Destroyers - Fletcher Class

**blidgepump** · 11 Jul 11,, 16:45

Originally Posted by Ken_NJ

I know the US release was called Flat Top (1952) but could not find anything about which destroyer. Looks like it was filmed mostly on the USS Princeton which was commissioned in November 1945, a few months after the end of World War II.

You are correct on the movie. Flat Top was a Grade "B" movie with quite a bit of stock US Navy footage spliced in with limited plot.

A hint !!! The Destroyer shown deleivering the mail did not survive WWII

**Ken_NJ** · 11 Jul 11,, 18:16

Of the 19 Fletchers lost during WWII, eleven were lost off of Okinawa. After another 45 minutes figured out it was the USS Longshaw!

USS Longshaw (DD 559) off Okinawa
USS Luce (DD 522) off Okinawa
USS Twiggs (ii) (DD 591) off Okinawa
USS Bush (DD 529) off Okinawa
USS Callaghan (DD 792) off Okinawa
USS Colhoun (ii) (DD 801) off Okinawa
USS Halligan (DD 584) off Okinawa
USS Little (ii) (DD 803) off Okinawa
USS Morrison (DD 560) off Okinawa
USS Pringle (DD 477) off Okinawa
USS William D. Porter (DD 579) off Okinawa

USS Spence (DD 512) Typhoon, Samar
USS Abner Read (DD 526) Leyte Gulf
USS Brownson (i) (DD 518) New Britain
USS Chevalier (i) (DD 451) off Solomons Islands
USS De Haven (i) (DD 469) Iron Bottom Sound
USS Hoel (DD 533) off Samar
USS Johnston (i) (DD 557) off Samar
USS Strong (i) (DD 467) off Solomon Islands

Source: Fletcher class Destroyers - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net

**blidgepump** · 11 Jul 11,, 21:31

Originally Posted by Ken_NJ

Of the 19 Fletchers lost during WWII, eleven were lost off of Okinawa. After another 45 minutes figured out it was the USS Longshaw!

USS Longshaw (DD 559) off Okinawa
USS Luce (DD 522) off Okinawa
USS Twiggs (ii) (DD 591) off Okinawa
USS Bush (DD 529) off Okinawa
USS Callaghan (DD 792) off Okinawa
USS Colhoun (ii) (DD 801) off Okinawa
USS Halligan (DD 584) off Okinawa
USS Little (ii) (DD 803) off Okinawa
USS Morrison (DD 560) off Okinawa
USS Pringle (DD 477) off Okinawa
USS William D. Porter (DD 579) off Okinawa

USS Spence (DD 512) Typhoon, Samar
USS Abner Read (DD 526) Leyte Gulf
USS Brownson (i) (DD 518) New Britain
USS Chevalier (i) (DD 451) off Solomons Islands
USS De Haven (i) (DD 469) Iron Bottom Sound
USS Hoel (DD 533) off Samar
USS Johnston (i) (DD 557) off Samar
USS Strong (i) (DD 467) off Solomon Islands

Source: Fletcher class Destroyers - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net

Ken, you are headed in the right direction.

Remember "Flat Top" was a "support the war" err, police action underway in Korea.
While a low budget film, the director scored heavily on stock Naval file footage. An example is the Skyraider landing on the Princeton in WWII after returning from a mission.

( Note: the bug in my crawl was the Corsairs @ TO & L but the F6F's at altitude.)

So another hint: Yes, the DD being sought is in your list of those lost during WWII.

This DD had an attitude problem, thinking it was bigger than actually built.
But her Captian was all the way behind her in pushing the envelope of design and brawn. ( Like David v Goliath )

**Ken_NJ** · 12 Jul 11,, 03:12

Well for sure I thought it was the Longshaw as the link indicated so with the caption

Sequence of stills from documentary Flattop; Longshaw approaching unnamed carrier for transfer of mail

I have not seem this movie. My second guess would be the USS Johnston as one of the ships in Taffy 3 as she charged the Japanese fleet to defend the jeep carriers. My last guess as to let the tour continue.

**blidgepump** · 12 Jul 11,, 03:56

Originally Posted by Ken_NJ

Well for sure I thought it was the Longshaw as the link indicated so with the caption

I have not seem this movie. My second guess would be the USS Johnston as one of the ships in Taffy 3 as she charged the Japanese fleet to defend the jeep carriers. My last guess as to let the tour continue.

You are correct!

The USS Johnston made a cameo appearance in the movie "Flat Top" ( about 7 to 8 seconds worth) as the Destroyer delivering the Mail to the Carrier played by the USS Princeton. Ken the Longshaw may have also been in the movie, too!

Congrats on winning the contest.

**blidgepump** · 12 Jul 11,, 14:40

Originally Posted by blidgepump

You are correct!

The USS Johnston made a cameo appearance in the movie "Flat Top" ( about 7 to 8 seconds worth) as the Destroyer delivering the Mail to the Carrier played by the USS Princeton. Ken the Longshaw may have also been in the movie, too!

Congrats on winning the contest.

Ken, my apology!

Your are correct with the the USS Longshaw as the Fletcher shown in the movie "Flat Top". Your research is good. My eyesight is bad.

**blidgepump** · 12 Jul 11,, 14:42

Originally Posted by blidgepump

Ken, my apology!

Your are correct with the the USS Longshaw as the Fletcher shown in the movie "Flat Top". Your research is good. My eyesight is bad.

And the picture proof, too.

**blidgepump** · 12 Jul 11,, 14:49

Originally Posted by blidgepump

And the picture proof, too.

A very damaged USS Longshaw ( DD-559 )

**Ken_NJ** · 12 Jul 11,, 17:49

**Ytlas** · 12 Jul 11,, 18:49

Originally Posted by blidgepump

You are correct!

Congrats on winning the contest.

So, what does he get for winning the contest?

**blidgepump** · 12 Jul 11,, 19:19

Originally Posted by Ytlas

So, what does he get for winning the contest?

A full color print of the USS Kidd, autographed by the thread's author.

**Ytlas** · 12 Jul 11,, 19:28

Originally Posted by blidgepump

A full color print of the USS Kidd, autographed by the thread's author.

That's more like it.

When's the next contest???

**blidgepump** · 13 Jul 11,, 16:15

Originally Posted by Ytlas

That's more like it.

When's the next contest???

Lite all boilers, make all steam...... now the pressure is on to present another question

Stay tune!

**Dreadnought** · 13 Jul 11,, 22:36

Originally Posted by blidgepump

Lite all boilers, make all steam...... now the pressure is on to present another question

Stay tune!

"Light Off"!

**tbm3fan** · 14 Jul 11,, 04:34

Originally Posted by Ytlas

That's more like it.

When's the next contest???

How about "Bullitt" ? There was a 3-4 second shot of Steve McQueen talking to Jacqueline Bisset on the Bayshore Freeway with Hunter's Point in the background. Look closely and there is clearly a carrier in the view. Only took 35 years before I noticed it. Too far for the number but the silhouette will give it away. I only know the name because of knowing someone, who as a fresh face engineer out of college, was on that carrier at that particular time for his first job.

Thread: Destroyers - Fletcher Class

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Apology

And the Hull Number to prove it.

USS Longshaw

... and what does he get for winning ?

Stay tuned to the Fletcher Thread....

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