- USS Crosby (DD-164)
USS "Crosby" (DD–164) was a "Wickes" class
destroyer in theUnited States Navy duringWorld War II , later reclassified as APD-17. She was named for AdmiralPeirce Crosby .History
"Crosby" was launched
28 September 1918 byBethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation ,Quincy, Massachusetts , sponsored by Mrs. C. Tittman; commissioned24 January 1919 , Lieutenant CommanderF. T. Berry in command; and reported to the Atlantic Fleet."Crosby" joined in exercises in Guantanamo Bay until sailing for
Trepassey Bay , Newfoundland in May 1919, to serve as plane guard during the historic flight of Navy seaplanes, the first aerial crossing of the Atlantic.On
1 July 1919 "Crosby" was assigned to the Pacific Fleet, and a week later she sailed from New York for San Diego, arriving7 August . She visitedPortland, Oregon , andSeattle, Washington , then was placed in reserve status with reduced complement at San Diego30 January 1920 . She continued in reserve and was decommissioned7 June 1922 .World War II
Recommissioned
18 December 1939 , "Crosby" sailed onNeutrality Patrol out of San Pedro from1 April 1940 . On1 July 1940 she was assigned to the llth Naval District Defense Forces, and after a reserve training cruise resumed her patrols and provided services to Destroyer Base, San Diego for the training of destroyer crews.With the entry of the United States into the war, "Crosby" continued to patrol the waters of the
llth Naval District and to escort convoys locally until1 February 1943 when she enteredMare Island Navy Yard for conversion to a high-speed transport. She was reclassified APD-17,22 February 1943 .Clearing
San Francisco 27 February 1943 , "Crosby" sailed by way ofPearl Harbor ,Samoa ,Viti Levu , andNoumea toEspiritu Santo , arriving27 March for training exercises with the 4th Marines. Beginning the distinguished active service which was to bring her aNavy Unit Commendation , "Crosby" cleared29 April forGuadalcanal as a transport screen. She made two similar voyages until6 June , then reported for patrol and escort duty in theSolomons . "Crosby" effectively aided in the consolidation of the Solomons, landing troops onNew Georgia between30 June and5 July ; on theTreasury Islands under heavy gunfire on27 October ; and on Bougainville on 6 and17 November . She sailed21 November for overhaul atBrisbane, Australia , returning toMilne Bay, New Guinea ,12 December . She trained Army and Marine personnel in amphibious landings, then landed troops atCape Gloucester ,New Britain , between 24 and29 December 1943 and atDekays Bay , New Guinea on2 January 1944 .Clearing Milne Bay
6 January 1944 , "Crosby" escorted convoys from Espiritu Santo to the Solomon Islands through January, remaining in the Solomons on antisubmarine patrol and screening duty. She landed troops on Green Island from 15 to20 February and onEmirau Island on20 March . Returning to the New Guinea operations6 April , she landed troops atAitape on 22 and26 April ; escorted convoys toHollandia ; participated in the invasion ofBiak Island on27 May ; and served asflagship for landing craft in Humboldt Bay from31 May to6 July . Following a brief overhaul at Manus, she landed troops onCape Sansapor on30 July , then sailed toSydney ,Australia , for replenishment and repairs. She returned to Humboldt Bay on30 August and landed troops onMorotai 15 September to complete her operations in the New Guinea area."Crosby" put out from Humboldt Bay
12 October 1944 and put men of the 6th Rangers ashore onSuluan Island , Leyte,17 October , for a reconnaissance mission. In preparation for the invasion landings, she landed troops onDinagat Island , at the opening ofLeyte Gulf on 19 and20 October . Reloading troops at Humboldt Bay, she landed them inOrmoc Bay 7 December . She recovered the survivors of "Ward" (DD-139) which was sunk by American gunfire after severe damage from Japanese Kamakazi's. "Crosby" participated in the landings onMindoro 15 December and again returned to Humboldt Bay for additional men. After landing her troops atLingayen Gulf on11 January 1945 , "Crosby" continued to support theLuzon landings, landing men successfully atNasugbu on31 January ;Mariveles on15 February ; andCorregidor on17 February . On25 February she cleared forUlithi and an overhaul."Crosby" arrived at
Okinawa 18 April and for hazardous antisubmarine patrol and radar picket duty, narrowly escaping damage from a suicide plane13 May . She stood out for San Francisco18 May and arrived19 June . Overage and badly battered from her long and strenuous service, it was considered unfeasible to repair her. "Crosby" was decommissioned28 September 1945 and sold23 May 1946 .In addition to her Navy Unit Commendation, "Crosby" earned 10
battle star s for World War II service.As of 2004, no other ship in the United States Navy has borne this name.
ee also
*
List of United States Navy destroyers References
*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/c15/crosby.htm
External links
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/164.htm NavSource Photos]
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