USS ENGLAND DE 635
Off San Francisco, CA, 9 February 1944
Read the Presidential Unit Citation and more information The record written by England is unsurpassed in the
annals of antisubmarine warfare. In the last two weeks of May, 1944, England destroyed six
Japanese submarines: I-16, RO-106, RO-104, RO-116, RO-108 and RO-105. Less than one year later, 9 May 1945, England was
severely damaged by a Japanese kamikaze attack. The casualties were severe.
Gone But Not Forgotten
4 January 1945
Charles Kenneth Abshire S 2/C
9 May 1945
Charles Kenneth Abshire S 2/C
David Autrey F 2/C
Wayne T. Avery RM 3/C
Jack L. Balderston EM 2/C
Ralph N. Ball F 1/C
William J. Barber S 1/C
Harry W. Beggs RM 3/C
John R. Bell S 1/C
Lee D. Cantrell S 1/C
Albert Chernoff S 1/C
Billy C. Davis S 1/C
[Michael T. Di Blasi RM 2/C]?
Francis J. Faccilo S 2/C
Wyman T. Goodloe StM 1/C
Raymond M. Huffman S 1/C
James Earl Hurst S 2/C
Paul Jacobs EM 3/C
Harold G. Knight, Jr. Lt.
Billy H. Kuehnert Cox
Edward E. Lademann S 1/C
William J. Leiprant MM 3/C
Steve Maciboba GM 2/C
Frank S. Manlove CBM
Daniel P. McClain S 1/C
Dix Vinson Moser ENS
William A. Napper S 1/C
Harold S. Powell, Jr. S 1/C
Roland G. Rasmussen SF 1/C
Bernard J. Rau RdM 2/C
Wylie S. Rhodes RM 2/C
George T. Sartwelle, Jr. S 1/C
Milton H. Schindler CRM
James H. Shields F 1/C
Ralph E. Sonanstine RM 3/C
Julius A. Squire, Jr. S 2/C
Myrl R. Stuler ENS
10 May 1945
Stanley A. Larson S 2/C
11 May 1945
Carl H. Bricker SSML 3/C
Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection
in the U.S. National Archives. Photo #: 19-N-60939
ENGLAND (DE-635)
Named for Ensign John Charles England, b. 11 December 1920, Harris, MO;
KIA 7 December 1941 aboard OKLAHOMA (BB-37)
Type: TE
Builder: BSF
Keel laid 04/04/43
Launched 09/26/43
Commissioned 12/10/43
First CO: Cdr W. B. Pendleton (2)
*Redesignated as APD-41, but not converted
Decommissioned 10/15/45; ten battle stars
Stricken 11/01/45
Sold 11/26/46, scrapped
PUC; sank six Japanese subs within 12 days:
the only ship of any navy at any time to sink six subs in 12 days
Unit of CortDiv 40
*ENGLAND was redesignated APD-41 but was decommissioned before the conversion
was completed. The following email provides information about the initial
conversion:
"On 9 May 1945 the USS England DE 635 was severely damaged by a kamikaze at
Okinawa. After temporary repairs we were ordered to procede to the Philadelphia
Navy Yard for additional repairs. On 10 July 1945 we were transiting the Panama
Canal. The Deck Log for that day was headed 'USS England DE 635'. At 1550,
Landrum, S1c, from RPIO, Coco Solo, came aboard with registered publications and
departed at 1556. Bear in mind, at that time the ship had minimal electronics
aboard. No normal radar. No operable radio beyond a temorary short range voice
radio, probably a TBS. Later that day we completed the trip through the canal. I
have no actual knowledge of the contents of the registered publications, but ...
The following day, the Deck Log page dated 11 July 1945 was headed 'USS England
APD 41' and this heading was used continually through 15 October 1945 when the
ship was decommissioned. (I have copies.)
During the period the England was referred to as an APD, approximately 64 new
men were added to her Muster Role for duty, replacing some of us who were
transferred. A few of the 64 were re-transferred quickly. Some remained until
decommissioning. None ever lived aboard that I am aware of since the crew was
berthed on a nearby barge.
So ... I was transferred in September but before leaving, I did go aboard while
work was in progress. She did have a brand new stand up style messhall and was
starting to look sort of like an APD. As shown in the England website, the APD
41 name was applied to liberty chits during this time period.
Bob McCleeary
Ed. USS England DE-635 Newsletter
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