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USS HENRY B. WILSON (DD-957 / DDG-7)


Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign - NFZT

Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign (circa 1968) - BLACK VELVET

CLASS - CHARLES F. ADAMS As Built.
Displacement 4526 Tons (Full), Dimensions, 437' (oa) x 47' x 15' (Max)
Armament 2 x 5"/54 RF (2x1), Tartar SAM (1x2 Mk 11) ASROC ASW (1x8), 6 x 12.75" Mk 32 ASW TT (2x3).
Machinery, 70,000 SHP; Geared Turbines, 2 screws
Speed, 33 Knots, Range 4500 NM@ 20 Knots, Crew 333-350.
Operational and Building Data
Originally classified as DD-957, classification changed to DDG-7 April 23 1957.
Laid down by Defoe Shipbuilding, Bay City Mich. on February 28 1958.
Launched April 22 1959 and commissioned August 11 1960.
Decommissioned October 2 1989.
Stricken January 26 1990.
Fate Sunk as a target off California August 15 2003.

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Wilson 58kHenry Braid Wilson was born 23 February 1861 at Camden, N.J., and graduated from the Naval Academy in 1881. During the early days of his career he served in Tennessee and Saratoga and on coast survey expeditions to the Bering Sea. During the Spanish-American war Wilson was attached to gunboat Bancroft and was commended for bravery. In the years that followed he served in many ships, and was Pennsylvania's first commanding officer in 1916. He commanded the Atlantic Fleet's patrol forces during the First World War, and was responsible for the safe convoying of troops and supplies to Europe. For his outstanding service Wilson was awarded both the Navy and War Department Distinguished Service Medals. Following the war, he was Commander-in-Chief U.S. Atlantic Fleet and later the Battle Fleet commander. In 1921 Admiral Wilson took over as Superintendent of the Naval Academy, and in his 4 years at Annapolis did much to raise its academic standing and improve the quality of education. Admiral Wilson retired in 1925 after nearly 50 years of service as seaman, leader, and educator. He died 30 January 1954 at New York City. Photo #: 80-G-1024939. Admiral Henry B. Wilson, USN, Commander in Chief, Atlantic Fleet, Admiral Robert E. Coontz, USN, Chief of Naval Operations, and Admiral Hugh Rodman, USN, Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet. (listed from left to right) Photographed at the Navy Department, Washington, D.C., in 1919. Photo from the New York Public Library.Bill Gonyo
Wilson 99kUndated, location unknown.-
Wilson 66kUndated postcard Copyright © Marine Photos, San Diego, CA.Mike Smolinski
Wilson 66kUndated postcard Copyright © Marine Photos, San Diego, CA.Mike Smolinski
Wilson 121kUndated, location unknown.Robert M. Cieri
Wilson 95kUndated, location unknown.ssharpbt2
Wilson 178kUndated, location unknown.ssharpbt2
Wilson 202kUndated, location unknown.ssharpbt2
Wilson 210kUndated, location unknown.ssharpbt2
Wilson 62kUndated, location unknown.Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
Wilson 11kUndated, location unknown.Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
Wilson 282kA few days before launchingS. Dale Hargrave
Wilson 29kTom DeFoe and Mrs. J.P. Hurley christen the first of the Navy's guided missile destroyers built at the DeFoe Yards, April 22 1959. Photo by DeFoe Shipyards.Bill Gonyo
Wilson 206kLaunching of the USS Henry B. Wilson DDG 7, April 22 1959.S. Dale Hargrave
Wilson 160kLaunching of the USS Henry B. Wilson DDG 7, April 22 1959.S. Dale Hargrave
Wilson 144kLaunching of the USS Henry B. Wilson DDG 7, April 22 1959.S. Dale Hargrave
Wilson 87kUSS Henry B. Wilson (DDG-7), underway circa 1961, location unknown. Photo from "Jane's Fighting Ships" 1961-62 edition.Robert Hurst
Wilson 49kAlongside USS Galveston (CLG-3) circa 1963 on a WestPac deployment.Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
Wilson 110kUSS Henry B. Wilson (DDG-7) maneuvering off Vancouver BC on June 26 1964. Source: City of Vancouver Archives, Photo No. AM1506-S3-3-: CVA 447-5005, by Walter E. Frost.Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
Wilson 142kAs seen from the USS England (DLG-22) in February 1967 on SAR station in the Tonkin Gulf.John Spivey
Wilson 176kAugust 2 1968, location unknown.Chris Howell
Wilson 155kAs above.Chris Howell
Wilson 208kUSS Henry W. Tucker (D-875), USS Henry B. Wilson (DDG-7) and USS Rupertus (DD-851) at Subic Bay in 1971.Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
Wilson 115kComing alonside the USS Oriskany (CVA-34) in 1971, transiting from Vietnam to CONUS.Bob Canchola
Wilson 108kAs above with the USS Rupertus (DD-851) in the background.Bob Canchola
Wilson 109kAs above with the USS Rupertus (DD-851) in the background.Bob Canchola
Wilson 18kComing alongside the USS Passumpsic (AO 107), August 1971.R. Scott Noble, CAPT, USNR (Ret.)
Wilson 19kRefueliong from the USS Passumpsic (AO 107), August 1971.R. Scott Noble, CAPT, USNR (Ret.)
Wilson 186kCirca after her Vietnam deployment, probably somewhere in Asia.-
Edson 89kUSS Edson (DD-946) with USS Henry B. Wilson (DDG-7) April 1975, prior to Operation Eagle Pull.R. Scott Noble, CAPT, USNR (Ret.)
Wilson 115kTwo views of the Wilson in San Diego Bay during October 1980.Richard Stiles
Wilson 132kAs above.Richard Stiles
Wilson 124kCirca 1980-81 from the Ship's Executive Officer, CDR Frank Dengler, USN (Ret.) collection.Patricia Dengler
Wilson 131kAugust 28, 1981, USS Henry B. Wilson (DDG-7) docked at Naval Station Subic Bay, Luzon, Philippines. Moored forward is the USS William H. Standley (CG-32) and aft is the USS Sterett (CG-31).Gerd Matthes
Wilson 51kJune 29 1983, a port beam view of the guided missile destroyer USS Henry B. Wilson (DDG 7) underway off the coast of California.Fred Weiss
Wilson 58kJune 29 1983, a port quarter view of the guided missile destroyer USS Henry B. Wilson (DDG 7) underway off the coast of California.Fred Weiss
Wilson 52kJune 29 1983, a starboard beam view of the guided missile destroyer USS Henry B. Wilson(DDG 7) underway off the coast of California.Fred Weiss
Wilson 27kSeattle, WA August 1983.Marc Piché
Wilson 56kSeattle, WA August 1983.Marc Piché
Wilson 44kVancouver, BC July 1984.Marc Piché
Wilson 105kDN-SC-85-05478. An aerial port bow view of the guided missile destroyer USS HENRY B. WILSON (DDG 7) firing an RUR-5A ASROC missile, March 13 1985.Bill Gonyo
Wilson 28kVancouver, BC July 1985.Marc Piché
Wilson 39kVancouver, BC June 5 1986.Marc Piché
Wilson 69kFremantle, Australia March 31 1989.Marc Piché
Wilson 55kFremantle, Australia March 31 1989.Marc Piché
Wilson 167kDN-SC-90-01468. A starboard bow view of the guided missile destroyer USS HENRY B. WILSON (DDG 7) underway off the coast of Southern California. Photo by PH2 Gunther, April 21 1989.Bill Gonyo
Wilson 109kDN-SC-85-00434. An aerial starboard bow view of the guided missile destroyer USS HENRY B. WILSON (DDG 7). Photo by PH1 Kristofferson, June 29 19??.Bill Gonyo
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Decommissioning pamphlet - October 2 1989
Wolfgang Hechler
Wilson 307kDN-SC-92-02885. Pearl Harbor, June 1 1991, four decommissioned Charles F. Adams-class guided-missile destroyers lie tied up in the Middle Loch. The ships are, from front to back: the Cochrane (DDG 21), the Henry B. Wilson (DDG 7), the Joseph Strauss (DDG 16) and the Hoel (DDG 13). U.S. Navy photo by OS2 John Bouvia.Robert M. Cieri
Wilson 216kDN-SC-92-02897. Pearl Harbor, June 1 1991, four decommissioned Charles F. Adams class guided missile destroyers lie at anchor in the Middle Loch. The ships are, from left to right: the Hoel (DDG 13), the Joseph Strauss (DDG 16), the Henry B. Wilson (DDG 7) and the Cochrane (DDG 21). U.S. Navy photo by OS2 John Bouvia.Robert M. Cieri
Wilson 50kPier 80S in San Francisco for conversion into power barge, June 1996.Marc Piché
Wilson 44kPier 80S in San Francisco for conversion into power barge, July 1996.Marc Piché
Wilson 54kPier 80S in San Francisco for conversion into power barge, July 1996.Marc Piché
Wilson 39kBridge, mast and ASROC of the USS WILSON (DDG-7) sitting on the pier after being cut from the ship.Michael Donegan
Wilson 126kAugust 2003 as the ship was being towed out of the Susuin Bay Reserve Fleet.© Kurt Greiner / SeaPhoto
Wilson 53kShip's patchMike Smolinski
Wilson 50kShip's patchMike Smolinski
Wilson 41kShip's patchMike Smolinski
Wilson 40kShip's patchMike Smolinski

USS HENRY B. WILSON DD-957 / DDG-7 History
View This Vessels DANFS History Entry
(Located On The hazegray Web Site, This Is The Main Archive For The DANFS Online Project.)

Commanding Officers
Thanks to Wolfgang Hechler & Ron Reeves


CDR Lawrence Davidson Caney    Dec 17 1960 - Jul 27 1962

CDR DeWitt Clinton Redgrave III    Jul 27 1962 - Dec 26 1963

CDR William Carlton Harris    Dec 26 1963 - Jul 21 1965

CDR Earle Leroy West    Jul 21 1965 - Sep 3 1966

CDR Edgar Maxwell Cocke    Sep 3 1966 - Jan 19 1968

CDR Eugene Irving Finke    Jan 19 1968 - Jan 3 1969

CDR Henry Croskey Mustin    Jan 3 1969 - Aug 20 1970 (Later VADM)

CDR Charles Gordon Farnham    Aug 20 1970 - Jan 7 1972

CDR Robert Lewis Jensen    Jan 7 1972 - Jan 12 1974

CDR John Michael Rodgers    Jan 12 1974 - Sep 30 1975

CDR Robert Taylor Scott Keith Jr.    Sep 30 1975 - Jul 15 1976

CDR Eugene Steven Dvornick    Jul 15 1976 - Aug 6 1979

CDR William J. Hill    Aug 6 1979 - Aug 21 1981

CDR Coenraad van der Schroeff    Aug 21 1981 - Aug 26 1983

CDR John Thomas Gilmartin    Aug 26 1983 - Dec 5 1985

CDR Thomas Herbert Berns    Dec 5 1985 - Mar 12 1988

CDR Norman Glen Berree    Mar 12 1988 - Aug 18 1989

LCDR David Lefevre Johnson    Aug 18 1989 - Oct 2 1989


Crew Contact And Reunion Information

Contact Name: Dan Marks
Address: 215 Vereda Patria, Rio Rico, AZ 85648
Phone: (520)841-3272
E-mail: dan_m@hughes.net


Note About Contacts.

The contact listed, Was the contact at the time for this ship when located. If another person now is the contact, E-mail me and I will update this entry. These contacts are compiled from various sources over a long period of time and may or may not be correct. Every effort has been made to list the newest contact if more than one contact was found.


Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
USS Henry B. Wilson Website
Adams Class Veterans Association Website
Tin Can Sailors Website
Destroyer History Foundation
Destroyers Online Website
Official U.S.Navy Destroyer Website

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This page was created by Fred Willishaw (ex ARG-4, AS-11 & DD-692) and is maintained by David L. Wright
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Last Updated 27 August 2017