SS ''George Ade'' was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was named after Indiana writer, newspaper columnist, playwright, and namesake for Purdue University's Ross–Ade Stadium,

George Ade George Ade (February 9, 1866 – May 16, 1944) was an American writer, syndicated newspaper columnist, and playwright who gained national notoriety at the turn of the 20th century with his "Stories of the Streets and of the Town", a column that ...

Construction

''George Ade'' was laid down on 30 June 1944, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 2314, by

J.A. Jones Construction J.A. Jones Construction was a heavy construction company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. Operating internationally since the 1950s, it merged with Germany's Philipp Holzmann AG in 1979. In 2003 the company ceased operations due to the ...

, Panama City, Florida; and launched on 9 August 1944.

History

She was allocated to

American West African Line Inc. Barber Steamship Lines was founded in 1902 as Barber & Company Inc. and also operated the New York & Oriental Steamship Company. In 1928 Barber Steamship Lines operated the American West African Line. In 1945 Barber Steamship Lines was renamed t ...

, 18 August 1944. She successfully completed her seatrials on 20 August 1944. While in transit from

Key West Key West ( es, Cayo Hueso) is an island in the Straits of Florida, within the U.S. state of Florida. Together with all or parts of the separate islands of Dredgers Key, Fleming Key, Sunset Key, and the northern part of Stock Island, it cons ...

, Florida, to New York City, she was torpedoed on 12 September 1944, off the coast of North Carolina, by . Her rudder was damaged but she stayed afloat. and , heading to assist the crew of ''George Ade'', were caught in the Great Atlantic Hurricane of 1944 the day after, sinking both cutters and killing 47 Coast Guardsmen. A U.S. Navy seaplane rescued the survivors. After repairs she was allocated to the Parry Navigation Co., Inc. on 18 July 1946, and again on 17 November 1946. On 17 September 1947, she was allocated to the

South Atlantic Steamship Line South Atlantic Steamship Company was the passenger and cargo founded in 1928 in Savannah, Georgia that ran the South Atlantic steamship Line. At the started by chartering foreign ships to run the lines in tramp trade. Later scheduled cargo service ...

, for transfer to the National Defense Reserve Fleet, in

Mobile Mobile may refer to: Places * Mobile, Alabama, a U.S. port city * Mobile County, Alabama * Mobile, Arizona, a small town near Phoenix, U.S. * Mobile, Newfoundland and Labrador Arts, entertainment, and media Music Groups and labels * Mobile ...

, Alabama. She was sold, On 21 February 1967, for $48,259 to

Union Minerals and Alloys Corporation Union Minerals and Alloys Corporation was a United States corporation that ran a shipbreaking operation. In the 1960s and 1970s it purchased many surplus U.S. Navy and U.S. Merchant Marine ships from World War II from the United States Marit ...

, to be scrapped. She was withdrawn from the fleet on 8 March 1967.

Notes

References

Bibliography

* * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:George Ade Liberty ships Ships built in Panama City, Florida 1944 ships Mobile Reserve Fleet