USS De Haven (DD-469)

USS "De Haven" (DD-469) was a "Fletcher"-class destroyer of the United States Navy, the first Navy ship named for Lieutenant Edwin J. De Haven USN (1819–1865). "De Haven" was the first "Fletcher"-class ship lost in World War II, having been in commission only 133 days.

"De Haven" was laid down by the Bath Iron Works Corporation at Bath, Maine on 27 September 1941, launched on 28 June 1942 by Miss H. N. De Haven, granddaughter of Lt. De Haven, and commissioned on 21 September 1942, Commander Charles E. Tolman in command.

History

"De Haven" sailed from Norfolk, Va. and reached Tongatapu, Tonga Islands, 28 November 1942 to escort a convoy of troopships to Guadalcanal to relieve the Marines who had been there since the invasion landings in August. "De Haven" screened the transports off Guadalcanal from 7 to 14 December, then sailed out of Espiritu Santo and Nouméa in the continuing Solomon Islands operations. She patrolled in the waters of the Southern Solomons to stop the "Tokyo Express", the nightly effort to supply the beleaguered Japanese troops still fighting on the invaded islands, and took part in two bombardments of Kolombangara Island during January 1943.

On 1 February 1943 "De Haven" screened six LCTs and a seaplane tender establishing a beachhead at Marovo on Guadalcanal. While escorting two of the landing craft back to their base in the afternoon, "De Haven" was warned of an impending air attack by Japanese aircraft supporting Operation Ke. She sighted nine unidentified planes and opened fire as six swung sharply toward her. She shot down three of these planes, but not before all six had dropped their bombs. "De Haven" was hit by three bombs and further damaged by a near miss. One bomb hit the superstructure squarely, killing the commanding officer at once. All way was lost after the first hit and the ship began to settle rapidly, sinking about 2 miles east of Savo Island. One of the LCTs she had escorted rescued the survivors. "De Haven" lost 167 killed and 38 wounded.

Honors

"De Haven" received one battle star for World War II.

References

*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/d2/de_haven-i.htm

External links

* [http://www.destroyerhistory.org/fletcherclass/ussdehaven/index.html USS "De Haven" website] at [http://www.destroyerhistory.org/index.html Destroyer History Foundation]
* [http://www.ussdehaven.org/first.htm First "DeHaven" (DD-469)] at [http://www.ussdehaven.org/ USS DeHaven Sailors Association]
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/d2/de_haven-i.htm history.navy.mil: USS "De Haven"]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/469.htm navsource.org: USS "De Haven"]
* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/destroy/dd469txt.htm hazegray.org: USS "De Haven"]