KENNETH WHITING AV 14
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.
- Kenneth Whiting Class Seaplane Tender
- USS KENNETH WHITING AV-14
Commissioned May 8 1944 - Decommissioned May 29 1947
Recommissioned October 24 1951 - Decommissioned September 30 1958
Stuck from Naval Register July 1 1961
Sold February 21 1962 to Union Minerals and Alloys Corp for scrap
Keel Laid June 19 1943 as Maritime Commission type (C3) hull
Launched December 15 1943
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.
- Covers Page 1 (1944-52)
Postmarks
This section lists examples of the postmarks used by the ship. There should be a separate set of postmarks for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). 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.
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Postmark Type |
Date From to Date To |
Thumbnail Link To Postmark Image |
Thumbnail Link To Cover Image |
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1st Commissioning May 8 1944 to May 29 1947
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Locy Type |
1946-11-21 |
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Note:
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Locy Type |
1946-04-18 |
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Note:
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Locy Type |
1945-05-18 |
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Mark from back of USS GAYETY AM-239 cover
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Locy Type P |
1946-07-01 |
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Note:
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Locy Type P |
1946-07-01 |
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Atomic Bomb Test cover by Walter G. Crosby. The postmark did not originate from the ship.
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Locy Type P |
1946-07-01 |
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Atomic Bomb Test cover by Walter G. Crosby. Insert from the cover.
2nd Commissioning October 24 1951 to September 30 1958
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Locy Type |
1952-09-26 |
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Note:
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Locy Type |
1952-09-26 |
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Note:
Other Information
KENNETH WHITING earned 2 Battle Stars for WWII service
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons...
China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (2) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal - Korean Service Medal - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)
Personnel Awards...
Purple Heart (5 on June 21 1945 at Okinawa)
NAMESAKE - Kenneth Whiting USN (July 22 1881 - April 24 1943)
Whiting was appointed Naval Cadet September 7 1900. He was commissioned Ensign February 25 1908 after attending the Naval Academy and serving the required sea duty. Whiting then became qualified in submarines, subsequently commanding USS PORPOISE, USS SHARK, USS TARPON, and USS SEAL. In 1914 his interest turned to aviation. After learning to fly under Orville Wright, he was designated Naval Aviator 16. As a true pioneer of naval aviation, he assumed command of the 1st Naval Air Unit in France following America's entry into World War I. Lt. Comdr. Whiting was then assigned to command Naval Air Stations 14 and 15 at Killingholme, England. For this service he was awarded the Navy Cross "for exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility." After the war his interest in and support of aviation was partially responsible for the conversion of Collier USS JUPITER AC-3 into the Navy's first aircraft carrier USS LANGLEY CV-1. He continued active participation in naval aviation, commanding LANGLEY and USS SARATOGA CV-3, and various air squadrons prior to his retirement as Captain June 30 1940. He was then retained on active duty as General Inspector of Naval Aircraft, Eastern Division until 1943. Captain Whiting was assigned command of the Naval Air Station, New York, February 19; and held this post until his death April 24 1943
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