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USS Benevolence, a 15,400-ton Haven class hospital ship, was built at Chester, Pennsylvania, as the merchant ship Marine Lion. Transferred to the Navy in July 1944, before completion, she was converted to a hospital ship and commissioned in May 1945. Following brief operations in the central Pacific, she joined the fleet in Japanese waters, remaining there until November 1945. Benevolence then made several trips to bring home sick and injured veterans. Her next assignment was to support the Operation "Crossroads" atomic bomb tests during mid-1946. Prior to decommissioning in September 1947, she also operated off China. With the start of the Korean War, Benevolence was reactivated. However, on 25 August 1950, while returning from sea trials, she was sunk off San Francisco, California, in a collision with the SS Mary Luckenbach.
This page features views related to USS Benevolence.
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Photo #: 80-G-354888 USS Benevolence (AH-13) Anchored at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, 13-16 July 1945. USS Solace (AH-5) is in the background, at left. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 114KB; 740 x 600 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-K-17386 (Color) USS Benevolence (AH-13) Moored in Bikini Atoll lagoon, during Operation "Crossroads", mid-July 1946. Several of the operation target ships are visible in the background. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives. Online Image: 124KB; 740 x 610 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-K-20264 (Color) Operation "Crossroads", July 1946 USS Benevolence (AH-13) moored amid the "Crossroads" target fleet, 13 July 1946. Ship at far left is USS Saratoga (CV-3). Closest ship in right background is either USS Pensacola (CA-24) or USS Salt Lake City (CA-25). Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives. Online Image: 90KB; 740 x 605 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: NH 56374 USS Benevolence (AH-13) Steaming in San Francisco Bay, California, in 1945-47 or in mid-1950. Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1967. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 105KB; 740 x 615 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 56375 USS Benevolence (AH-13) Underway in San Francisco Bay, California, in 1945-47 or in mid-1950. Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1967. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 105KB; 740 x 615 pixels |
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Photo #: 80-G-490452 USS Benevolence (AH-13) Released prisoner of war Alfred Sorenson, U.S. Army, contemplates a full meal in one of the hospital ship's wards, 30 August 1945. Navy Nurse Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Asplan is assisting. Sorenson had been captured at Corregidor on 6 May 1942. He was rescued from a POW camp in the Tokyo area. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 79KB; 740 x 605 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-338187 Surrender of Japan, 1945 Former U.S. Navy prisoners of war on board USS Reeves (APD-52) in Tokyo Bay, Japan, after being transferred from USS Benevolence (AH-13), 30 August 1945. They had just been liberated from the Nisson Mills Camp # 2, in the Tokyo Area. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 96KB; 740 x 615 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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New image added 31 March 1999