Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description		Contributed By And/Or Copyright
0676601	23k	Frank Olga Slater was born to James Lafayette and Beulah Lenora "Nora" (Morgan) Slater in Kennamer's Cove, Ala. on 19 December 1920. The family later moved to Fyffe, Ala. where his father worked as a sharecropper to support the family of ten children. Frank was a straight "A" student in elementary school, but due to the depression he never had the opportunity to go to high school. When the war started this American patriot saw his duty and enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve on 10 February 1942. Upon completion of basic training, Seaman Second Class Slater was transferred to the Receiving Station at Pearl Harbor, where he was subsequently assigned to USS San Francisco (CA 38) on 12 April 1942. On 12 November 1942, during the Naval Battle off Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands, Frank was killed when a Japanese torpedo bomber he had shot down crashed into his gun position aboard San Francisco. Instead of leaving his gun and trying to find somewhere safe, he remained at his position, firing until the plane crashed his gun mount. He was buried at sea. He is memorialized with a marker at Arlington National Cemetery. Seaman Slater was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for gallantry in action. USS Slater (DE 766) (1944-1947) was the first ship to be named in his honor. (Photo Courtesy of the USS Slater (DE 766) thanks to Tim Rizzuto, Executive Director)		Bill Gonyo Downey, Cal. Assoc. Researcher Navsource
0676613	72k	13 February 1944: Tampa Shipbuilding, Tampa, Fla. - From the Tampa Tribune newspaper, "When Mrs. James L. Slater, of Crossville, Ala., christens the USS Frank O. Slater this afternoon at the Tampa Shipbuilding company yard, the big destroyer escort will take with it the blessings of its sponsor, her husband and their six sons, three daughters, one son-in-law, two daughters-in-law and six grandchildren. Fourteen members of the family, plus three men - neighbors who drove them down in three different automobiles, will witness the launching of the ship, named after Mr. and Mrs. Slater's son, Seaman Frank O. Slater."		Tim Rizzuto Ship's Superintendent DE Historical Museum USS Slater at Albany, N.Y.
0676614	73k	13 February 1944: Tampa Shipbuilding, Tampa, Fla. - Mrs. James L. Slater christens the USS Slater.
0676615	96k	13 February 1944: Tampa Shipbuilding, Tampa, Fla. - USS Slater slides into the water for the first time.
0676616	72k	13 February 1944: Tampa Shipbuilding, Tampa, Fla. - The newly launched USS Slater.
109k        227k        205k        236k        77k       May - June 1944: A five photo series of Slater in her "as built" configuration. 0676622   -   0676623   -   0676624   -   0676625 -   0676626
0676649	307k	03 January 1945: the Atlantic Ocean - USS Slater, photographed from a blimp of Airship Patrol Squadron 11 (ZP-11) at Casco Bay, Maine for routine refresher training. She had been undergoing routine repairs and overhaul at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York from 23 December 1944 to 01 January 1945, and was preparing for her next convoy assignment, Boston to Cardiff, Wales on 10 January. (U.S. Navy photo #80-G-301386 from the National Archives and Records Administration, College Park, Md.; courtesy of  Rick E. Davis)		Rick E. Davis Springfield, Oh.
340k        464k        234k        557k        206k        243k       April 1945: A six photo series of Slater in her "mid-war" rig. These photos were taken  off the New York Navy Yard. In a couple of the photos you can see buildings in the mist. 0676627   -   0676628   -   0676629   -   0676630   -   0676631   -   0676637				Tim Rizzuto Ship's Superintendent DE Historical Museum USS Slater at Albany, N.Y.
340k        464k        234k        557k        206k        243k       April 1945: A six photo series of Slater at war's end. She is in her final configuration with added anti-aircraft weapons. 0676632   -   0676633   -   0676634   -   0676635   -   0676636   -   0676638
0676639	368k	undated wartime image: Slater crewmen enjoy "swim call" in the South Pacific. Note the sailor just beginning his dive off the starboard bridge wing.
0676602	51k	undated wartime image		Bob Hurst Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England, United Kingdom
0676603	44k	circa 1952: HS Aetos
0676617	64k	circa 1959: Valletta, Malta - HNS Aetos underway in Valletta Harbour. (Photo A. & J. Pavia, Malta; From "Jane's Fighting Ships, 1959-60")
0676604	107k	HNS Aetos (D-1), mid 1960's		Tony Vrailas
0676605	42k	circa 1968: HNS Aetos		Bob Hurst Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England, United Kingdom
0676610	76k	18 March 1995: New York City - USS Growler (SSG 577), USS Edson (DD 946), and Slater shot from the quay at the USS Intrepid Air-Sea-Space Center. Edson and Slater are no longer part of the exhibit.		Larry Backus
0676611	137k	18 March 1995: New York City - USS Growler (SSG 577), USS Edson (DD 946), and Slater shot from the river end of the pier at the USS Intrepid Air-Sea-Space Center.
0676606	27k	undated		-
0676607	54k	March 2002: Approaching Snow Dock		Tim Rizzuto Ship's Superintendent USS Slater
0676608	100k	March 2002: starboard side superstructure
0676609	117k	03 March 2003: Albany, N.Y. - moored on the Hudson River		Fred Weiss
0676612	173k	06 April 2008: Slater moving from her Snow Dock at Rensselaer, N.Y. to her summer mooring in Albany. (Photo courtesy of Richard Andrian)		Tim Rizzuto Ship's Superintendent DE Historical Museum USS Slater at Albany, N.Y.
272k        274k        490k        196k       16 April 2014: Staten Island, N.Y. - Slater arrives at and is drydocked at Caddell Dry Dock and Repair in Staten Island. The ship is usually opened to the public in Albany near the beginning of April. This season, after several years of fundraising, the ship has been taken to drydock for repairs to her hull. It’s been over 20 years since the ship has been in drydock, so this project is due. Drydocking is being funded by private individuals and foundations as no government funding is being used for this project. During the drydock period, Slater’s hull will be cleaned and a reinforcing band of steel will be welded around the ship at the waterline. Then, the entire hull will be primed and painted. The budget for the project is $1.2 million. The Museum has raised just over $1 million specifically for drydocking so far. 0676618   -   0676619   -   0676620   -   0676621
535k        213k        190k        238k        279k       Summer 2014: Staten Island, N.Y. - Slater in the process of having her hull scraped, cleaned, primed, and repainted. 1.) Slater in drydock with a coat of green primer. 2.) Receiving her second coat of black primer. 3.) Topcoat of pale gray being placed on Slater 4.) Launch day, camouflage coat completed. 5.) Stern view of Slater on launch day. 0676640   -   0676641   -   0676642   -   0676643 -   0676644
0676646	115k	01 July 2014: Albany, N.Y. - Slater returns to her berth in Albany following her yard period. (Photo by ussslater.dehm [real name unknown])		Bob Hurst Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England, United Kingdom
0676645	186k	unknown date 2015: Albany, N.Y. - Slater at her berth and looking good!		Tim Rizzuto Ship's Superintendent DE Historical Museum USS Slater at Albany, N.Y.
0676648	234k	early March 2017: Albany, N.Y. - Slater at her berth waiting for the ice to melt, time to prepare for the tour seasons.
0676647	186k	December 2017: Albany, N.Y. - A beautiful night shot of Slater at her berth awaiting Santa's arrival. (Photo by Kris Denkers Photography)

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

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The Destroyer Escort Historical Museum
USS Slater Facebook Page
Destroyer Escort Sailors Association
Tin Can Sailors
The U.S. Navy Memorial
The Destroyer History Foundation

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This Page Created And Maintained By Mike Smolinski by Paul R. Yarnall, All Rights Reserved. Page Last Updated: 26 June 2020