Engineers on the deck (right): Taken by Bob Sturm, this photo depicts two fellow seamen he met on the job. Sturm wrote “The chap on the left is named O’Dell. We called him “Digger” after a radio persona. The fellow on the right is Tommy Arthur, a Second Assistant engineer. We three were all enjoying some sunshine after lunch. Typical of seagoing careers, none of us knew each other before coming aboard, and we unfortunately lost contact after leaving the ship.” Engineering officers were berthed on the sundeck; this was an enjoyable contrast to their duty stations deep within the ship.

Heavy Seas (right): This image was taken during the ship’s sea trials in 1952. Despite the choppy waters, this image shows. just how stable she was at speed and in stormy weather. The SS United States remained punctual even through some the most memorable of storms!(photo courtesy of Charles Anderson)

Drydock (left): Ocean going ships must periodically be taken out of the water so their hulls and underwater structures can be analyzed. This is important for repairs or preventative maintenance to be performed. The SS United States was considered one of the safest ships in the world and engineers like Bob Sturm made sure she kept that title.

Mess Attendants (right): As Mr. Sturm mentions, the crew of SS United States was a diverse group. Ships’ crews (both Navy and Merchant) during this time were microcosms of wider society. It was common to see non-white crew members working in service jobs like cooks and stewards. This photo, taken by Albert W. Durant, pictured a specialized crew that was hired specifically for the sea trials in 1952.