USS BUCKLEY DE 51
Buckley received the Navy Unit Commendation for sinking U-66
and three battle stars for her World War II service.
Buckley DE-51 was launched 9 January 1943 by Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard, Inc., Hingham, Mass; sponsored by Mrs. James Buckley, mother of Aviation Ordnanceman Buckley; and
commissioned 30 April 1943 Lieutenant Commander A. W. Slayden in command.
Between July 1943 and 22 April 1944 Buckley operated along the eastern seaboard as training ship for prospective officers and nucleus crews of other destroyer escorts.
On 22 April 1944 she joined hunter-killer TG 21.11 for a sweep of the North Atlantic and Mediterranean convoy routes. On the morning of 6 May aircraft from Block Island CVE-21 reported an
enemy submarine near Buckley. She steamed toward the surfaced submarine evading her torpedoes and gunfire, and commenced firing. At 0328 Buckley rammed the German submarine U-66 and then
backed off. Shortly thereafter, the submarine struck Buckley, opening a hole in the escort vessel's starboard side. The U-66 drew astern of Buckley and sank at 0341 in 17°17' N., 32°24'
W. Buckley picked up 36 German survivors and then retired to New York where she underwent repairs until 14 June 1944.
After completing refresher training at Casco Bay, Maine, in July 1944, Buckley escorted two convoys to North Africa (14 July-7 November 1944). She then operated on anti-submarine and
convoy escort duty along the eastern seaboard and in the North Atlantic until June 1945. During this period Buckley and Reuben James DE-153 sank the German submarine U-879 on 19 April
1945 in 42°19' N., 61°45' W.
Buckley escorted one more convoy to Algeria during June-July 1945 and upon her return to the east coast commenced conversion to a picket ship. In October 1945 she participated in the Navy
Day ceremonies at Jacksonville, Fla., and then on the 31st reported to the 16th Fleet at St. John's River, Fla. Buckley was placed out of commission in reserve 3 July 1946.
On 26 April 1949 her classification was changed to DER-51 and on 29 September 1954 she was reclassified DE-51.
(DANFS, Vol. I, B and Register of Ships of the US Navy, 1775-1990, Major Combatants, 1991, K. Jack Bauer and Stephen S. Roberts)
Photo courtesy of Patrick Clancey - Hyperwar Web Site
Named for Aviation Ordnanceman John Daniel
Buckley, b. 28 July 1920, North Providence, RI; KIA 7 December 1941
at Kaneohe NAS
Type: TE
Builder: BHM
Keel laid 07/21/42
Launched 01/09/43
Commissioned 04/30/43
First CO: Lt Cdr Alvin W. Slayden (1)
Decommissioned 07/03/46; three battle stars
Designated as DER 04/26/49-09/29/54
Stricken 06/01/68
Sold July 1969
Unit of CortDiv 60 and CortDiv 66
NUC
From
the research of Anne McCarthy,
with contributions by Pat Perrella and Pat Stephens, webmaster.
March 2006
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