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USS HENSHAW (DD-278)


Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign - NUJQ

CLASS - BELKNAP As Built.
Displacement 1,215 Tons, Dimensions, 314' 5" (oa) x 31' 8" x 9' 10" (Max)
Armament 4 x 4"/50, 1 x 3"/23AA, 12 x 21" tt..
Machinery, 26,500 SHP; Geared Turbines, 2 screws
Speed, 35 Knots, Crew 114
Operational and Building Data
Laid down by Bethlehem Shipbuilding, Squantum Ma. on January 3 1919.
Launched June 28 1919 and commissioned December 10 1919.
Decommissioned March 11 1930.
Stricken July 22 1930.
Fate Sold and Broken up for scrap in 1930.

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Henshaw 47kDavid Henshaw was born in Leicester, Massachusetts, on 2 April 1791. Trained as a druggist, he achieved notable success in that field, then expanded his energies into banking, transportation and politics. He was elected to the Massachusetts Senate in 1826 and served as Collector of the Port of Boston from the late 1820s until 1838. Though he suffered business reverses during the later 1830s, Henshaw regained his political position as a leader of the Massachusetts Democratic Party within a few years. In July 1843, President John Tyler selected David Henshaw to succeed Abel P. Upshur as Secretary of the Navy. During his brief term in office, he addressed shipbuilding problems, selected senior officers for important seagoing commands, revised supply arrangements in the Navy Yards and attempted to establish a school for Midshipmen. His recess appointment as Secretary failed to receive Congressional confirmation, requiring that he leave office when Thomas W. Gilmer was confirmed to succeed him. David Henshaw then returned to Massachusetts politics. He died on 11 November 1852. Digital ID: cph 3b06290, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.Bill Gonyo
Henshaw 83kUndated, location unknown.David Buell
Henshaw 169kUndated, location unknown. Photo form the collection of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum.Darryl Baker
Henshaw 192kVictory Destroyer Plant, Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, Squantum, Massachusetts, interior of the building slips, photographed by Monks & Johnson, Boston, Massachusetts, between 27 April and 3 May 1919. The destroyers under construction in the foreground are, from the foreground: Meyer (Destroyer # 279, builder's # 359), Henshaw (Destroyer # 278, builder's # 358) and Moody (Destroyer # 277, builder's # 357). Beyond these three ships are at least three more, possibly McCawley (Destroyer # 276), Sinclair (Destroyer # 275) and Meade (Destroyer # 274). The unplated deck of Doyen (Destroyer # 280) is in the extreme right foreground. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Photo #: NH 43154.Robert Hurst
Henshaw 121kUSS Sinclair (DD-275), USS Moody (DD-277), USS Henshaw (DD-278), USS Meyer (DD-279) and USS Doyen (DD-280) circa 1920, location unknown.Ric Hedman
Henshaw 135kUSS Henshaw (DD-278) At anchor, circa 1920. Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1971. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Fred Weiss
Henshaw 130kUSS Henshaw (DD-278) At anchor with other destroyers, circa 1920. USS Parrott (DD-218) is at left, to the right of Henshaw appears to be USS Arron Ward (DD 132). Photo form the collection of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum.Fred Weiss/Darryl Baker
Henshaw 110kUSS Henshaw (DD-278) Laying a smoke screen, circa 1921. Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1976. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Fred Weiss
Henshaw 149kPuget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington USS Mahopac (AT-29), in center, and five destroyers in Dry Dock Number Two, 8-22 September 1921. The destroyers include Doyen (DD-280), Henshaw (DD-278), McCawley (DD-276), Meyer (DD-279) and Moody (DD-277). U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Fred Weiss
Henshaw 210kDestroyers in Dry Dock Number Two, Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, receiving modified after deckhouses to carry the after 4"/50 guns further from the waterline, September 1922. The destroyers are, from left to right: Moody (DD-277); Henshaw (DD-278) and Meyer (DD-279). Note the 3"/23 anti-aircraft guns mounted on the ships' sterns. U.S. Naval Historical Centre photo # NH 44542.Robert Hurst
Henshaw 21kProbably San Diego May 1922.Tracy White
Red Lead Row 195kRed Lead Row, San Diego Destroyer Base, California. Photographed at the end of 1922, with at least 65 destroyers tied up there. Ships present are identified as: (left to right, in the right diagonal row): Stansbury (DD-180); MacKenzie (DD-175); Renshaw (DD-176); Howard (DD-179); Gillis (DD-260); Tingey (DD-272); McLanahan (DD-264); Swasey (DD-273); Morris (DD-271); Bailey (DD-269); Tattnall (DD-125); Breese (DD-122); Radford (DD-120); Aaron Ward (DD-132) -- probably; Ramsey (DD-124); Montgomery (DD-121); and Lea (DD-118). (left to right, in the middle diagonal row): Wickes (DD-75); Thornton (DD-270); Meade (DD-274); Crane (DD-109); Evans (DD-78); McCawley (DD-276); Doyen (DD-280); Elliot (DD-146); Henshaw (DD-278); Moody (DD-277); Meyer (DD-279); Sinclair (DD-275); Turner (DD-259); Philip (DD-76); Hamilton (DD-141); Boggs (DD-136); Claxton (DD-140); Ward (DD-139); Hazelwood (DD-107) or Kilty (DD-137); Kennison (DD-138); Jacob Jones (DD-130); Aulick (DD-258); Babbitt (DD-128); Twiggs (DD-127); and Badger (DD-126). (left to right, in the left diagonal row): Shubrick (DD-268); Edwards (DD-265); Palmer (DD-161); Welles (DD-257); Mugford (DD-105); Upshur (DD-144); Greer (DD-145); Wasmuth (DD-338); Hogan (DD-178); O'Bannon (DD-177); and -- possibly -- Decatur (DD-341). (Nested alongside wharf in left center, left to right): Prairie (AD-5); Buffalo (AD-8); Trever (DD-339); and Perry (DD-340). Minesweepers just astern of this group are Partridge (AM-16) and Brant (AM-24). Nearest ship in the group of destroyers at far left is Dent (DD-116). The others with her are unidentified. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. : NH 42539 Robert Hurst
Henshaw 153kUSS McCawley (DD-276) leading USS Henshaw (DD-278) and an unidentified destroyer heading to Culebra Island, West Indies during February 1924.Robert M. Cieri
Henshaw 112kUSS Henshaw (DD-278) underway near shore, circa the later 1920s. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Fred Weiss
Henshaw 70kUSS Henshaw (DD-278) Underway in harbor, with her rails manned, during the middle or later 1920s. Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1969. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Fred Weiss
Henshaw 60kCulebra Island, Puerto Rico Destroyers at anchor in Culebra Bay, during the 1920s. Identifiable ships present include: USS Somers (DD-301), at right; USS Reno (DD-303), at left; USS Henshaw (DD-278), left center; USS Flusser (DD-289), beyond Henshaw; USS Sinclair (DD-275), center. Collection of Admiral Arleigh A. Burke, USN. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Fred Weiss
Henshaw 53kFrom the collection of CDR August Billig, USS Henshaw (DD-278), USS Moody (DD-277) and USS Doyen (DD-280) circa the late 1920's.Bruce Billig

USS HENSHAW DD-278 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

LCDR Martin Jonas Peterson    Dec 10 1919 - Npv 20 1920
LCDR Franklin Paul Conger    Nov 20 1920 - Jun 13 1922
CDR David Alexander Scott    Jun 13 1922 - Jun 15 1922
LT Eugene George Herzinger    Sep 27 1923 - May 17 1924
CDR Turner Foster Caldwell    May 17 1924 - (Later RADM) 
LCDR Ralph Strafford Wentworth    Oct 3 1925 - Jun 1 1927
LCDR Ingram Cecil Sowell    Jun 1 1927 - Mar 11 1930 (Later RADM)

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
Tin Can Sailors Website
Destroyer History Foundation
Destroyers Online Website
Official U.S.Navy Destroyer Website

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