USS Fletcher (DD-445) - Naval History and Heritage Command

USS Fletcher (DD-445) was commissioned on 30 June 1942, with Lieutenant Commander W. M. Cole in command. The ship was named to honor Admiral ... 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Close NotableShips » ModernShips » Fletcher(DD-445) Alchiba(AK-23) Arizona(BB-39) Cole(DDG-67) USSColeInMemoriam USSColeNavyandMarineCorpsMedals USSColeLegionofMerit USSColePurpleHeartRecipients USSColeMeritoriousServiceMedal USSColeNavyandMarineCorpsCommendationMedal USSColeNavyandMarineCorpsAchievementMedal USSColeNavyUnitCommendation USSpecialOperationsForces(SOF):BackgroundandIssuesforCongress TerroristAttackonUSSCole:BackgroundandIssuesforCongress Fletcher(DD-445) Harmon(DE-678) Houston(CA-30) Indianapolis(CA-35) JacobJones(DD-61) Johnston(DD-557) Maddox(DD-731) Missouri(BB-63) O'Bannon(DD-450) Pueblo(AGER-2) SamuelB.Roberts(FFG-58) SanDiego(CL-53) SanFrancisco(CA-38) Tripoli(LPH-10) Washington(BB-56) Tags RelatedContent Topic TheaterofOperations--Pacific Antisubmarine MedalofHonor Boats-Ships--Destroyer DocumentType HistoricalSummary Wars&Conflicts KoreanConflict1950-1954 WorldWarII1939-1945 VietnamConflict1962-1975 NavyCommunities FileFormats Image(gif,jpg,tiff) LocationofArchivalMaterials NHHC AuthorName PlaceofEvent RecipientName USSFletcher (DD-445) USSFletcher(DD-445)underwayatsea,circathe1960s.NavalHistoryandHeritageCommandphotograph,NH68912. USSFletcher(DD-445)wascommissionedon30June1942,with LieutenantCommanderW.M.Coleincommand.TheshipwasnamedtohonorAdmiralFrankFridayFletcher,whoreceivedtheMedalofHonorforhisleadershipduringtheMexican-AmericanWar.TheshipwasthefirstoftheFletcher-classdestroyersthatwerebuiltduringWorldWarII.  AboutfourmonthsafterFletcherjoinedthefleet,shearrivedatNoumea,NewCaledonia,andbeganescortandpatroldutyinthewatersofGuadalcanal,bombardingLungaPointon30October.On9November,sheprovidedcoverforthelandingsofreinforcementsontheembattledisland,andthreedayslaterdroveoffaheavyenemyaerialattacksplashingseveralJapaneseaircraftduringtheopeningphaseoftheGuadalcanalcampaign.On13November,shejoinedotherAmericanshipsinsinkingtwoenemydestroyersanddamagingbattleship Hiei,whichwaslatersentbelowthewavesbynavalaviation.FletcherlatersoughtreplenishmentatEspirituSantoandafterwardspatrolledforenemysubmarinesoffNoumea.On30November,FletcherledtheforcethroughtheLengoChannel,andmadethefirstradarcontactwiththeenemyoff Tassafarongajustbeforemidnight.Duringtheensuingbattle,theJapaneselostonedestroyerandanotherwasslightlydamaged.FourAmericancruisersweredamaged,butallbutoneweresavedduetosuperbdamagecontrolmeasures.Notably,crewmembersfromFletcheringeniouslyriggedcork-floatedcargonetstorescuegroupsofcrewmembersfromthewaterofthesunkencruiserUSS Northampton (CA-26). FletchercontinuedtooperateintheSolomonsthefollowingyear patrolling,bombardingshoretargets,drivingoffJapaneseairattacks,rescuingdownedaviators,destroyingJapaneselandingbarges,andcoveringnewlandingsonthenortherncoastofGuadalcanal.On11February1943,thedestroyerwasalertedbyasmokefloatdroppedbyanaircraftfromUSSHelena (CL-50)ofthepresenceofJapanesesubmarine I-18,whichwassubsequentlyattackedandsankbyFletcher.ShesteamedtosupportthelandingsontheRussellIslandson21February,andbombardedanenemyairfieldonNewGeorgiaduringthenightof5–6March. BetweenlateAprilintoearlyMay,FletcherwasinSydney,Australia,forawell-deservedbreakandtogettheshipintip-top-shapeforstrenuousdutyintheSolomons.Afteraboutamonthofpatrolling,shedepartedEspirituSantoon19Juneforastatesideoverhaul,andreturnedtoNoumeaon27Septembertoresumeherformerpatrols.On26November,shesortiedwithacarriertaskgrouptoprovideairsupportfortheinvasionoftheGilbertIslands,fightingoffaJapanesecounter-attack.Again, Fletcher firedonJapaneseaircrafton4December,whenthetaskgroupcameunderheavyenemyattackafterithadinitiallystruckKwajalein. FletcherreturnedtoPearlHarboron9December,andafterabriefoverhaulandtrainingontheU.S.westcoast,wasreadytofightintheMarshalls.ShescreenedagroupoftransportsfromSanDiegotoLahainaRoads,andthenjoinedinthebombardmentofWotjeAtollon30January1944.Thenextday,Fletcherjoinedthemainattackgroupforthe landingsonKwajalein,screeningtransportsandpatrollingofftheatolluntil4February. On15February,shemadewaytoMajurofordutyscreeningbattleshipsinthebombardmentsofTaroaandWotje,20–21February,thenpatrolledoffEniwetok. AftertrainingoffPortPurvis, FletcherarrivedatCapeSudest,NewGuinea,on18April1944,whereshewouldremainforthenextmonthinsupportof theHumboldtBaylandings.FletcherparticipatedinthebombardmentofAliandSeleoIslandson23Aprilandcoveredreinforcementsaweeklater.Later,shethwartedanattemptbytheJapanesetoreinforcetheirBiakgarrison,thenprovidedshorebombardmentfortheinvasionsofNoemfoor,Sansapor,andMorotai.Fletchercontinuedtooperatethroughthesummerpatrollingandescortingreinforcements. On9October,FletcherreachedManusfromHumboldtBaytopreparefortheBattleofLeyteGulf.ShecoveredAmericantroopsduringtheinitiallandingson20October.Thenextday,shedepartedforNewGuineaandreturnedtoLeytewithtransportscarryingreinforcementson23November.Throughthenextmonth,FletchersupportedtheliberationofthePhilippines,escortingconvoys,bombardmentsatOrmocBayandMindoro,andfiringonJapaneseaircraftinseveralattacks. Thefollowingyear,FletchermadewayfromSanPedroBaytoprovideclosecoversupportfortheLuzonAttackForcesplashingseveralenemyaircraftalongtheway.AftersupportingthelandingsonLuzon,FletcherenteredSubicBayforminesweepingoperations,andthenon31January,providedfiresupportforthelandingsinNasugbuBay.On13February,FletcherprovidedbombardmentsupportintheoccupationofBataanandCorregidor.Duringtheoperation,whilefiringonJapanesebatteries,Fletchertookahit,whichkilledeightandwoundedthreeofhercrew.Shecontinuedtofireontheenemyasdamagecontrolcommencedandahalf-hourlateraddedrescueoperationstoheractivitiesasshetookonsurvivorsof YMS-48, alsohitbyJapanesefire.WaterTenderSecondClassElmerCharlesBigelowwouldlaterreceivetheMedalofHonorposthumouslyforbraveryduringdamagecontrolefforts.Hewascreditedwithkeepingtheship’smagazinefromexploding,whichundoubtedlywouldhavelefttheshipwallowingatthemercyofthefuriouslypoundingJapanesegunsonCorregidor. Fortheremainderofthewar,Fletcher tookpartinthelandingsatPuertoPrincesa,Palawan,andZamboanga,coveredminesweepingandlandingsatTarakan,andprovidedlocalpatrolandescortserviceinthePhilippinesuntil13May,whenshesailedforawestcoastoverhaul.WorldWarIIendedlaterthatyear.Fletcherwasplacedincommissioninreserveandlateroutofcommissioninreserve.On26March1949,FletcherwasreclassifiedDDE-445andwasrecommissionedon3Octoberasaspecialistinantisubmarinewarfare. WhentheKoreanWarbrokeout,FletcherwasinHongKongwithUSSValleyForge (CV-45),andon3July,arrivedinKoreanwaterswhereshelaunchedairstrikesagainstNorthKorea.Throughthesummer,shepatrolledtheKoreanPeninsulareplenishingwhennecessaryatlocationssuchasOkinawaandJapan.From13–17September,Fletcherparticipatedinthehighly-successfulinvasionofInchon.ShereturnedtoPearlHarborthenextmonth.Ayearlater,FletcherreturnedtoKoreanwaterswhereshescreenedthecarriersoftheSeventhFleet.Shealsoconductedshorebombardmentoperations,participatedinantisubmarinetrainingoffOkinawa,andpatrolledintheTaiwanStraits. ShereturnedtoPearlHarborinJune1952. From1954to1962,FletcherannuallysailedtotheFarEastfordutywithSeventhFleet.In1955,sheprovidedantisubmarinescreeningfortheevacuationoftheTachenIslands,andin1957and1958,madewaytoSamoaandAustralia.FletcheralsoservedwithdistinctionduringtheVietnamWar.FletcherwasdecommissionedatSanDiegoon1August1969.Althougheffortsweremadeto“savetheship,”sheultimatelymetthescrapper’storchin1972. Fletcher received15battlestarsforherWorldWarIIservice,fivefortheKoreanWar,andsevenmoreforherserviceduringtheVietnamWar. ***** SuggestedReading H-Gram012-1:Guadalcanal,1942—TheBattleofFridaythe13th H-Gram015-2:GuadalcanalCampaign—BattleofRennellIslandandOperation Ke H-Gram022-5:BattleofVellaLavella—TheLastJapaneseVictory,6–7October1943 H-Gram040-2:Leyte,OrmocBay,andMindoro H-Gram054-1:InchonLandingandNavalActionintheKoreanWar,September−October1950 NavalBattleofGuadalcanal:HistoricalSummarybyNHHCHistorianChristopherB.Havern SurfaceNavy   InterviewswithUSSFletcher(DD-445)crewmembers DonaldC.Sinclair JohnL.Atkins Infographic ThisinfographicsharesthehistoryofU.S.Navydestroyers.TheU.S.Navy'sdestroyershaveevolvedfromsmall,fast,close-insurfacecombatantstomulti-missionoffensiveanddefensivewarshipsthatcanoperateindependentlyoraspartofstrikegroups.(U.S.NavygraphicbyAnnalisaUnderwoodandMassCommunicationSpecialist1stClassCliffordDavis/Released) SelectedImagery AdmiralFrankF.FletcherreceivedtheMedalofHonorforhisactionsduringtheinterventionatVeraCruz,Mexico,21–22April1914.USSFletcher(DD-445)wasnamedinhishonor.NavalHistoryandHeritageCommandphotograph,NH49561. USSFletcher(DD-445)underwayoffNewYork,18July1942.NationalArchivesphotograph,19-N-31245. USSFletcher(DD-445)offtheMareIslandNavyYard,California,circamid-August1943.NavalHistoryandHeritageCommandphotograph,NH63537. InsigniaforUSSFletcher(DD-445).NavalHistoryandHeritageCommandphotograph,NH71840-KN. USSFletcher(DDE-445)underwayatseain1967whileservingwithDestroyerSquadron25.NavalHistoryandHeritageCommandphotograph,NH68915. USSFletcher(DD-445)maneuveringoffNewYork,18July1942.PhotographfromtheBureauofShipscollectionintheU.S.NationalArchives,19-N-31243. USSFletcher(DD-445)atanchorinPurvisBay,FloridaIsland,SolomonIslands,on26March1943.NavalHistoryandHeritageCommandphotograph,NH53916. WaterTenderSecondClassElmerCharlesBigelowwasposthumouslyawardedtheMedalofHonorforheroismincombatactiononboardUSSFletcher(DD-445)duringtheCorregidoroperation,14February1945.NavalHistoryandHeritageCommandphotograph,NH77726. USSFletcher(DDE-445)inPearlHarbor,Hawaii,circa1964.NavalHistoryandHeritageCommandphotograph,NH68911. USSFletcher(DDE-445)underwayatseain1967.NavalHistoryandHeritageCommandphotograph,NH68919. Footnotes hide Published:WedAug0415:47:19EDT2021 NHHC|Research|OurCollections|VisitOurMuseums BrowsebyTopic|News&Events|GetInvolved|AboutUs Accessibility/Section508| EmployeeLogin| FOIA| NHHCIG| Privacy| Webmaster| Navy.mil| NavyRecruiting| Careers| USA.gov| USAJobs NoFearAct| SiteMap| ThisisanofficialU.S.Navywebsite