USS Fletcher Ship Photos
Graphic created by & courtesy of Chester Hotalen.

1942 - 1949

Launching on May 3, 1942 in Kearny, New Jersey at the Federal Shipbuilding yard.  Fletcher has just begun to slide down the ways.  Beside her is USS Radford DD-446 which was launched later that same day.  National Archives
Launching May 3, 1942

May 3, 1942.  Fletcher is launched.
May 3, 1942

July 18, 1942. National Archives
July 18, 1942

The day before commissioning. National Archives
June 29, 1942

The day before commissioning
June 29, 1942

National Archives May 3, 1942

National Archives
July 15, 1942

National Archives
July 15, 1942

National Archives
July 15, 1942

National Archives.  View aft from the 01 level.  The cruiser in the background is the HMS Glasgow.
July 15, 1942

National Archives
July 15, 1942

National Archives
July 15, 1942

USS Radford and  USS Jenkins following CDD42 in Fletcher.  Photo courtesy of William Richardson. CDD42 following

National Archives
After Steering 1942

The hole created by a hit from a Japanese shore battery on Corregidor on February 14, 1945.  The shell exploded below decks killing 8 and wounding several men.  Photo courtesy of Jack Mills.
Shell hole in fo’c’sle
February 14, 1945

Photo courtesy of William Richardson
Starboard turn

Survivors from the USS De Haven DD-469 approaching Fletcher in an LCT after being rescued after Japanese planes sunk their ship. National Archives
Feb. 1, 1943
DD-469 survivors

Survivors from the USS De Haven DD-469 are transferred to Fletcher from an LCT. National Archives
Feb. 1, 1943
DD-469 survivors

National Archives August 19, 1943

Departing Mare Island after overhaul. National Archives
August 19, 1943

Photo courtesy of William Richardson Depth charge

Score card painted on the forward gun director in December 1944.  Photo courtesy of William Richardson.
Score Card

Circa 1944.  A censor has brushed out the radars. Photo courtesy of Marlon Piper
Profile 1944

Entering Subic Bay, Philippines in 1945.  Photo courtesy of William 'Skip' Richardson.
At sea

National Archives
Aft Control 1942

Composite WWII image by Charlie Walker
WWII composite

Official U.S. Navy photo.  With USS Nicholas DD-449 in 1944
1944

A view from the mast of USS Jenkins DD-447 in 1944 or 1945.  Fletcher is on the left and Radford is on the right.  Photo courtesy of William Richardson
DD-445, 447, 446

Mare Island, August 13, 1943. National Archives
August 13, 1943

National Archives
Bridge 1942

Four days before commissioning. National Archives
June 26, 1942

Main engine control.  National Archives
Main Control 1942

Official U.S.Navy Photo.  At anchor, Purvis Bay, Florida Island, Solomon Islands, March 26, 1943. March 26, 1943

Gunnery practice before entering Espiritu Santo.  USS Strong DD-467 and USS O'Bannon DD-450 are following.  National Archives
April 10, 1943

Leaving Sydney, Australia after a 10 day rest May 4, 1943

April 13, 1943 Aft 40mm 1943

Official U.S. Navy photo, July 18, 1942
July 18, 1942

Official U.S. Navy photo, July 18, 1942
July 18, 1942

June 29, 1942, the day before Fletcher was commissioned
June 29, 1942

Official U.S. Navy photo, WWII
1944

Photo courtesy of William Richardson Friendly aircraft

August 1943 at Mare island. National Archives
Mare Island 1943

The switchboard in the after engine room.  Photo  courtesy of Linda Ayotte-Messner
Switchboard

circa November 1945 in San Diego, looking the worse for wear.  Photo couresty of Linda Ayotte-Messner 1945

Late 1945, photo courtesy of Linda Ayotte-Messner
Amidships 1945

Anchored near San Diego, late 1945 or early  1946
1946

April 13, 1943, Admiral Ainsworth presents to CTF18 a cribbage board made from deck wood from a Japanese submarine sunk by Fletcher on February 11,. 1943. National Archives
April 13, 1943

Fletcher's 1942 commissioning pennant which was donated by Admiral Bill Cole's son.  Photo taken at the War College in Rhode Island in late November 2009.  L-R: Chairman of the War College’s Maritime History Department Dr. John Hattendorf, author and historian David McComb and curator John Pentangelo.  Photo courtesy of David McComb.
Commissioning pennant



1950 - 1959

Official U.S. Navy photo, leaving San Diego, 1950
San Diego 1950

Official U.S. Navy photo, early 1950s in Pearl Harbor
Early 1950s

Official U.S. Navy photo
1951

Refueling at Midway enroute to Korea.  Photo courtesy of Ed Patapas
Midway Island 1952

Official U.S. Navy photo, refueling in Korean waters from the USS Bremerton CA-130 , May 30, 1953. Photo donated by Navy photographer Marvin R Miller.
Near Korea 1954

Official U.S. Navy photo, refueling in Korean waters from the USS Bremerton CA-130 , May 30, 1953. Photo donated by Navy photographer Marvin R Miller.
Rough refueling 1954

Drydock in Sasebo, Japan with port screw damaged after running aground near Yang Po, Korea on May 31, 1952.  Photo courtesy of Bob McCurley
Screw damage 1952

Drydock in Sasebo, Japan with port screw damaged after running aground near Yang Po, Korea on May 31, 1952.  Photo courtesy of Bob McCurley
Rudder damage 1952

Drydock in Sasebo, Japan with port screw damaged after running aground near Yang Po, Korea on May 31, 1952.  Photo courtesy of Bob McCurley
Drydock 1952

Drydock in Sasebo, Japan with port screw damaged after running aground near Yang Po, Korea on May 31, 1952.  Photo courtesy of Bob McCurley
Drydock 1952

Drydock in Sasebo, Japan with port screw damaged after running aground near Yang Po, Korea on May 31, 1952.  Photo courtesy of Bob McCurley
Drydock 1952

Drydock in Sasebo, Japan with port screw damaged after running aground near Yang Po, Korea on May 31, 1952.  Photo courtesy of Bob McCurley.
Drydock 1952

Drydock in Sasebo, Japan with starboard screw damaged after running aground near Yang Po, Korea on May 31, 1952.  Photo courtesy of Gil Teclaw., photo by Al Nathe.
Screw damage 1952

Drydock in Sasebo, Japan with port screw damaged after running aground near Yang Po, Korea on May 31, 1952.  Photo courtesy of Gil Teclaw., photo by Al Nathe.
Screw damage 1952

Drydock in Sasebo, Japan with rudder damaged after running aground near Yang Po, Korea on May 31, 1952.  Photo courtesy of Gil Teclaw, photo by Al Nathe.
Rudder damage 1952

Official U.S. Navy photo, 1955
Hawaii 1955

Photo courtesy of Joe Davis.
Near Japan 1957

Official U.S. Navy photo, 1957
Pearl Harbor 1957

Photo courtesy of Bob McCurley
Okinawa 1952

With USS O'Bannon DDE-450, November 26, 1953.
Midway 1953

Photo courtesy of Joe Davis.
Pearl Harbor 1955

Official U.S. Navy photo, 1957
Sydney Australia 1957

Official U.S. Navy photo, Sydney Australia, May 1958 Sydney Australia 1958

Official U.S. Navy photo, circa 1958.  This photo was used often in official ship's literature.  It was originally identified as being from about 1965 however it has now been verfied that it was taken in 1958 or earlier.
circa 1958

Photo courtesy of Donald J. Wagner
Pearl Harbor 1957

With USS Finch DER-328 near Hawaii.  Photo courtesy of Everett Roush, USN ENC  Retired Late 1950s

With USS Finch DER-328 near Hawaii.  Photo courtesy of Everett Roush, USN ENC  Retired Late 1950s

With USS Finch DER-328 near Hawaii.  Photo courtesy of Everett Roush, USN ENC  Retired Late 1950s

With USS Finch DER-328 near Hawaii.  Photo courtesy of Everett Roush, USN ENC  Retired Late 1950s

With USS Finch DER-328 near Hawaii.  Photo courtesy of Everett Roush, USN ENC  Retired Late 1950s

November 27, 1953.  Photo couresy of Al Nathe
34 knots in 1953

As seen from the fantail of USS Inflict, MSO-456, in Pearl Harbor in January 1958.  Photo courtesy of Norm LeClaire
1958

Photo courtesy of Bob McCurley
1952

 

 

 



1960 - 1969

Photo courtesy of Ken Landry USS Sproston
Early 1960s

Official U.S. Navy photo, 1963
1963

Official U.S. Navy photo, 1961
1961

UNREP on the 1961 WestPac cruise.  Photo courtesy of Sam Rigsby
UNREP WestPac 1961

Photo courtesy of Sam Rigsby
Helo transfer 1961

March 1966 in Sydney, Australia.  Photo courtesy of Steven Morgan
Sydney, 1966

Plane guard at
27 knots

Chasing the carrier

Courtesy of David Lesher Hong Kong 1967

South China Sea 1969

Official U.S. Navy photo, Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor 1964

Pullling away from USS Sacramento AOE-1 near Vietnam after refueling, April 1, 1968.  Photo courtesy of Reinhard Lindner
April 1968

Wait to UNREP 1968

Bone in her teeth 1968

Official U.S. Navy photo, July 30, 1969
San Diego 1969

Ship’s wake 1967

UNREP 1968

That lovely taste!
Stack Gas 1967

Hilo Hawaii 1967

Hilo Hawaii 1967

Hilo Hawaii 1967

Heavy Seas

Incoming mail 1968

Vietnam 1967

Rough Seas 1968

Rough Seas 1968

Rough Seas 1968

Rough Seas 1968

Rough Seas 1968

Rough Seas 1968

Official U.S.Navy photo.  October 20, 1966 near Oahu, Hawaii
Hawaii 1966

Moored Next to USS DeHaven DD-727
Hong Kong 1968

Approaching USS Bennington CVS-20 for UNREP, March 10, 1967.
Vietnam 1967

Approaching USS Bennington CVS-20 for UNREP, March 10, 1967.
Vietnam 1967

Sasebo Japan 1967

Sasebo Japan 1967

Wake at 33 knots

As seen from USS Constellation
Vietnam 1969

Photo courtesy of Charley Snyder
Kobe Japan 1969

Torpedo shot 1969

Photo courtesy of Steven Morgan
1965

Circa 1965.  Photo courtesy of Steven Morgan
Bosun’s chair

Official U.S. Navy photo, 1967
1967

Official U.S. Navy photo, 1967
1967

Official U.S. Navy photo, 1967
1967

February 1968 near Midway Island
Wet 01 level

Moored beside USS DeHaven DD-727.
Hong Kong 1968

Rainbow

Official US Navy photo
1964

Photo courtesy of Peter Lee
Rough Seas 1968

Alongside USS Sacramento AOE-1 near Vietnam, April 1, 1968.  Photo courtesy of Reinhard Lindner
April 1968

In the background, USS Bennington, CVS-20.  Photo courtesy of David Lesher.
Ship’s wake

Official U.S. Navy photo, July 30, 1969
San Diego before decommissioning 1969

This excellent photo with Honolulu and Diamond Head in the background was taken in August 1965 from the fleet tug USS Moctobi ATF-105 by Gordon Masse, ETR2. Photo courtesy of Gordon Masse.
Honolulu 1965

Ice in the Sea of Japan, December 1965.  Photo courtesy of Steven Morgan.
December 1965

A rare visit to San Francisco.  The outboard destroyer is USS Epperson DD-719..  Photo courtesy of Chief Robert Sinclair San Francisco
December 1967

Ice storm in the Sea of Japan. Photo courtesy of Chief Robert Sinclair.
December 1965

Ice storm in the Sea of Japan. Photo courtesy of Chief Robert Sinclair.
December 1965

Ice storm in the Sea of Japan. Photo courtesy of Chief Robert Sinclair.
December 1965

Ice storm in the Sea of Japan. Photo courtesy of Chief Robert Sinclair.
December 1965

Photo courtesy of Peter Lee
Rough Seas 1968

Ice in the Sea of Japan, December 1965.  Photo courtesy of Steven Morgan.
December 1965

Ice in the Sea of Japan, December 1965.  Photo courtesy of Steven Morgan.
December 1965

Ice in the Sea of Japan, December 1965.  Photo courtesy of Steven Morgan.
December 1965

Pearl Harbor, returning from WestPac, March 17, 1966. Photo courtesy of Steven Morgan.
1966

May 15,1963 with USS Kearsarge CVS-33 enroute to Midway Island area as part of Mercury 9. recovery force.  Fletcher was closest to the capsute at spalshdown however Kearsarge was the prime recovery vessel and made the recovery.  Photo by NASA.
May 1963

Photo copyright by Richard Leonhardt
Pearl Harbor 1968

Official U.S. Navy photo, 1968
Vietnam 1968

Hong Kong 1969

1969 the last year

Photo courtesy of Ken Landry USS Sproston
Early 1960s

 

UNREP from USS Camden AOE-2 in 1969.  Photo courtesy of Don Ragsdale of USS Richard B. Anderson DD-786.
Unrep from USS Camden 1969

Photo copyright Tom Peltin
With USS Nicholas Hawaii 1967

Fletcher berthed at Bravo piers shortly after returning to Pearl Harbor after her final WestPac in May 1969.  Partially visible is the USS Ernest G. Small DD-838.  Photo courtesy Charles Barnsley Pearl Harbor 1969

Composite image created and donated by Charles (Chuck) Walker STGCS(SW) USN ret. (1971 - 1992)
DD-445 & DD-992

Composite image created and donated by Charles (Chuck) Walker STGCS(SW) USN ret. (1971 - 1992)
DD-445 & DD-992

 



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