World War 2 Navy Photographers: The USS Mason, a Pioneering Ship

The USS Mason (DE-529) holds a significant place in U.S. naval history as the first Naval ship to have a predominantly African American crew. Among the numerous naval ships that played a crucial role during World War II, the USS Mason stands out for its groundbreaking achievement.

In this series of posts on how to research Navy photographs, we will focus on the USS Mason, providing an example of the search path one would follow when attempting to locate photographs related to WWII Navy ships. As part of our How to Research guides, these articles aim to serve as a quick reference guide with tips and examples for effectively searching through our WWII military photographs.

For those interested in researching Navy photographs, it is essential to have specific information on hand prior to starting the search process. This includes notable characteristics, accomplishments, and facts regarding the ship and/or crew members, names of prominent personalities affiliated with the ship, and the ship's name and hull number (predecessor hull numbers are also useful). The type of information needed for photographic research slightly differs from branch to branch, making it essential to understand the specific requirements.

WWII Navy photographs have been indexed by subject, much like Army and Air Force photos. This indexing system allows researchers to quickly locate relevant photographs related to specific topics or events. When it comes to research in the Still Picture Branch, our staff would agree that World War II photographs are by far some of our most requested records.

In conclusion, the USS Mason is an exemplary example of a WWII Navy ship with a remarkable history. For those interested in exploring more about this pioneering ship and its crew, we encourage you to conduct your own research using the tips and examples provided in this series.

World war 2 navy photographers