Historical Photographs

Seaman Training During World War II

Photographs by John Vachon. Date Created/Published: 1942 July. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. Farm Security Administration – Office of War Information Photograph Collection (Library of Congress).

Hoffman Island, merchant marine training center off Staten Island, New York. Trainees cleaning out boilers aboard the training ship New York.

Hoffman Island, merchant marine training center off Staten Island, New York. Instructor with group of trainees in the engine room of the training ship New York.

Hoffman Island, merchant marine training center off Staten Island, New York. Trainees for steward’s rating learning how to bake.

Hoffman Island, merchant marine training center off Staten Island, New York. Dry land boat drill.

Hoffman Island, merchant marine training center off Staten Island. Trainees painting the schooner Vema.

Hoffman Island, merchant marine training center off Staten Island, New York. General muster of trainees at 8:45 a.m.

J.W.A. Early NDRF Photo Assemblage

Photos assembled by XXX W. XXXXX, a Maritime Administration employee, in the early 1970s for a historical survey of the National Defense Reserve Fleet. The photos are uncredited, but were credited by Mr. XXXXX to be the work of the U.S. Navy (aerial photos) or the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or Maritime Administration (ground photos). The physically-inserted photos captions are from Mr. XXXXX.

Astoria Reserve Fleet

An aerial view of the NDRF Anchorage near Astoria, Oregon. Date unknown.

A repurposed barracks barge, used as a shop and storeroom a the Astoria NDRF Anchorage

An aerial view of the NDRF Anchorage near Astoria Oregon in 1950.

Shore-side buildings at the NDRF anchorage near Astoria, Oregon. Date unknown.

An aerial view of the headquarters buildings and pier of the NDRF Astoria Anchorage.

An aerial view of the headquarters and pier area of the Astoria NDRF Anchorage.

Beaumont Reserve Fleet

An aerial view of the Beaumont Reserve Fleet, with Neches River on the right. Date unknown.

An aerial view of the Beaumont Reserve Fleet headquarters buildings in 1948

The Beaumont Reserve Fleet waterfront, with shops. Date unknown.

An aerial view of the Beaumont Reserve Fleet, with the Neches River channel in the background. Date unknown.

The Beaumont Reserve Fleet’s waterfront area, including a view of FS-52, a crane-equipped workboat, in 1953.

Beaumont Reserve Fleet headquarters area. Date unknown.

Hudson River Reserve Fleet

Aerial view of the Hudson River Reserve Fleet. Date unknown.

An aerial view of the Hudson River Reserve Fleet, 1956.

An aerial view of the Hudson River Reserve Fleet, 1959.

Snow on the deck of a ship in the Hudson River Reserve Fleet.

U.S. Navy berthing barge used as fleet offices. Date unknown.

Hudson River Reserve Fleet parking area, 1964.

Hudson River Reserve Fleet shore facilities, 1967.

Hudson River Reserve Fleet office ship. Date unknown.

Hudson River Reserve Fleet office barge during the winter. Date unknown.

Final two ships towed out of the Hudson River Reserve Fleet, 1971.

James River Reserve Fleet

Personnel boat at James River Reserve Fleet. Date unknown.

Aerial view of the James River Reserve Fleet, 1953.

Aerial view of James River Reserve Fleet after Hurricane Hazel, 1954.

James River Reserve Fleet headquarters buildings. Date unknown.

A view of the James River Reserve Fleet headquarters area from offshore. Date unknown.

An aerial view of the James River Reserve Fleet, 1968.

Mobile Reserve Fleet

Aerial view of the Mobile Reserve Fleet anchorage, 1964.

Fenders in front of L&N Railroad bridge at Mobile Reserve Fleet, 1951.

Aerial view of the Mobile Reserve Fleet, 1964.

Mobile Reserve Fleet headquarters buildings, 1967.

Mobile Reserve Fleet waterfront area, 1950.

Waterfront at Mobile Reserve Fleet, 1950.

Olympia Reserve Fleet

Aerial view of the Olympia Reserve Fleet, 1957.

Headquarters and waterfront area of the Olympia Reserve Fleet. Date unknown.

Olympia Reserve Fleet anchorage plotting board. Date unknown.

Original Olympia Reserve Fleet headquarters building. Date unknown.

Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet

Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet Self-propelled work barge. Date unknown.

Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet office ship Ogala. Date unknown.

Aerial View of Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet, 1950.

Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet barrier boom; constructed to protect the railroad bridge to the left. Date unknown.

Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet’s office barge in the early 1960s.

Wilmington Reserve Fleet

Brunswick River Ship Sanctuary – predecessor of the Wilmington Reserve Fleet, 1946.

Aerial view of the Wilmington, North Carolina anchorage, 1951.

Aerial view of the Wilmington Reserve Fleet. Eagle island is in the center of the photo; the idle North Carolina Shipbuilding yard is to the right. Date unknown.