Just FYI, SS W S JENNINGS was a Liberty ship, one of about 2,700 virtually identical cargo ships built during World War II. Some (although probably not W S JENNINGS) were configured to carry troops as well as cargo. She was built in 61 days in June-August 1944 by the St. Johns River Shipbuilding Company in Jacksonville, Florida. I find nothing of particular significance about her so she may have had an uneventful wartime career. She was laid up ("mothballed") in the reserve fleet in the James River, Virginia, some time after the war and was eventually scrapped in Italy in 1970. See http://shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/4emergencylarge/wwtwo/stjohnsriver.htm and scroll to hull number 51. Also see http://www.mariners-l.co.uk/LibShipsW.html and scroll to the name of the ship.
I find W S JENNINGS in convoy HX-305, departing New York on Aug 25, 1944 (presumably her maiden voyage) and arriving Liverpool on Sept 10. JENNINGS actually went to Hull, England, on England's east coast instead of Liverpool (on England's west coast), arriving on an unspecified date. See http://www.warsailors.com/convoys/hx305.html. W S JENNINGS returned to New York in convoy ON-256, leaving Liverpool on Sept 28, 1944, and arriving in New York on Oct 12, 1944. See http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/on/index.html?onz.php?convoy=256!~onzmain.
Later I find W S JENNINGS in convoy UGS-59 leaving Hampton Roads (i.e., Norfolk area) on Nov 1, 1944. The convoy was to end in Port Said, Egypt, but W S JENNINGS and other ships split off to various other destinations, with W S JENNINGS heading to France (unspecified port and unspecified arrival date). See http://convoyweb.org.uk/ugs/index.html?ugs.php?convoy=59!~ugsmain. She returned to Hampton Roads in convoy GUS-60, which left Oran, Algeria, on Dec 3, 1944, probably picking up other ships as the convoy proceeded west, presumably including W S JENNINGS sailing south from France. The convoy reached Hampton Roads on Dec 22, 1944. (Either that or the reported diversion to France is in error and W S JENNINGS remained with convoy UGS-59 into the Mediterranean.) See http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/gus/index.html
Still later, W S JENNINGS was in convoy HX-331, departing New York on Jan 8, 1945, and arriving Cherbourg, France, on an unspecified date probably late in January. She returned to New York in convoy ON-283, departing Southend, England, Feb 5, 1945, arriving New York on Feb 27, 1945. See http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/on/index.html.
I also found fragmentary information in which W S JENNINGS carried P-47 fighter planes from Italy to Brazil later in June 1945. This would have been after World War II ended in Europe. I can only speculate that this voyage was to transport surplus military equipment to augment the Brazilian air force.
That was a lot more information than you expected to find, I dare say.
As to when and why your life ring parted company with the ship, and how it made its way to the flea market at which you purchased it, I haven't the slightest idea.
Thanks for your message.
Ron Carlson, Webmaster
Armed Guard / Merchant Marine website
www.armed-guard.com
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