USS Augusta records

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: ARCHS-081

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection comprises of materials from the naval ship U.S.S. Augusta. Includes correspondence, stationary, photographs, newsletters, and materials on the initial launch of the ship in 1930. Collection also includes original invitations to the afformentioned launch. Includes materials written to Miss Evelyn Mcdaniel, who sponsored the ship.

Dates

Created: 1930-1972
Acquired: 07/20/1982

Conditions Governing Access

No current access restrictions on this collection. Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

The Augusta Richmond County Historical Society is the owner of the physical collection and makes reproductions available for research purposes only. Materials within the collection are subject to the copyright law of the United States and item condition. The Augusta Richmond County Historical Society may or may not own the rights to materials in the collection. It is the researcher's responsibility to verify copyright ownership and obtain permission from the copyright holder before publication, reproduction, or display of the materials beyond what is reasonable under copyright law. Researchers may quote selections from the collection under the fair use provision of copyright law.

Biographical / Historical

U.S.S. Augusta (CL/CA-31) was a Northampton-class heavy cruiser named after Augusta, Georgia, that served from 1931 to 1946. During the 1930s, she operated extensively as the flagship of the U.S. Asiatic Fleet, logging deployments across China, Japan, and the Philippines, and surviving an accidental anti-aircraft shell hit while protecting American interests in Shanghai in 1937. She became uniquely famous for her wartime role as an occasional presidential flagship, notably carrying President Franklin D. Roosevelt to the secret 1941 Atlantic Charter conference with Winston Churchill, and later transporting President Harry S. Truman to the Potsdam Conference in 1945. In combat, Augusta was highly distinguished for serving as a headquarters ship in the European and African theaters rather than the Pacific. She saw heavy action providing naval gunfire support during Operation Torch off North Africa (where she carried General George S. Patton), Operation Overlord at Normandy (acting as the Western Task Force flagship carrying General Omar Bradley), and Operation Dragoon in Southern France. After the war, she was modified to bring veterans home during Operation Magic Carpet, earning three battle stars for her World War II service before her decommissioning on July 16, 1946, and her eventual sale for scrap in 1959.