This is an original WWII era Ships Organization Book for the USS Goff (DD-247) Clemson Class Destroyer of the United States Navy. The title page is dated May 1, 1945 and reads indicates this book was to provide. This book consists of mimeographed sheets printed one side only in a binder cover that looks to be the original binder. The pages are not numbered but there are probably a couple hundred pages all printed one side only plus a foldout chart and a couple additional sheets that are loosely inserted. This is a vintage original that appears to be fully complete, nothing has been removed by us. Overall condition is very good with some toning from age and moderate handing wear including a closed tear or puncture on first few pages. The following is some historical information on the USS Goff from Wikipedia. USS Goff (DD-247) was a Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was named for Secretary of the Navy Nathan Goff, Jr. Goff, built by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation, was launched 2 June 1920; sponsored by Mrs. Nathan Goff, widow of the former Secretary of the Navy; and commissioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 19 January 1921, Lieutenant, junior grade Rodman D. For the first 2 years of her long service, Goff operated along the Atlantic coast, conducting battle practice and exercises in the yearly Caribbean fleet maneuvers as well as off the East Coast. In September 1922, the destroyer was detached from this duty and assigned to the Atlantic Fleet, European Waters. Departing Norfolk, Virginia on 14 October 1922, she cruised primarily in the eastern Mediterranean, putting in at ports in Turkey, Bulgaria, Russia, Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Greece, and Romania. It was a period of great unrest in the Balkans and eastern Mediterranean: Greece and Turkey were at war, various powers were scrambling to consolidate after World War I and gain control over the now-defunct Ottoman empire, and Russia, although still wracked by the Russian Revolution and its aftermath, was seeking further territory and an outlet to the Mediterranean. The presence of American men-of-war amidst this tension assisted various relief agencies working to mitigate the damage from past and present wars as well as protect American lives, interests, and property. Refugees from the Greek and Turkish conflict were frequently evacuated and cared for by the American fleet, and Goff participated in this humanitarian service, particularly at Marsina, where from 18 to 20 July 1923 she supervised evacuation of hundreds of Turkish refugees. This established pattern of coastwise exercises and fleet maneuvers was broken in the fall of 1926, as Goff and Milwaukee engaged in rescue work on the Isle of Pines, Cuba, which had been devastated by the hurricane of 1920 October. Flying in stores via Milwaukee’s planes and sending their own doctors and medical supplies ashore, the two American ships gave aid to the stricken island and its predominantly American population. Civil war was underway in Nicaragua, and ships of the American fleet cruised along the coast to protect American lives and property, and to evacuate American citizens if necessary. Routine was interrupted by occasional special tasks, the most notable of which came in June 1927. Goff also in June 1930 carried the President-elect of Colombia from Newport, Rhode Island to West Point. She decommissioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 13 January 1931. Recommissioning 2 March 1932, Lieutenant Commander Walter M. Wynne commanding, Goff spent the following year cruising along the East Coast training naval reserve crews. Departing Cuba 2 April 1934, Goff resumed maneuvers along the East Coast until 9 November 1935, when she joined the Pacific Fleet at San Diego, California. She remained in the Pacific, operating along the coast and taking part in Hawaiian exercises, until 4 January 1939, when she departed San Diego for New York. Arriving there 20 April, Goff again cruised the East Coast training reserves until 8 September, when she entered New England waters on Neutrality Patrol. After overhaul and refitting for European duty at New York, Goff joined Destroyer Division 55 at Ponta Delgada, Azores, on 29 June 1940 to take her place as flagship of the division. Cruising to Portugal, Goff and her division operated out of Lisbon, engaging in various exercises before returning to Norfolk 21 September. Joining DesDiv 67 as flagship, Goff escorted Seawolf from New London, Connecticut to Balboa, Panama Canal Zone, arriving 31 October to take up Caribbean patrol and guard duty for the Panama Canal. After America’s entry into the war in December 1941, Goff remained in the Caribbean to do double duty, as both a convoy escort and patrol vessel. This area was heavily trafficked by German U-boats, and the undermanned Allied convoys (as many as 25 merchantmen with only four escorts) frequently provided easy targets. Night attacks by German submarines cost convoys which Goff was escorting a total of eight merchantmen sunk and several others seriously damaged. The destroyer was worked hard: she was out on patrol and convoy duty 10 days at a time and then in port only long enough to refuel and resupply; when this could be done at sea, it was. Escorts were at a premium as the Allies struggled to maintain their supply lines. Goff finally had her chance to inflict real damage on the German U-boats as she left the Caribbean on 16 June 1943 and put in at New York for a long-needed overhaul. At Norfolk on 27 July, she joined Card, Barry and Borie to form an offensive antisubmarine patrol which conducted two highly successful patrols across the Atlantic. The close coordination between the carrier’s planes and her destroyer screen was effective, during the period Goff was with the carrier, 27 July-9 November 1943, they made two voyages from Norfolk to Casablanca and were credited with sinking no fewer than eight U-boats. These patrols came to a dramatic conclusion when on 1 November Borie rammed and sunk a U-boat, but was herself fatally damaged in the process. For these two patrols Goff was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation (US). Goff spent the first 7 months of 1944 with Albemarle, shepherding the tender safely to San Juan, Trinidad and Tobago, Casablanca, Recife, Brazil, and Avonmouth, England, before putting in at Boston, Massachusetts on 13 July 1944 for overhaul. Repairs completed, Goff engaged in antisubmarine practice at Casco Bay, Maine, and then on 28 August sailed for Key West, arriving 3 days later. The destroyer departed Key West for Philadelphia on 9 June 1945, arriving there 2 days later. Goff decommissioned at Philadelphia on 21 July 1945, after 24 years of service, and was struck from the Navy Register on 13 August 1945. Goff received two battle stars for service in World War II. If you have questions about how to pay for this item please let me know. The item “1945 USS GOFF DD-247 Ship’s Organizational Book WWII Destroyer Atlantic Convoy” is in sale since Monday, November 2, 2020. This item is in the category “Collectibles\Militaria\WW II (1939-45)\Original Period Items\United States\Books”. The seller is “timomills” and is located in Lincoln, Nebraska. This item can be shipped worldwide.
- Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
- Conflict: WW II (1939-45)
- Original/Reproduction: Original