USS Dade (APA-99)

USS "Dade" (APA-99) was a sclass|Bayfield|attack transport that served with the US Navy during World War II.

"Dade" was launched 14 January 1944 by Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi, under a Maritime Commission contract; transferred to the Navy 29 April and placed in partial commission the same day; decommissioned 9 May for conversion at Todd-Hoboken Yards, Hoboken, New Jersey; and placed in full commission 11 November 1944, Commander M. P. Du Val in command.

Operational history

Departing Norfolk, Virginia 15 December 1944 "Dade" arrived at San Francisco 30 December to embark passengers and cargo. On 7 January 1945 she sailed for Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, and Tulagi, Solomon Islands where she off-loaded her passengers and cargo and trained for the forthcoming assault on Okinawa.

Okinawa

After final staging at Ulithi, "Dade" participated in the invasion landings at Okinawa 1 April, landing Marines and combat cargo on Blue Beach and embarking casualties under frequent air attack. Sailing to Pearl Harbor, she arrived 23 April to embark Navy and Marine passengers, casualties, and medical evacuees for San Francisco.

After overhaul, "Dade" departed San Francisco 22 June 1945 via Pearl Harbor, to San Pedro Bay, Philippine Islands, with construction battalion men and cargo, arriving 27 July. She served as receiving ship at Eniwetok from 13 to 19 August.

After hostilities

With the end of the war, "Dade" returned to the Philippines, embarking troops at Manila for the occupation of Japan and landing them at Yokohama 13 September. Aiding in the reoccupation of China, she carried American marines from Guam to Tsingtao, and Chinese troops from Indochina to Chinwangtao and Taku. She embarked homeward bound troops at Manila and sailed for the West Coast, entering San Francisco Bay 17 December 1945. "Dade" cleared on 11 January 1946 for New York, arriving 29 January. She was decommissioned there 25 February and returned to the Maritime Commission the same day.

Dade received one battle star for World War II service.

References

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* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/03/03099.htm APA-99 "Dade"] , Navsource Online