On July 15, 1943, the USS Sunset (CVE 48) slid down the ways at the Tacoma yard of the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp., the 43rd ship to be launched at the Tacoma yard. Although launched, the escort carrier was never commissioned in the US Navy. Instead, it was transferred on lend-lease to the British Royal Navy in November of 1943, where it was commissioned as the HMS Thane. The vessel operated as a ferry and convoy transport escort in the North Atlantic until it was torpedoed by a German U-boat January 15, 1945. The ship survived but was deemed unrepairable and was scrapped in 1946. (Sea-Tac Keel, Vol. II, No. II, pg. 6, July 24, 1943 issue; wikipedia.org) TPL-9655

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On July 15, 1943, a variety of hard-hatted workers, men in business suits and uniformed military men watched the USS Sunset slide down the ways at the Tacoma yard of the Seattle-Tacoma Shipyard. The vessel would later be transferred to the Royal Navy who would rename her the HMS Thane. (Sea-Tac Keel, Vol. II, No. II, pg. 6, July 24, 1943 issue; wikipedia.org)

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Mrs. C.E. Taylor, sponsor for the July 15, 1943 launching of the USS Sunset, poses with a group of unidentified women and military men at the Tacoma yard of the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. Mrs. Taylor holds the traditional spray of roses and has one arm resting on the shoulder of her young daughter, who is attired in a replica of an overseas campaign hat. The women are probably the wives of the military officers and shipyard officials. Commander C.E. Taylor is standing second from left. (TNT 7/16/1943, pg. 7- names of sponsor's party in article)

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Mrs. C.E. Taylor smiles up at O.A. Tucker, general manager of the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp., while standing arm in arm with her husband Commander C.E. Taylor. Mrs. Taylor holds a spray of roses while Commander Taylor holds a beribboned bottle of champagne. Mrs. Taylor will be using the champagne to christen the escort carrier USS Sunset prior to her July 15, 1943 launching. The Sunset is the 43th ship to be christened at the Tacoma yard. (TNT 7/16/1943, pg. 7)

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

With a determined look on her face, Mrs. C.E. Taylor takes a firm grip on the champagne bottle and breaks it against the new escort carrier, christening her the USS Sunset. The ship was launched July 15, 1943 at the Tacoma yard of the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. The vessel did not retain her original moniker however, as she was transferred in November of 1943 to the Royal Navy and commissioned as HMS Thane. The ship operated in the North Atlantic until she was torpedoed by a German U-boat in January of 1945. She was dismantled for scrap in 1946. (Sea-Tac Keel, Vol. II, No. II, pg. 6, July 24, 1943 issue; wikipedia.org)

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Taylor, C.E.--Family;

Workers at the Seattle-Tacoma shipyards came from all walks of life and at least two of them had "checkered" careers. Kenneth (Mighty Mite) Grover, seated left, and Jesse (Bonaparte) Hanson, seated right, would be playing one another Lincoln's birthday, February 12, 1944, for the Pacific Coast Checker Championship. Kenneth Grover, employed at Sea-Tac as an electrician, was a U.S. crossboard checker champion, who played as high as 60 opponents at one time or six blindfolded. A published authority on checkers, he was the runner-up in the previous year's US checker championship. Jesse Hanson, who was a graveyard worker in the labor section at Sea-Tac, was the current Pacific Coast champion and had played in Europe, Mexico, Guatemala and every state in the Union. The three observers are not identified. (Sea-Tac Keel, Vol. III, No. 2, pg. 7; January 19, 1944 issue)

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Grover, Kenneth; Hanson, Jesse; Checkers;

Lt. Richard Wood, youngest son of Lord Halifax, British Ambassador to the United States, and others aboard escort carrier under construction at Sea-Tac Shipyards. Soldier to the far right is Sgt. Hall, orderly to Lt. Wood, and also a veteran of the North African campaign. Lt. Wood lost both legs at the battle of El Alamein in Egypt, where his older brother was killed. An unexploded bomb from Stuka dive bombers destroyed his legs; however, Lt. Wood (later Baron Holderness of Bishop Wilton) took pleasure in pointing out his survival was due to the mis-assembly of the bomb by anti-Nazi Czech munition workers. He later wrote a biography of his mother and spent 29 years as Tory Member of Parliament for Bridlington. Richard Frederick Wood, politician, businessman and disablement activist, died on August 11, 2002, at the age of 81. (The Guardian, 8-17-02). ALBUM 3.

Visits of state--Tacoma; Halifax, Edward Frederick Lindley Wood, 1st earl of; Wood, Richard Frederick; Nobility--England; Signs (Notices); Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

Dorothy, Lady Halifax, wife of the British Ambassador to the United States, receives a corsage from women workers at Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation. Joan Evangelist, shipfitter's helper originally from Michigan, had the honor of pinning the large orchid corsage on Lady Halifax. Standing by Joan Evangelist are Ann Tryggestad, burner's helper, and Alma Sayers, welder trainee. The woman in black in the background is believed to be Mrs. Harold Swan, wife of the British consul in Seattle. She was to receive a gardenia corsage pinned on her by Betty Jensen, pipefitter. Lord and Lady Halifax, along with their son and their entourage, visited the shipyard to inspect escort aircraft carriers under wartime construction. (TNT 7-22-43, p. 2, TNT 7-23-43, p. 1) ALBUM 3.

Visits of state--Tacoma; Halifax, Edward Frederick Lindley Wood, 1st earl of--Family; Nobility--England; Evangelist, Joan; Tryggestad, Ann; Sayers, Alma; Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

Lord Halifax, British ambassador to the United States, appears engrossed in conversation with naval and Seattle-Tacoma shipyard officials during a tour of escort aircraft carriers currently under construction. The ambassador, his wife and son, and entourage were escorted to the shipyard by TPD motorcycle officers in vehicles driven by Tacoma police. After a one-hour tour of the facility, the ambassadorial party journeyed on to the College of Puget Sound where Lord Halifax received a honorary Doctorate of Laws degree. After luncheon on the campus and a visit to the British American War Relief Center, Lord Halifax received a police escort to the Boeing aircraft plant where he was able to view the construction of the Boeing Flying Fortresses. (TNT 7-23-43, p. 1) ALBUM 3.

Visits of state--Tacoma; Halifax, Edward Frederick Lindley Wood, 1st earl of; Nobility--England; Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

Dorothy, Lady Halifax, wearing an enormous orchid corsage, is photographed speaking to U.S. Naval officers on July 22, 1943. Lord and Lady Halifax were taking an extensive tour of the Seattle-Tacoma shipyards to view escort aircraft carriers under construction. Lord Halifax was the British ambassador to the United States. His main purpose on the short one-day visit to Tacoma was to accept an honorary Doctorate of Laws degree from the College of Puget Sound; however, he also wanted to tour the shipyards. Lady Halifax was the former Dorothy Evelyn Augusta Onslow before she married Edward Frederick Lindley Wood, 3rd Viscount Halifax, and later Earl of Halifax. (TNT 7-22-43, p. 1) ALBUM 3.

Halifax, Dorothy Evelyn Augusta Onslow Wood; Nobility--England; Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

British ambassador to the United States, Lord Halifax, strides alongside U.S. Naval officers onto the Seattle-Tacoma Shipyards on July 22, 1943. The Governor-General of Canada and its Commander-in-Chief, the Earl of Athlone, had previously paid a visit to the shipyards only two months before the ambassador's tour. ALBUM 3

Visits of state--Tacoma; Halifax, Edward Frederick Lindley Wood, 1st earl of; Nobility--England; Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

Lord Halifax, British Ambassador to the United States and Lady Halifax are greeted by U.S. Naval Officers and others at Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation. Accompanying the couple was Lt. Richard Wood, their son, seated in his wheelchair near the automobile. Lt. Wood, later Baron Holderness of Bishop Wilton, had earlier lost both legs in North African desert fighting. Lord Halifax's main purpose in visiting Tacoma was to accept an honorary Doctorate of Laws degree from the College of Puget Sound but he also chose to tour the Seattle-Tacoma Shipyards to see escort carriers being built. ALBUM 3.

Visits of state--Tacoma; Halifax, Edward Frederick Lindley Wood, 1st earl of; Wood, Richard Frederick; Nobility--England; Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

Lt. Richard Wood, third and youngest son of Lord Halifax, British Ambassador to the United States, and others in open automobile at Sea-Tac Shipyards. Lord and Lady Halifax, their son, and entourage had paid a visit to the shipyards to inspect escort aircraft carriers in stages of construction. Lt. Wood is seated in the passenger's front; soldier in rear is a Sgt. Hall, his orderly and fellow North African campaign veteran. Lt. Wood was able to tour the shipyards seated in an aluminum-like wheelchair. Both of his legs were amputated above the knee due to war injuries. Later, after adjusting to artificial legs, he returned to the United States to encourage other wounded servicemen. Remaining an advocate for the disabled war-wounded, he spent 29 years as a Member of Parliament, Tory party, before retiring in 1979 and assuming the title of Baron Holderness of Bishop Wilton. (The Guardian, 8-17-02) ALBUM 3.

Wood, Richard Frederick; Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

Lt. Richard Wood accompanied his parents, Lord and Lady Halifax, when they visited the Seattle-Tacoma Shipyards on July 22, 1943 during their visit to Tacoma. Lord Halifax (at left) was the British Ambassador to the United States. Lt. Wood, shaking the hand of 19 year old Al Sturtevant, lost both his legs at the Battle of El Alamein in Egypt, where his older brother was killed. He had enlisted as a private in the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry before enrolling in Sandhurst and being commissioned in the King's Royal Rifle Corp. After loosing his legs, he toured the United States to counsel and encourage other wounded veterans. He went on to serve 29 years in the House of Commons, and was named Baron Holderness of Bishop Wilton in 1979. Always a champion of the war-disabled, he died August 11, 2002 at the age of 81. Shipyard employee Al Sturtevant had also been wounded in the North Africa campaign. He had a medical discharge due to a hip injury received in action. (The Guardian, 8-17-02; Sea-Tac Keel, Vol. II, No. III, August 7, 1943 issue). ALBUM 3.

Visits of state--Tacoma; Halifax, Edward Frederick Lindley Wood, 1st earl of; Halifax, Edward Frederick Lindley Wood, 1st earl of--Family; Wood, Richard Frederick; Nobility--England; Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Sturtevant, Al;

Delegation looking at model of Sea-Tac Shipyards during visit of Lord Halifax, British Ambassador to the United States. Lord and Lady Halifax spent an hour touring the big steel shipyard on July 22, 1943. The Seattle-Tacoma Shipyards were builders of aircraft carriers for use in the war. O.A. Tucker, general manager of the shipyards, is standing next to Lady Halifax who is wearing a dark jacket over a flowered skirt. Lord Halifax is standing slightly behind her, next to a man believed to be Earle Bennett, training director, who is showing the shipyard's model buildings and vessels. This was the second visit from British royalty in two months; in May the Earl of Athlone, Governor-General of Canada, and his wife, HRH Princess Alice, toured the facility and inspected aircraft carriers under construction. (TNT 7-22-43, p. 1) TPL-1959 ALBUM 3.

Visits of state--Tacoma; Halifax, Edward Frederick Lindley Wood, 1st earl of; Nobility--England; Tucker, O.A.; Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

Lord Halifax, British Ambassador to the United States, Dorothy, Lady Halifax, US Naval Officers and others aboard escort carrier under construction at Sea-Tac Shipyards. Lord Halifax is standing next to O.A. Tucker, general manager of the shipyard. The ambassador's party spent an hour touring the facility. Lord Halifax praised highly American labor which is building hundreds of fighting ships. (T.Times, p. 1) ALBUM 3.

Visits of state--Tacoma; Halifax, Edward Frederick Lindley Wood, 1st earl of; Nobility--England; Tucker, O.A.; Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

Lord Halifax, British Ambassador to the United States, son Lt. Richard Wood, and others on elevator aboard escort carrier under advanced construction at Sea-Tac Shipyards. A sign in large lettering painted on the ship warns of the dangers of propellers. Members of the United States Navy and British Navy were among those accompanying the Ambassador on his visit to the shipyards. He was able to make a quick inspection of a carrier under construction and then ride the plane elevator down from the flight deck. ALBUM 3.

Visits of state--Tacoma; Halifax, Edward Frederick Lindley Wood, 1st earl of; Wood, Richard Frederick; Nobility--England; Signs (Notices); Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

Lord Halifax, British Ambassador to the United States, and his entourage toured the facilities of the Seattle-Tacoma Shipyards on July 22, 1943. In town to accept an honorary Doctorate of Laws degree from fellow Oxford alumnus R. Franklin Thompson of the College of Puget Sound, Lord Halifax managed to squeeze in several other stops, including an inspection of escort aircraft carriers under construction at the shipyards. View of crowded deck and military officers from both the British and American navies as well as company officials. Soldier in wheelchair was the third and youngest son of Lord Halifax, Lt. Richard Wood, who had both legs amputated due to war injuries. ALBUM 3.

Visits of state--Tacoma; Halifax, Edward Frederick Lindley Wood, 1st earl of; Wood, Richard Frederick; Nobility--England; Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

Lord Halifax, British Ambassador to the United States and Lady Halifax are greeted by US and British Naval officers and others at Sea-Tac Shipyards. The tall and lanky ambassador extends his hand as he is welcomed on an inspection tour of escort aircraft carriers being built by the shipyard. His entourage included his son, Lt. Richard Wood and British consul in Seattle, Harold Swan and wife. Acting Mayor C. Val Fawcett escorted the group to the Seattle-Tacoma shipyards. ALBUM 3.

Visits of state--Tacoma; Halifax, Edward Frederick Lindley Wood, 1st earl of; Nobility--England; Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

Acting Mayor C. Val Fawcett had the honor of escorting Lady Halifax, wife of the British ambassador to the United States, and two companions on a tour of the Seattle-Tacoma Shipyards in July, 1943. Dorothy, Lady Halifax, is looking downwards, dressed in white hat and dark jacket. Next to her is believed to be Mrs. Harold Swan, wife of the British consul in Seattle. The ambassador, his son Lt. Richard Wood, and other dignitaries rode in three other vehicles. For some reason, this picture appears to have been flipped with the steering wheel on the right hand side. ALBUM 3.

Visits of state--Tacoma; Halifax, Edward Frederick Lindley Wood, 1st earl of; Halifax, Edward Frederick Lindley Wood, 1st earl of--Family; Nobility--England; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

Beginning in the late 1930's, as war contracts sped up the pace of industry in the Puget Sound, workers were drawn to the area, seeking the abundant jobs in the well-paying defense industry. The Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. employed over 33,000 workers in its Tacoma yard. Some, like Larry Miller, came for a visit and stayed to work throughout the war. Mr. Miller came around 1941 from Spokane to visit his sister and brother-in-law and stayed to work as a painter at the shipyard. He had previously been a bridge painter. By 1943, he was painter leadman on the second shift and had been awarded the "L" symbol on his helmet. (Sea-Tac Keel, Vol. II, No. III, pg. 8; August 7, 1943 issue)

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma)--People; Miller, Larry;

Bright eyed, curly topped Irene Flemish was selected by the Seattle-Tacoma Shipyard 1st shift electricians to be their candidate for 1943 "All Yard Queen." She posed for the Richards photographer with her name neatly monogrammed on her collar above her employment badge. The Queen would be crowned at the August company picnic. (Sea-Tac Keel, Vol. II, No. III, pg.6; August 7, 1943 issue)

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma)--People; Flemish, Irene;

As a shipyard worker during World War II, superior attendance at work was part of your patriotic duty. As the "Sea-Tac Keel's" Civilian War Creed stated "Wasting precious working hours is sinful in war time." Rigger Outfitting Foreman Art Bagley, pictured, had only lost 1 1/2 days in the 3 and one half years he had worked at the Seattle-Tacoma shipyard. Preferring to be in the great outdoors, before coming to Sea-Tac Mr. Bagley had worked as a logger, longshoreman and pile driver. (Sea-Tac Keel, Vol. II, No. III, pg. 8; August 7, 1943 issue)

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma)--People; Bagley, Art;

Lois Tusler was chosen by her fellow employees in the Blueprint Dept. to be their candidate for "All Yard Queen" at the Seattle-Tacoma shipyard picnic in August of 1943 at Sutherland's Resort, Five Mile Lake. (Sea-Tac Keel, Vol. II, No. III, pg.6; August 7, 1943 issue)

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma)--People; Tusler, Lois;

Peggy Sparks was the choice of the Seattle-Tacoma Shipyard 2nd shift Shipwrights to wear the crown of "All Yard Queen." The winner would be crowned at the August 1943 company picnic. Miss Sparks posed for a photograph during her workday. Her employment badge, with photo, was attached to her lapel. (Sea-Tac Keel, Vol. II, No. III, pg.6; August 7, 1943 issue)

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma)--People; Sparks, Peggy;

Pretty Marmie Osborn was chosen by the employees of the Engineering Department at the Seattle-Tacoma shipyard to represent the 1st shift Files in the August 1943 "All Yard Queen" contest. The winner would be crowned at the shipyard's picnic at the Sutherland Resort at Five Mile Lake. (Sea-Tac Keel, Vol. II, No. III, pg.6; August 7, 1943 issue)

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma)--People; Osborn, Marmie;

One of the most difficult aspects of the defense industry was finding enough skilled workers to fill the large number of positions available when the wartime factories ran 24 hours a day. The Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. solved this problem by operating its own in house training center. In this center, W.W. Mallery, shipfitter instructor, illustrated a point on the blackboard in July of 1943 for the benefit of his class. (Sea-Tac Keel, Vol. II, No. III, pg. 4; August 7, 1943 issue)

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Blackboards; Classrooms;

The laborers seem dwarfed by this large piece of machinery used to puncture steel plates at the Seattle-Tacoma shipyard. Used in Steel Shed A on July 27, 1943, it was being operated by (in no particular order) Fred Wright, John Bickel, Bert Kissick, Lars Heen and Robert Lawson, 2nd shift shipfitters. Lawrence A. "Bert" Kissick is the employee at far left. Men and women came to Tacoma from all over the country to train in the specialized field of wartime shipbuilding. TPL-653 (Sea-Tac Keel, Vol. II, No. III, pg. 4; August 7, 1943 issue)

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Kissick, Lawrence A.; Wright, Fred; Bickel, John; Heen, Lars; Lawson, Robert;

In July of 1943, pipefitters C.V. Beggan, Joe LaPlant and J.B. Kindell were photographed putting the finishing touches on a difficult pipe job at the Tacoma yard of the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. People came to Tacoma from all over the country to fill well-paying defense jobs, where they could also help in the war effort. (Sea-Tac Keel, Vol. II, No. III, pg. 4; August 7, 1943 issue)

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Shirley Phillips, who worked second shift in the Tool Room, was entered in the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Yard Queen contest in July of 1943. The crowning of the queen would be one of the events at the August 8th picnic sponsored by the yard's Athletic Club. The picnic would be held at Sutherland's resort at Five Mile Lake. Other picnic events included softball, tug of war, races and horseshoes, followed by entertainment and dancing. (Sea-Tac Keel, Vol. II, No. II, pg. 7; July 24, 1943 issue)

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma)--People; Phillips, Shirley;