channel opposite from Mare Island.

    (U.S. Navy photo #DE-583-4208-8-49TH)
    George A. Johnson
    0658314
    658k August 1949: Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, Cal. - USS George A. Johnson (DE 583) in the Mare Island Channel. She is on the Mare Island side of the channel.

    (U.S. Navy photo #DE-583-4209-8-49TH)
    George A. Johnson
    0658304
    44k October 1952: Highlining with USS Thomas F. Nickel (DE 587) during a reserve cruise from San Diego to Pearl Harbor. Bob LeBaron
    George A. Johnson
    0658319
    704k 27 June 1955: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada - USS George A. Johnson (DE 583) stands off while preparing to moor for a port visit to Vancouver.

    (Photo #AM1506-S3-3-: CVA 447-4738 by Walter E. Frost from the City of Vancouver Archives)
    Mike Smolinski
    Clifton, N.J.

    Manager, Navsource
    DE / FF / LCS Archive
    George A. Johnson
    0658315
    482k 16 April 1956: Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, Cal. - USS George A. Johnson is berthed at Mare Island.

    (U.S. Navy photo #DE 29260-4-56)
    Darryl Baker
    PNCM, USNR (ret.)

    Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum
    George A. Johnson
    0658321
    412k undated: location unknown - Post-war photo of USS George A. Johnson (DE 583) at rest in an unknown port.

    (U.S. Navy Photo, Local ID #428-N-1043491, NAID ID #148728290 from the United States National Archives)
    Mike Smolinski
    Clifton, N.J.

    Manager, Navsource
    DE / FF / LCS Archive
    George A. Johnson
    0658325
    566k undated: location unknown - Post-war photo of USS George A. Johnson (DE 583) underway at speed.

    (U.S. Navy Photo, Local ID #428-N-1043492, NAID ID #148728292 from the United States National Archives)
    George A. Johnson
    0658305
    97k Beached after breaking tow enroute to San Diego, just prior to being broken up. -
    George A. Johnson
    0658307
    135k This is a picture I took in 1966 of the destroyer escort George A. Johnson. It had broken a tow line while under tow from San Francisco to San Diego having been sold for scrap. She washed up on the beach in Pacifica, Cal. just south of San Francisco. This was about a mile from my home at the time and this photo was taken the morning after it had beached. It was stuck hard as it came ashore on a high tide and had to be cut up and hauled away by truck. This was quite the attraction for several weeks. A couple of people managed to climb aboard and attempt to claim maritime salvage rights. They were quickly removed by the rightful owners. Richard Forgie
    George A. Johnson
    0658322
    129k October 1966: Pacifica, Cal. - These photos were taken by my dad, Ruben Gomez, on the beach in Pacifica (where my family lived at the time). In the top photo where the bow of the ship is visible, the people shown are my uncle Raul Del Muro, his wife Marta Del Muro, and their daughter Lisa Del Muro.



    In the lower photo of the side of the ship, there is my aunt Marta Del Muro, my uncle Raul Del Muro, and Tina Gomez (my mom, and sister of Raul Del Muro). Their daughter Lisa is sitting in front. Playing in the dirt in front is my cousin Mark Del Muro and my brother Robert Gomez.
    James Gomez
    George A. Johnson
    0658323
    182k
    George A. Johnson
    0658308
    37k A news photo showing people walking near the beached George A. Johnson, from the Turkish newspaper Miliyet, published on 16 November 1966. Cüneyt Demir
    George A. Johnson
    0658309
    221k 03 February 1967: Two clippings from the San Francisco Bay Naval Shipyard newspaper regarding the scrapping of George A. Johnson. San Francisco Bay Naval Shipyard consisted of Mare Island and Hunters Point Naval Shipyards. It was the Navy's attempt to cut the overhead, but didn't work. Darryl Baker
    PNCM, USNR (ret.)

    Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum

    Additional Memorabilia
    Ship's Wartime
    Cruise Map
    Geo. A. Johnson
    Courtesy of
    Paul Kemper

    George A. Johnson History
    View the USS George A. Johnson (DE 583) DANFS history entry located on the Naval History and Heritage Command web site.

    Crew Contact And Reunion Information

    Contact Name: Robert Hood, AMSC, USN(ret) (mid-'50's)
    Address: 11666 Co. Rd. 120 / Carthage MO 64836
    Phone: (417) 358-5182
    E-mail: dixiedus@ecarthage.com
    Note About Contacts

    Contact information is compiled from various sources over a period of time and may, or may not, be correct. Every effort has been
    made to list the newest contact. However, our entry is only as good as the latest information that's been sent to us. We list only
    a contact for the ship if one has been sent to us. We do NOT have crew lists, rosters, or deck logs available. Please see the
    Frequently Asked Questions section on NavSource's Main Page for that information.


    Additional Resources

    Tin Can Sailors
    The U.S. Navy Memorial
    Destroyer Escort Sailors Association
    The Destroyer Escort Historical Museum
    The Destroyer History Foundation
    To The DE, FF, LCS Photo Index Page
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    This Page Created And Maintained By Mike Smolinski
    All pages copyright Navsource Naval History
    by Paul R. Yarnall, All Rights Reserved.
    Page Last Updated: 28 February 2023