A tanker undergoing conversion to a troop ship in New Orleans on 18 June 1943

Gift In Memory Richard V. Powell, Jr.
Description: 

A tanker undergoing conversion to a troop ship. Official caption: "Dismantled Lake Steamer Octorara at Pauline Street Wharf, New Orleans Port of Embarkation, 18 June 1943 previous to going to Todd-Johnson Drydock, New Orleans, to be converted to troop ship. This old 'Laker' was constructed in 1910 by the Great Lakes Navigation Company, Buffalo, N.Y. She was taken over by the War Army for conversion to be performed by the New York Port of Embarkation. After being stripped of superstructure and machinery in Bufallo, N.Y., she was floated down the inland waterways to New Orleans where she arrived in May 1943. She went into Todd-Johnson Drydock 23 June 1943. Technical supervision of the conversion remained with the New York Port of Embarkation although the job order under which she was converted was issued by the New Orleans Port of Embarkation. Official U.S. Army Photograph. New Orleans Port of Embarkation. Publication Prohibited Unless Authorized. When published credit line must read: 'Photograph by U.S. Army.'" New Orleans, Louisiana.

Image Information

Donor: 
Mr. David Powell
Accession Number: 
2014.346.112
Date: 
06/18/1943
Location: 
Hometown: 
Branch: 
Theater of Service: 
Unit: 
USS Octorara (IX-139)
Campaign / Event: 
POW / KIA: 
Topical Subjects: 
Tankers--American--Louisiana
Collection Level: 
Richard Vernon Powell Jr. was born 14 July 1920 in Beebe, Arkansas and served in the United States Army duing World War II. Powell had been attending Harvard Business School when he registered for service. He would later serve as a captain in the U.S. Army at the New Orleans Port of Embarkation (NOPE). Powell passed away on 17 August 1999 in Norman, Oklahoma. The collection consists of 200 black and white photographs, most created by the U.S. Army Signal Corps, that Powell collected during his service in Louisiana, Alabama, and Texas. Subjects include: The New Orleans Port of Embarkation (NOPE), the Army Service Forces Unit Training Center (ASFUTC), Services of Supply Unit Training Center (Camp Plauche/Camp Harahan), British Lend-Lease, Jackson Barracks, mosquito control, 814th Signal Port Company, 493rd Port Battalion, Sanitary Corps, Army Nurse Corps, 720th Railway Operating Battalion Transportation Corps Officer Candidate School, and the 400th and 393rd Stevedore Battalion.
Geography: 
New Orleans
Latitude: 
29.950
Longitude: 
-90.067
Thesaurus for Graphic Materials: 
Tankers--American--Louisiana