Assigned as a tender in the U.S. Exploring Expedition of 1838–42 commanded by Lieutenant Charles Wilkes, Flying Fish sailed with her squadron 19 August 1838 to visit Madeira and Rio de Janeiro while bound for Tierra del Fuego, where the squadron arrived early in 1839. From this point, the squadron made its first cruises toward the Antarctic Continent, which it was to discover later the same year after surveys among Pacific islands and a visit to Australia.[1]
After the second penetration of the Antarctic, the squadron rendezvoused in New Zealand in April 1840 to survey Pacific islands northward toward the Hawaiians, where the ships were repaired late in the year. Flying Fish sailed with USS Peacock to resurvey some of the Samoan, Ellice, Kingsmill, and Pescadore Islands before joining the main body of the squadron on the northwest coast of America in July 1841. Flying Fish made surveys in the Columbia River and around Vancouver, then proceeded to San Francisco, from which the squadron sailed 1 November for the south Pacific. Arriving in the Philippines in mid-January 1842 Flying Fish and the other ships separated to cruise the Sulu Seas, then make a planned rendezvous at Singapore in February.
End of serviceedit
When the expedition stopped in Singapore on their way home, it was discovered the Flying Fish was suffering from structural problems and was unfit for further service. It was sold to an English resident for $3,700 on 24 February, 1842. The rest of the squadron sailed for home on 26 February.[4][1][3] There are rumors that the Flying Fish was repurposed to smuggle opium, although there does not appear to be any recorded evidence of this.[5]
^ abc"Flying Fish I (Schooner)". www.history.navy.mil. Retrieved 2021-05-07.
^"Vessels Launched in 1837" (PDF). Morning Herald. New York New York. 1838-01-14. Retrieved 2021-05-07.
^ abBent, Arthur Cleveland (1923). Life Histories of North American Wild Fowl. p. 47. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
^Stanton, William (1975). The Great United States Exploring Expedition. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 274. ISBN0520025571.
^Philbrick, Nathaniel (2004). Sea of glory : America's voyage of discovery : the U.S. Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842. New York: Penguin Books. ISBN978-1-4406-4554-9. OCLC 607563644.
flying, fish, 1838, other, ships, with, same, name, flying, fish, flying, fish, formerly, york, city, pilot, boat, schooner, independence, purchased, united, states, navy, york, city, august, 1838, upon, joining, squadron, hampton, roads, august, 1838, placed,. For other ships with the same name see USS Flying Fish USS Flying Fish was formerly the New York City pilot boat schooner Independence Purchased by the United States Navy at New York City on 3 August 1838 and upon joining her squadron in Hampton Roads on 12 August 1838 she was placed under command of Passed Midshipman S R Knox 1 The Flying Fish as drawn by Alfred Thomas AgateHistoryUnited StatesNameUSS Flying FishNamesakeFlying FishBuilderJabex amp WilliamsLaunched11 March 1837Acquired3 August 1838In service12 August 1838Out of service26 February 1842RenamedFrom Independence to Flying FishFateSoldGeneral characteristicsDisplacement96 tonsLength85 ft 6 in 26 06 m Beam22 ft 6 in 6 86 m Sail plan34 ft 6 in 10 52 m maintop mastComplement15Armament2 gunsThe Flying Fish in a gale as drawn by Alfred Thomas Agate Contents 1 Construction and service 2 End of service 3 See also 4 ReferencesConstruction and service editThe Independence was built as a civilian schooner rigged pilot boat built on 11 March 1837 by Jabex amp Williams shipyard 2 She was purchased by the United States Navy on 3 August 1838 and renamed Flying Fish 3 Assigned as a tender in the U S Exploring Expedition of 1838 42 commanded by Lieutenant Charles Wilkes Flying Fish sailed with her squadron 19 August 1838 to visit Madeira and Rio de Janeiro while bound for Tierra del Fuego where the squadron arrived early in 1839 From this point the squadron made its first cruises toward the Antarctic Continent which it was to discover later the same year after surveys among Pacific islands and a visit to Australia 1 After the second penetration of the Antarctic the squadron rendezvoused in New Zealand in April 1840 to survey Pacific islands northward toward the Hawaiians where the ships were repaired late in the year Flying Fish sailed with USS Peacock to resurvey some of the Samoan Ellice Kingsmill and Pescadore Islands before joining the main body of the squadron on the northwest coast of America in July 1841 Flying Fish made surveys in the Columbia River and around Vancouver then proceeded to San Francisco from which the squadron sailed 1 November for the south Pacific Arriving in the Philippines in mid January 1842 Flying Fish and the other ships separated to cruise the Sulu Seas then make a planned rendezvous at Singapore in February End of service editWhen the expedition stopped in Singapore on their way home it was discovered the Flying Fish was suffering from structural problems and was unfit for further service It was sold to an English resident for 3 700 on 24 February 1842 The rest of the squadron sailed for home on 26 February 4 1 3 There are rumors that the Flying Fish was repurposed to smuggle opium although there does not appear to be any recorded evidence of this 5 See also editBombardment of Upolu Battle of Drummond s Island List of Northeastern U S Pilot BoatsReferences edit a b c Flying Fish I Schooner www history navy mil Retrieved 2021 05 07 Vessels Launched in 1837 PDF Morning Herald New York New York 1838 01 14 Retrieved 2021 05 07 a b Bent Arthur Cleveland 1923 Life Histories of North American Wild Fowl p 47 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a work ignored help Stanton William 1975 The Great United States Exploring Expedition Berkeley University of California Press pp 274 ISBN 0520025571 Philbrick Nathaniel 2004 Sea of glory America s voyage of discovery the U S Exploring Expedition 1838 1842 New York Penguin Books ISBN 978 1 4406 4554 9 OCLC 607563644 This article incorporates text from the public domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title USS Flying Fish 1838 amp oldid 1145595798, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
