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USS EMMONS (DD-457 / DMS-22)


Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign - NUBQ

CLASS - GLEAVES As Built.
Displacement 2395 Tons (Full), Dimensions, 348' 4"(oa) x 36' 1" x 13' 2" (Max)
Armament 4 x 5"/38AA, 6 x 0.5" MG, 10 x 21" tt.(2x5).
Machinery, 50,000 SHP; Westinghouse Geared Turbines, 2 screws
Speed, 35 Knots, Range 6500 NM@ 12 Knots, Crew 208.
Operational and Building Data
Laid down by Bath Iron Works, Bath ME. November 14 1940.
Launched August 23 1941 and commissioned December 5 1941.
Converted to High Speed Minesweeper DMS-22 November 15 1944.
Underwater scenes of the Emmons appear in the History Channel documentary series
Cities of the Underworld in the episode Tunnels of Hell.
Fate Sunk by Japanese Kamikaze Aircraft off Okinawa April 6 1945.
60 of her crew were lost with the ship and remain on duty.

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Size Image Description Contributed
By
Namesake
Emmons 42kGeorge Foster Emmons, born 23 August 1811 in Clarendon, Vt., began his distinguished career as a midshipman I April 1828. As a lieutenant in Peacock he participated in the Wilkes Exploring Expedition of 1838-42, which discovered the Antarctic Continent, and throughout the south seas. He was assigned command of the expedition's overland party conducting surveys and exploration from Puget Sound south to San Francisco. He served with great honor in the Mexican and Civil Wars. As a Rear Admiral, he commanded the Philadelphia Navy Yard until his retirement in 1873. Rear Admiral Emmons died in Princeton, N.J., 23 July 1884. Photo from the Alaska State Library.Bill Gonyo
USS Emmons (DD-457)
THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
WASHINGTON

The Secretary of the Navy takes pleasure in commending the

UNITED STATES SHIP EMMONS

for service as follows:
"For outstanding heroism in action while attached to Mine Squadron TWENTY, operating under Commander Mine Force, Pacific Fleet, from March 21 to 31; and thereafter under the operational control of Commander Transport Screen, from April 1 to 6, 1945, during operations for the seizure of enemy Japanese-held Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands. Although lightly armed and highly vulnerable while operating in dangerous mined waters, the U.S.S. EMMONS rendered heroic service in minesweeping, fire support, radar picket, anti-suicide boat, anti-submarine and antiaircraft screen missions. A natural and frequent target for heavy Japanese aerial attack, she was constantly vigilant and ready for battle, fighting her guns valiantly to destroy a group of Japanese suicide planes striking in force on April 6, and downing six of the attackers before five others crashed her in rapid succession, killing or wounding many personnel and inflicting damage which necessitated her sinking. By her own aggressiveness and the courage and skill of her officers and men, the U.S.S. EMMONS achieved a record of gallantry in combat reflecting the highest credit upon herself and the United States Naval Service."
All personnel attached to and serving on board the U.S.S. EMMONS from March 24 to April 6, 1945, are authorized to wear the NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION Ribbon.
John L. Sullivan
Secretary of the Navy
Emmons 113kUSS Emmons (DD-457) at anchor, circa 1942. The ship is painted in Camouflage Measure 12 (Modified) U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Photo #: NH 107417.Robert Hurst
Emmons 139kNew York Navy Yard, March 30 1943.Ed Zajkowski
Emmons 93kNovember 1 1943, location unknown.Captain Jerry Mason USN
Emmons 48kNovember 1943, location unknown. Note rounded funnels & single torpedo tubes mounted between funnels.Robert Hurst

USS EMMONS DD-457 / DMS-22 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 Thomas Cameron Ragan    Dec 5 1941 - Oct 10 1942 (Later VADM)

CDR Harold Millar Heming    Oct 10 1942 - Jul 4 1943

LCDR Edward Baxter Billingsley    Jul 4 1943 - Dec 1 1944 (Later RADM)

LCDR Eugene Noble Foss II   Nov 30 1944 - Apr 6 1945

LT John J. Griffin Jr.    Apr 6 1945 - Apr 7 1945 (Acting)


Crew Contact And Reunion Information

Contact Name: Edwin Hoffman
Address: 133 Brambleton Rd., Winston-Salem, NC 27127
Phone: (336)764-4933
E-mail: ShirleyandELHjr@webtv.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 Emmons website
NavSource Minesweeper Pages, USS Emmons (DMS-22)
Tin Can Sailors Website
Destroyer History Foundation
Destroyers Online Website
Official U.S.Navy Destroyer Website

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