SS John Burke

Uncommon card · No. 158929

SS John Burke (MC hull number 609) was an American Liberty Ship built during World War II, one of the 2,710 type 'EC2-S-C1' ships that carried all kinds and types of dry cargo during the war. The ship was named for John Burke (February 25, 1859 – May 14, 1937), the 10th Governor of North Dakota. John Burke was built at Kaiser Shipbuilding Company's Oregon Shipbuilding yard in Portland, Oregon. John Burke's keel was laid November 20, 1942 and the hull was launched on December 13. After fitting-out, John Burke was delivered to the US Maritime Commission on December 23, just 33 days after construction began. The War Shipping Administration then placed John Burke under management of the Northland Transportation Company. On December 28, 1944, while transporting ammunition to Mindoro, Philippines, John Burke was hit by a Japanese kamikaze aircraft, and disintegrated in a tremendous explosion with the loss of all souls, approximately 68 merchant marine sailors and armed guards. John Burke was...

Read on Wikipedia · Image Canadian Forces, Public domain