Progress photograph of Hull #3 at Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co. The shipyard was commissioned to build a total of five merchant ships. Two, the Cape Flattery and Cape Alava, had already been launched. TPL-1854

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

Cape Flattery and Cape Alava, vessels 1 & 2 to be built at the new Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co., pictured docked next to each other. The cargo motorships were the first two of the "C-1" type to be launched. Hull #3 would be launched in late November. The ships were 413 feet long, 5,000 gross tons and carried two 4,000 horsepower diesel engines, enabling them to reach a sea speed of 14 1/2 knots. The ship yard was the recent recipient of a number of vessel contracts and now employed 1200 men on two shifts.

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

Progress picture of Hull #3 at Seattle Tacoma Shipbuilding Co. The merchant motorship would be launched on November 29, 1940 as the Cape Cleare. It was one of five identical cargo ships being built under contract by the company. TPL-1856

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

Progress picture of Hull #3, MC #121, at Seattle Tacoma Shipbuilding Co. The company was hard at work on five identical 415 foot cargo ships. Hull #3 would be launched November 29, 1940 as the Cape Cleare. The ship builders were also receiving military contracts and would soon be running operations around the clock.

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

This birds eye progress shot was taken on August 20, 1940 of the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co.'s hull #3, the MC 121. Hull #3 would be launched November 29, 1940 as the Cape Cleare. It was one of five 415 foot merchant motorships. The shipyard would cash in on the coming war effort and be awarded many military contracts. The yard was soon running shifts around the clock. TPL-1855

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

On March 17, 1941, William F. Porter (center), a member of the Boilermakers' union employed at the Seattle-Tacoma Shipyard, bought five tickets from Donna Mae Jaden for a fund raising concert being given in Tacoma. The "On to Spokane" concert was being given to raise money to send Tacoma school musicians to the National Music Educators conference being held in Spokane at the end of the month. Oscar Williams (left) was chairman of the Young Men's Business Club committee sponsoring the concert. Donna Jaden, a member of the Stadium H.S. Girl's Glee Club, became the movie actress Janis Paige. (T. Times 3/19/1941 p.13)

Actresses; Paige, Janis; Jaden, Donna Mae; Porter, William F.; Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Williams, Oscar;

First Aid class at Sea-Tac Shipyard. Many people lined up outside wooden building. (filed with Argentum)

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

Electricians, Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co., Carl Brusberg- Foreman, July 10, 1940. A group of workers in hard hats poses in front of one of the buildings at the shipyard. Lettering over one door reads "electricians" or "electrical." One of the two men is suits is possibly foreman Brusberg. As war loomed, STSC became one of Tacoma's largest employers. TPL-2348

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

Riggers Sea.-Tac. Shipbuilding Co. George Verge- Rigging Boss.The Seattle Tacoma Shipbuilding Co. opened in 1939 on the Tideflats at the site of the old Todd Shipyards. The company grew as America prepared for and entered the second World War. Shipbuilding became Tacoma's primary wartime industry.

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

Mold Loft employees at the Sea-Tac Shipbuilding Co. Angus McCauley, foreman. The Seattle Tacoma Shipbuilding Co. opened in 1939 on the Tideflats at the site of the old Todd Shipyards. The company grew as America prepared for and entered the second World War. Shipbuilding became Tacoma's primary wartime industry.

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

Welder's Society Group at Sea-Tac Shipyard. Many people by large wooden building. (filed with Argentum)

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

Welder's Society Group at Sea-Tac Shipyard. Many people by large wooden building. (filed with Argentum)

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; 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;

Mrs. C.E. Taylor, holding roses, poses with a group of unidentified women during the July 15, 1943 launching of the USS Sunset. Mrs. Taylor was acting as sponsor for the vessel, which was launched at the Tacoma yard of the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. Standing in front of Mrs. Taylor is a child believed to be her daughter. Mrs. Taylor was the wife of Commander C.E. Taylor, ordnance officer 13th Naval District. (Sea-Tac Keel, Vol. II, No. II, pg. 6, July 24, 1943 issue; wikipedia.org; names of those in sponsor's party listed in article 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;

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;

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;

Photographed next to the USS Sunset during its July 15, 1943 launching are O.A. Tucker, General Manager of the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp., and the ship's sponsor Mrs. C.E. Taylor. Mrs. Taylor, well dressed in white gloves and picture hat, holds the traditional spray of roses. (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;

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;

Mrs. C.E. Taylor, wife of commander C.E. Taylor, ordnance officer 13th Naval district, was photographed holding the traditional spray of roses presented to a ship's sponsor. Mrs. Taylor was acting as the sponsor for the USS Sunset. The escort carrier was launched July 15, 1943 at the Tacoma yard of the Seattle- Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. The vessel was later transferred to the Royal Navy and commissioned as 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;

Governor Arthur B. Langlie (center) watches his wife Evelyn christen the ship Cape Fairweather, launch #4 for the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation on April 11, 1941. A bottle of champagne shatters against the boat's bow. The motorship Cape Fairweather was the fourth of the C-1 freighters built at the shipyards. The vessel went into the water nearly ready for trial trips. Seattle-Tacoma Shipyards was busy working on new ways and a new outfitting dock. The yard would be building 300' gasoline tankers for the Navy and keels for C-3 freighters. The Cape Fairweather remained in service until 1980, when it was scrapped. ALBUM 10. (TNT 4-11-41, p. 1)

Governors; Langlie, Arthur B., 1900-1966; Langlie, Evelyn; Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950;