This team was one of eight representing the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation in league play at the Tacoma Boys Club in January of 1943. This particular team was from the Shipfitters swing shift. Pictured left to right kneeling are Alphonse Big Horn, Leonard Big Horn (Native American brothers from Montana), John Owens and Lawrence Loveland. Standing, left to right, are Mason Longmire (mgr.), Phil Red Eagle, John Hartsell, Wayne Hinkleman and Matt Kapovich. (T. Times 2/1/1943, pg. 11)

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma)--People; Basketball players--Tacoma--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; Indigenous peoples; Big Horn, Alphonse; Big Horn, Leonard; Owens, John; Loveland, Lawrence; Longmire, Mason;

One of eight teams representing the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation in Inter-league basketball play. Composed of men serving the shipyard as Electricians.

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma)--People; Basketball players--Tacoma--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma;

Sea-Tac (Seattle Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation) Pipefitters, Pierce County Inter-League basketball team, another team on court. (T. Times)

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma)--People; Basketball players--Tacoma--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma;

Basketball team representing the Sea-Tac (Seattle Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation) Pipefitters in Pierce County Inter-League basketball play. (T.Times)

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma)--People; Basketball players--Tacoma--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma;

Auxiliary Motor Minesweeper YMS 241. The minesweeper was built at Tacoma Boat Building, with the hull laid in May of 1942 and the vessel completed by February of 1943. It was commissioned as the USS YMS 241. The boat was transferred to the Soviet Union in July of 1945 as T-591. It was struck from the naval register in October of 1956 and scrapped. During the war, it was used to sweep mines laid by enemy subs. (www.navesource.org)

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Boats--1940-1950;

Auxiliary Motor Minesweeper YMS 241. During WWII, 561 "yard class minesweepers" were built at various yards. This one was constructed at Tacoma Boat Building, one of 35 yacht yards given a construction contract. The vessels were used to sweep for mines laid by enemy subs. The YMS 241 was completed in February of 1943. In July of 1945, it was transferred to the Soviet Union.

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Boats--1940-1950;

Tacoma Boat Building launched the last of a series of four minesweepers, the MS 301, on April 11, 1964. The tugboat pictured above was probably a Foss tug; Foss tugboats were customarily used in the launching of minesweepers built for the Navy by local shipbuilders. The tugs were used to help escort the much larger ships. Here the tug bucked gusty winds to push the new non-magnetic, wood-and-aluminum minesweeper to her outfitting dock on Sitcom Waterway. The 175' long vessel had twin 500 hp diesel engines and cost over $2,000,000. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (TNT 4-13-64, p. 30)

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Tugboats--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Photographs from a dinner for Charles D. Gillet, hosted by the Seattle-Tacoma Shipyard. Mr. Gillet is listed in the 1942 City Directory as a "loftsman" at Sea-Tac. He and his wife Louise resided at 5112 N. 46th St. The location of the dinner party is unknown.

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma)--People; Gillet, Charles D.--Celebrations;

Sea-Tac Shipyard Swing Shift bowlers. Several bowlers have name tags on their jackets including "Rich" (2nd row far left), "Roy" (2nd row far right), and "Harry" (kneeling at right). [Also dated 03-27-1943]

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma)--People; Bowlers--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Sea-Tac Shipyard Swing Shift bowlers. [Also dated 03-27-1943]

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma)--People; Bowlers--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Initiation of SeattleTacoma Shipbuilding Corporation employees at Elk's Club. Ten men on stage with ship's wheel. [Also dated 03-29-1943]

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

Initiation of SeattleTacoma Shipbuilding Corporation employees at Elk's Club. Man at microphone on stage. [Also dated 03-29-1943]

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

Initiation of Seattle Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation employees at Elk's Club. Man on stage playing accordion. [Also dated 03-29-1943]

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

Boat under construction. Tacoma Boat Building was under contract to build U.S. Navy aluminum gunboats in 1964. Four gunboats were under construction under two separate contracts. Tacoma Boat would win a $6,731,046 contract to build three more motor gunboats in January, 1965. The lightweight aluminum hulls on these patrol boats would permit operations in relatively shallow waters. They were designed to operate offensively on patrol blockades and surveillance missions. Constructed of aluminum, the boats would be 165 feet long with 25-foot beams and be equipped with 3" gun and 40 mm gun. View of Tacoma Boat Building employee in mid-October, 1964, working with long pieces of aluminum. Photograph ordered by Reynolds Metals Co., Los Angeles, for company's annual report. (TNT 1-15-65, A-1)

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Aluminum;

The newly constructed office building at Peterson Boat Building Co. The shipyard was founded by father and son George and John Peterson. Their yard adjoined the Foss Yard (225 E F) at the outer edge of the Middle Waterway. The small yard was in the final stages of construction in early 1943 and preparing for operation. Their specialty was fishing vessels. They continued in business at this site, until it burned in 1969.

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Charts; Peterson Boat Building Co. (Tacoma);

New ways and dry dock shelter were being built at Peterson Boatbuilding, 223 East F St. This small shipyard was founded by father and son George and John Peterson and specialized in fishing boats. It adjoined the Foss yard at 225 East F St. on the Middle Waterway. Both companies relocated to this location at about the same time.

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Charts; Peterson Boat Building Co. (Tacoma);

Progress photos of the construction of the dry dock and ways at Peterson Boat Building in April of 1943.

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Charts; Peterson Boat Building Co. (Tacoma);

Early in 1943, scaffolding still surrounds the dry dock and ways built at 223 East F St. for Peterson Boat Building. The small shipyard was founded by father and son partners George and John Peterson. They remained at this site until it burned to the ground in 1969. TPL-9442

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Charts; Peterson Boat Building Co. (Tacoma);

The "Pacific Pearl" was docked at Tacoma Boatbuilding on May 20, 1965. She was a new shellfish processing plant that had been converted from a 175-foot Coast Guard tender, the M.V. Hemlock. The floating cannery was to leave its berth in Tacoma and head toward Alaska. Photograph ordered by Northwest Advertising Co., Seattle. (TNT 5-23-65, A-15)

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Fishing industry--Washington; Canneries--Washington;

A man surveys the peaceful waterway as he stands aboard the "Pacific Pearl," a floating cannery, on May 20, 1965. The shellfish processing plant, out of Seattle, is docked at Tacoma Boatbuilding. The cannery was formerly a 175-foot Coast Guard tender, the M.V. Hemlock, before being rebuilt. Sutterlin & Wendt, Inc., packers of northwest seafoods under the Pacific Pearl label, would be moving their cannery from Tacoma to Alaska. Photograph ordered by Northwest Advertising Co., Seattle. (TNT 5-23-65, A-15)

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Fishing industry--Washington; Canneries--Washington;

View of the Eastern Pacific's bow with three men on board in late July, 1965. The tuna clipper was built by Martinac Shipbuilding. Photograph ordered by Martinac Shipbuilding. TPL-9057

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boats--Tacoma;

Broadside view of the Eastern Pacific as it tests the waters of Commencement Bay in early August, 1965. The tuna clipper was built by Martinac Shipbuilding. Photograph ordered by Martinac Shipbuilding. TPL-9058

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boats--Tacoma;

The "Alpha Helix" commenced its trial runs on February 19, 1966. Martinac Shipbuilding built the 133-foot research vessel for the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, California, as a floating experimental biology laboratory. It had a 31-foot beam and displacement of 512 tons, carried a crew of 12 and could berth a scientific party of ten. The $2,225,000 floating lab was skippered by Capt. James Faughn.The "Alpha Helix" made news on the day of its launching, June 29, 1964, when she broke away from fastenings on the Martinac ways and launched itself. She was spared damage when boom men alertly kept her from smashing into broken pilings. In 1980, the vessel was sold to the University of Alaska's Institute of Marine Science. Photograph ordered by J.M.Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. ( TNT 2-20-66, A-15; scilib.ucsd.edu/sio/archives/siohstry/alphahelix-hist.html; sea.edu/SEA2000/NewsUpdates2000/ShipyardNews/MartinacShipbuilding.htm)

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Ship trials--Tacoma--1960-1970; J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

View of USS Crockett. The USS Crockett was one of 17 gunboats in the Asheville class. Tacoma Boatbuilding had a government contract to build seven of these patrol gunboats, each costing 2.5 million dollars. The Crockett was the third to be launched. Nearly 165 feet in length, the Crockett could accelerate from 0 to 40 knots in 60 seconds. The aluminum ship had approximately 230 tons displacement weight and was powered by a gas turbine. It was launched at Tacoma Boatbuilding on June 4, 1966, with christening honors performed by Mrs. Charles Horjes of Tacoma. After service in South Vietnam, it would be transferred to the Naval Reserve Force in 1975 and decommissioned in 1976. (TNT 2-6-66, A-16; TNT 6-5-66, D-15; www.navsource.org/archives/12/11088.htm; www.hobbybarn.com/Dumas-pages/USS-Crocket-1218.htm)

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Gunboats--United States; Boats--Tacoma--1960-1970;

USS Crockett (PG-88) prior to launching. The Asheville Class gunboat was launched at Tacoma Boat Building on June 4, 1966. Powered by a gas turbine, the speedy ship would be commissioned on June 24, 1967, and stationed in South Vietnam where she would be used for coastal patrol, blockade reconnaissance and to give support. The nearly 165-foot gunboat would hold a complement of 4 officers and 33 enlisted men. Tacoma Boat Building had won a government contract to build seven of these Asheville Class vessels. (TNT 2-6-66, A-16, www.navsource.org/archives/12/11088.htm; www.hobbybarn.com/Dumas-pages/USS-Crocket-1218.htm)

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Gunboats--United States; Boats--Tacoma--1960-1970;

With a mighty swing, Jeanne Martin Soares christens the new "Blue Pacific" on March 29, 1967. The vessel was launched at Tacoma Boat Building. She was a 176-foot steel tuna seiner built for Capt. Roger Soares of San Diego who placed her in operation for White Star- Van Camp Seafoods. The "Blue Pacific" was the largest tuna fishing boat built from the keel up at the time. She was constructed in the Port Industrial Yard (the former Tacoma Naval Station) by Tacoma Boat Building. Moments after the christening, the "Blue Pacific" eased down the ways and came to a standstill before she finally floated free. Five Foss tugs assisted when the boat was hung up. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boat Building. (TNT 3-12-67, A-23, TNT 3-29-67, A-1) TPL-9061 (Corrected identification provided by a reader)

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Fishing boats--Tacoma; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Soares, Jeanne Martin;

The Nancy Foss tug assisted in the launching of the J.M. Martinac on March 27, 1967. View of ship's bow post-launching. The 154-foot tuna seiner was the fifth tuna boat built by Martinac Shipbuilding for skipper Lou Brito of San Diego. It had a payload of 540 tons and carried a 32-foot power skiff. The J.M. Martinac, whose name was selected by skipper Brito in honor of Martinac founder J.M. Martinac, had nets more than half a mile long. Photograph ordered by the J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (TNT 2-19-67, B-4, TNT 3-28-67, A-1) TPL-9124

J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tugboats--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Launching of the "Jeanette C." Built by Tacoma Boatbuilding, the tuna clipper "Jeanette C" was launched on June 6, 1967 at Tacoma Boatbuilding's Plant 2 in the Port Industrial Yard. View of lauching participants in front of the fishing boat, the second of four planned tuna seiners, and the sister ship to the 176-foot "Blue Pacific" previously launched on March 29th. 15-year-old Jeanette Caboz, daughter of skipper-to-be and part owner Manuel Caboz, holds a large bouquet of roses. She christened the ship that is named in her honor. Also pictured is Mrs. William Gillis who assisted Miss Caboz. Presiding at the launching was Tacoma Boat's president, Arnold J. Strom. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boatbuilding. (TNT 6-6-67, p. 26, TNT 6-7-67, C-4) TPL-8857

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Caboz, Jeanette;

Preparations are being made for the launching of the 177-foot tuna seiner, the "City of Panama" on February 3, 1968. She would be sliding down the ways at Port Industrial Yard. Built by Tacoma Boatbuilding for Roland Virissimo of San Diego, the "City of Panama" was the second in the Blue Pacific class to be launched in two weeks, after "Bold Venture" on January 20th. The "City of Panama" was powered by a 2,075-horsepower electromotive diesel and could carry up to 925 tons of tuna. She would be used to fish in the waters near Puerto Rico. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boatbuilding. (TNT 1-30-68, p. 18) TPL-9129

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Drew Foss (2nd from L) is joined by his mother and father, Agnes and Henry Foss and Anthony J. Martinolich (farthest L) during the launching of the towboat Claudia Foss on February 24, 1968, at Martinolich Shipbuilding's Taylor Way yard. The 80-foot vessel was built for Foss Launch & Tug and had a 25-foot beam. It was the first of two towboats being built for Foss; the second, another 80-foot vessel, was scheduled for a May launching. The Fosses kept the tradition of naming their boats after members of the family; the Claudia Foss was named for the daughter-in-law of Barbara Foss Campbell, Wedell Foss' daughter. Photograph ordered by Martinolich Shipbuilding. (TNT 2-25-68, A-8)

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Martinolich Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Tugboats--Tacoma--1960-1970; Foss Launch & Tug Co. (Tacoma); Foss, Henry O., 1891-1986; Foss, Agnes S.; Foss, Drew; Martinolich, Anthony J.