AMERICAN LEGION APA 17

Ship Name and Designation History

This section lists the names and designations that the ship had during its lifetime. The list is in chronological order.

Heywood Class Transport
Keel Laid October 11 1919
Launched 1921 as Passenger Liner BADGER STATE
Delivered to United States Shipping Board (USSB) July 15 1921
Renamed (Date unknown)
Sold to Muston Line December 18 1925 as AMERICAN LEGION
Operated between New York and South America
Laid up March 13 1939
Acquired by U.S. Army Transportation Corps February 1940


1. USAT AMERICAN LEGION
   Commissioned February 1940
   Acquired by U.S. Navy from War Department August 22 1941
   
   
2. USS AMERICAN LEGION AP 35
   Commissioned August 26 1941
   
   
3. USS AMERICAN LEGION APA 17
   Reclassified Attack Transport (APA) February 1 1943
   Decommissioned March 20 1946
   Returned to War Department March 20 1946
   
   Struck from Naval Register March 20 1946
   Sold February 5 1948 for scrap

 

Naval Covers

This section lists active links to the pages displaying covers associated with the ship. There should be a separate set of pages for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Covers should be presented in chronological order (or as best as can be determined).

Since a ship may have many covers, they may be split among many pages so it doesn't take forever for the pages to load. Each page link should be accompanied by a date range for covers on that page.

1. S.S. American Legion Covers Page 1     (1935-37)
   
2. USS American Legion Covers Page 1     (1941)

 

Postmarks

This section lists examples of the postmarks used by the ship. There should be a separate set of postmarks for each name and/or commissioning period. Within each set, the postmarks should be listed in order of their classification type. If more than one postmark has the same classification, then they should be further sorted by date of earliest known usage.

A postmark should not be included unless accompanied by a close-up image and/or an image of a cover showing that postmark. Date ranges MUST be based ONLY ON COVERS IN THE MUSEUM and are expected to change as more covers are added.
 
>>> If you have a better example for any of the postmarks, please feel free to replace the existing example.

 

Postmark Type --- Killer Bar Text	Postmark Date	Thumbnail Link To Postmark Image	Thumbnail Link To Cover Image

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S.S. AMERICAN LEGION Postmarks

 

N.Y.& BUENOS AIRES SEA POST

1935-08-31

As "S.S. AMERICAN LEGION"

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Post Office Established September 15 1941 - Disestablished March 16 1946

 

Locy Type FDPS 3 Oct 27, 1941 "NEW YORK / NY"

1941-10-27

As AP-35
First Day of Postal Service

 

Locy Type FDPS 9v

1941-10-27

As AP-35
First Day of Postal Service

 

Locy Type 3(A-BBT)

1941-12-04

As AP-35

 

Locy Type 9v

1941-11-05

As AP-35

 

Locy Type 9efw

1941-12-18

As AP-35. Add-on cachet by Bruce D. Liddell

 

Locy Type 9x

1941-12-18

As AP-35. Add-on cachet by Bruce D. Liddell

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U.S.S. AMERICAN LEGION Non-Postal Marking

 

Non-Postal Marking

1941-10-27

As AP-35. Compliments of the "NATCASHSO CREW" of the Naval Cover Collectors of America.

 

Other Information

AMERICAN LEGION earned two battle stars for her World War II service
* Guadalcanal-Tulagi landings
August 7-9 1942
* Treasury-Bougainville operation
Occupation and defense of Cape Torokina, November 1 and 13 1943

AMERICAN LEGION earned the Combat Action Ribbon, the American Defense Service Medal (with Fleet clasp), the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (w/ 2 Battle stars) and the World War II Victory Medal during her Naval career.

NAMESAKE - Named for the patriotic organization founded in Paris, France, in March 1919, comprised of veterans of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) and chartered by the United States Congress on September 16 1919.

 

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If you have images or information to add to this page, then either contact the Curator or edit this page yourself and add it. See Editing Ship Pages for detailed information on editing this page.

 

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