DE History

Many of the history pages include the work of noted DE researcher Anne McCarthy from her research spanning over 30 years. Also, Pat Perrella, USS Slater volunteer curator, working closely with Anne McCarthy and the webmaster, has provided her invaluable research data.

The stories told here were submitted by DE sailors or reprinted from DESANews.

This page is updated frequently, so please check back often.

The Destroyer Escort DE Roll of Honor - Gone but never forgotten

The Little Ship That Could DEs By Hull Number 1 - includes builder, dates laid, launched and more!!

Ernie Pyle - "Short Cruise on a DE" DEs By Hull Number 2 - hull number and ship name only

Alphabetical List of DEs DEs By Class

DE Presidential Unit Citations and Navy Unit Commendations DEs Named For Medal of Honor Recipients

DE Task Groups and Units DE Namesakes by State/Country

DE Divisions
DE U-boat Action in WWII

DE Action in WWII - A Timeline - Includes photos and action reports DEs Lost in WW II

DEs Manned by USCG DEs Converted To APDs

DE Construction Photos
DEs Scrapped or Canceled Before Completion

British DE U-boat Action in WWII DEs Unnamed, Canceled or Never Laid Down

DEs Built for the UK DE Decommissionings

DEs Built for the Free French Fleet
DEs in Korea and Other Cold War Transfers

DEs Built In Foreign Shipyards Ship Christening and Commissioning

DE Name Changes DE Deck Log Poems

DE/APD Battle Star Awards DE Stories

September 2, 1945 - The Japanese Surrender
Includes Memories of September 2
Surrenders of Millie Atoll and Wake Island, both on board USS Levy DE 162
Surrender of Jaluit Atoll on board USS McConnell DE 163
Surrender of Northern Palau Islands aboard USS Amick DE 168
Surrender of Kusaie Island on board USS Ricketts DE 254
Surrender of Ponape Island on board USS Farquhar DE 139
Surrender of Woleai Atoll on board USS Sloat DE 245
Surrender of Wotje Atoll on board USS Baron DE 166
Photos on board USS Missouri and a list of DEs and APDs present at Tokyo Bay.

The Battle of Leyte Gulf - Battle off Samar
"This will be a fight against overwhelming odds, from which survival cannot be expected. We will do what damage we can." The crew of USS SAMUEL B. ROBERTS DE-413 was about to enter the most deadly, most heroic battle fought by DEs in WWII.

The Great Atlantic Hurricane of September 1944 - A DE Sailor's Remembrances

The Mothball Fleet at Green Cove Springs, FL - Long after the war ended, one man's quest to document the resting place of hundreds of DEs and APDs.

The Battle of Point Judith - includes USS Atherton DE 169, USS Amick DE 168, USS Frost DE 144, USS Carter DE 112 and USS Neal A. Scott DE 769. A story about the last U-boat battle of the Atlantic.
USS Atherton DE 169 Donates Flag Flown Aboard Ship during the Battle of Point Judith to USS SLATER - June 2008

USS Atherton DE 169 Crewmembers Reunite With A German POW in 2006
USS Atherton DE 169 Still in Service in 2008 as BRP Rajah Humabon (PF-11), a Frigate of the Philippine Navy. See current photos.

USS Tomich DE 242

HMS Fitzroy K 553 - The Forgotten Operation. 33 U-boats Surrender in Loch Erinboll.

USS Conklin DE 439 - The Typhoon of June 1945

USS O'Flaherty DE 340

Much more to come!
Want your story on this page? Email your information to the webmaster.

The long awaited compiled work of noted DE historian Anne McCarthy.

A definitive resource for DE historians and ship enthusiasts.

Available online only - Coming November 2009.

See Photos and a Listing of the Artifacts and Memorabilia
Donated by DE Sailors and Families
to
Destroyer Escort Historical Museum
USS SLATER DE 766

DESA mourns the sudden loss of Anne on 15 November 2006.
We have lost a dear friend and colleague. She did not live to see her
book published on this website but her final copy was submitted and will be
published in her memory. DE researchers are indebted to Anne for her
years of extensive research and assistance to others.