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USS BULLARD (DD-660)


Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign - NXJC

CLASS - FLETCHER As Built.
Displacement 2924 Tons (Full), Dimensions, 376' 5"(oa) x 39' 7" x 13' 9" (Max)
Armament 5 x 5"/38AA, 6 x 40mm, 10/11 x 20mm AA, 10 x 21" tt.(2x5).
Machinery, 60,000 SHP; General Electric Geared Turbines, 2 screws
Speed, 38 Knots, Range 6500 NM@ 15 Knots, Crew 273.
Operational and Building Data
Laid down by Federal Shipbuilding, Kearny NJ. October 16 1942.
Launched February 28 1943 and commissioned April 9 1943.
Decommissioned December 20 1946.
Stricken December 1 1972.
Fate Sold December 3 1973 and broken up for scrap.

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Bullard 72kWilliam Hannum Grubb Bullard, born in Medea, Pennsylvania, on 6 December 1866, was appointed a midshipman from the 6th District of Pennsylvania on 28 September 1882. Graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, on 9 June 1886, Midshipman Bullard reported to his first ship, Atlanta (Protected Cruiser) on 12 July, just one week before that steel warship commissioned. Bullard then saw service along the east coast of the United States as the cruiser - one of the first warships of the "New Navy" of the 1880s - operated with the North Atlantic Squadron. On 23 June 1888, he transferred to Coast Survey Steamer Gedney and, after taking the exam at the Naval Academy that summer, was commissioned ensign from 1 July. Detached from Gedney on 15 August 1890, Bullard reported to Philadelphia (Protected Cruiser No. 4) on the 27th, where he served as watch and division officer. Detached from the warship on 1 September 1892, he received an electrical course at the Naval Academy between 5 September and 29 October before reporting for duty at the Bureau of Equipment on 1 November 1892. Over the next three years, Bullard gave instruction at the Naval Academy, and served in gunboat Bancroft and screw sloop-of-war Lancaster, reporting to the latter on 5 March 1896. He was commissioned lieutenant, junior grade, from 5 September 1896. Bullard then served in Columbia (Cruiser No. 12) and training ship Monongahela, and was commissioned lieutenant from 3 March 1899. Bullard then travelled to the Asiatic Station and reported for duty in gunboat Princeton on 4 August 1900. After service as navigation officer he detached 20 October 1902 for transit back to the United States for temporary duty at the Naval Academy the following year. During this time he wrote an electrical engineering handbook, Naval Electrician's Text and Handbook, which was published in 1904. Reporting to training ship Severn as executive officer on 2 May 1904, Bullard served in the bark for three months as that ship decommissioned. After another tour at the Naval Academy, Bullard then reported to Galveston (Cruiser No. 17) on 15 February 1905, then at the Navy Yard, Norfolk, Virginia. While enroute, Bullard was commissioned lieutenant commander from 1 January 1905. Detached from Galveston on 20 May 1905, Bullard served in Maine (Battleship No. 10) as navigator and then as executive officer. On 1 August 1907, Bullard reported to the Naval Academy for duty as an instructor. He was commissioned commander from 1 February 1909. Starting on 14 May 1909, Bullard commanded Chicago (Protected Cruiser) during decommissioning, detaching on 24 August when that warship went into reserve. After briefly commanding Iowa (Battleship No. 4) during summer battle practice during the summer of 1910, Bullard received his first permanent command on 21 August 1911 when he reported to San Francisco (Cruiser No. 5), then at Norfolk. He was commissioned captain from 1 July 1912. Following the Naval Review at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, in October, Bullard reported to the Navy Department for duty as Superintendent, Naval Radio Service, Radio Station, Arlington, Virginia, on 14 November 1912. The following spring, he assisted the Department of Commerce during an International Conference on radio use to promote safety at sea. On 20 December 1915, Bullard represented the Navy Department at a conference to write regulations and instructions for the operations of the Coast Guard. Four days later he took on the responsibilities of a delegate to the Second Pan American Scientific Congress in Washington, DC, with his focus the use of radio. Detached as Superintendent of the Radio Service on 24 June 1916, Bullard took command of battleship Arkansas (Battleship No. 33) on 7 July, then in the New York Navy Yard for overhaul. Following the declaration of war on the Central Powers on 6 April 1917, Arkansas carried out patrol duty along the east coast as part of Battleship Division 7 and trained gun crews for duty in armed merchantmen. In July 1918, the battleship sailed to Rosyth, Scotland, to relieve Delaware (Battleship No. 28), where she operated in the 6th Battle Squadron as part of the British Grand Fleet. Shortly after arrival, Bullard was detached 31 August for duty at the U.S. Naval Base at Malta. He received a wartime promotion to rear admiral on 1 July 1918. He then served as Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Eastern Mediterranean between 3 November 1918 and 5 January 1919, helping put into effect the surrender of the Austro-Hungarian Fleet in the Adriatic Sea. Bullard then travelled to Paris, France, for a Naval Radio Conference at the Inter-Allied Commission meeting site. Returning to New York in Liner Olympic in March 1919, he reported for duty as Director of Naval Communications, Navy Department, Washington, DC, on 7 April. Two of his significant accomplishments that summer was to prevent the sale "to foreign interests" of the patent rights to a radio-oriented alternator and to encourage the establishment of the future Radio Corporation of America. He was commissioned, regular, rear admiral from 20 October 1919. Detached from communications duty on 11 July 1921, Admiral Bullard traveled to Manila, Philippine Islands, via San Francisco to assume command of the Yangtze Patrol Force, Asiatic Fleet, on 12 October of that year. He traveled to Peking, China, in November for special duty in connection with his command, and visited the upper Yangtze River in May 1922 to investigate how to improve radio communications among the station gunboats. Detached from the Yangtze Patrol Force on 26 July 1922, Admiral Bullard proceeded home to Washington, DC, at his own expense, arriving home via commercial transportation on 25 September. Admiral Bullard was relieved from all active duty and placed on the retired list on 30 September 1922. He then served as chairman of the Federal Radio Commission until his death in Washington, DC, on 24 November 1927. On 30 December 1941, Admiral Harold R. Stark, then Chief of Naval Operations, wrote a memorandum to Chief, Bureau of Navigation, recommending that a destroyer be named "in honor of the memory of Rear Admiral W. H. G. Bullard." In the memorandum Admiral Stark noted "Admiral Bullard's well-known contributions to the naval and national communications set-up are historical, and, in addition, his service record was outstanding."Bill Gonyo
Bullard 74kArtist's conception of the Bullard by the renowned graphic illustrator John Barrett with the text written by naval author and historian Robert F. Sumrall. Their company Navy Yard Associates offers prints of most destroyers, destroyer escorts, submarines and aircraft carriers in various configurations during the ship's lifetime. The prints can be customized with ship's patches, your photograph, your bio, etc. If you decide to purchase artwork from them please indicate that you heard about their work from NavSource.Navy Yard Associates
Bullard 99kUndated, location unknown. The ship is painted in camouflage Measure 32, Design 10d.Joe Radigan
Bullard 82kUndated, location unknown.Bill Gonyo
Bullard 73kInvitation to the Christening and Launching February 28 1943.Kaj Swenson
Bullard 56kTicket to the Christening and Launching February 28 1943.Kaj Swenson
Bullard 64kSouvenir button of the launching of the USS Thorn (DD-647), USS Turner (DD-648), USS Bullard (DD-660) and USS Kidd (DD-661) on February 2 1943. Courtesy of www.timepassagesnostalgia.com.Tom Kerman
Bullard 80kUSS Bullard (DD-660) underway, probably while being delivered to the Navy by her builder, circa early April 1943. Note that radar antennas have not yet been installed atop the ship's foremast and Mark 37 gun director. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command. Photo #: NH 107199.Robert Hurst
Bullard 192kUSS Bullard, April 25 1943 ONI photo, location unknown.David Buell
Bullard 164kFleet anchorage at Kerema Retto, one day after US forces had secured Iwo Jima.Robert Hurst
An open letter to the crew of the Bullard
On April 12 ,1945 ,while straffing ChiChi Jima , my Hellcat -F6F-5 was severely damaged by AA fire and I was forced to ditch. My wing man called the Bullard, which was stationed near by for Tomcat and pilot rescue duty, and I was soon pulled aboard. I was aboard that night when a kamakazi attacked and sheared off one wing on the bow doing only slight damage to Bullard. The next day I was transferred to a fleet tanker. At the time I was attached to VF-30 aboard Belleau Wood -CVL 24. I have tried to thank the Captain and Crew of Bullard since that day. I would like to again extend my heart felt thanks any way that may be possible. Thanks, Lewis M. Cobb , CDR. USN (Ret.)
Bullard 194kUSS Harry E Hubbard (DD-748) being maneuvered by tugs to the pier in preparation to be demothballed and placed back into service in the early 1950's with the USS Hunt (DD-674), USS Hickox (DD-673), USS Bullard (DD-660) and USS Rooks (DD-804) in the right background. Photo courtesy of Life magazine.Bill Gonyo

USS BULLARD DD-660 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 Glenn Roy Hartwig    Apr 9 1943 - Nov 1943 (Later RADM)
CDR Bernard William Freund    Nov 1943 - May 31 1945
LT Henry Frederick Rodner Jr.    May 31 1945  - Jan 1945 (Acting) 
LCDR Eigel Thornton Steen    Jun 16 1945 - Dec 20 1946

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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