BEACON, Philadelphia Navy Yard, February 13, 1942

• USS Butler & USS Gherardi launching w/ photo
• World War II - WWII U.S. Navy destroyers

A military paper produced at the Navy Yard, which was a major site for not only the building of new warships but also the repair of vessels damaged in the war. As would be expected there is a great wealth of war-related content, with an emphasis of naval items.
This issue is special as it has coverage on the launching of the USS Butler and USS Gherardi with related photo (see photos). Great and very rare to have in this title.
Eight pages, 10 1/2 by 16 pages, printed on high quality paper, nice condition.

Background: On February 12, 1942, just two months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Gleaves-class destroyers USS Butler (DD-636) and USS Gherardi (DD-637) were launched simultaneously in a rare dual ceremony at the Philadelphia Navy Yard—having both had their keels laid on the exact same day (September 16, 1941)—symbolizing the immense speed and scale of American industrial mobilization at the dawn of World War II. Named in honor of two storied military leaders, Marine Corps Major General Smedley Butler and Navy Rear Admiral Bancroft Gherardi, both warships went on to forge distinguished combat records across both major theaters of war, providing critical fire support and escort during the Allied amphibious invasions of Sicily, Normandy (D-Day), and Southern France before both being converted to high-speed minesweepers for vital, hazard-heavy operations in the Pacific Campaign—including Butler surviving a devastating kamikaze attack during the Battle of Okinawa in May 1945.