Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description		Contributed By
Namesake
	52k 53k	John Austin Collett was born 31 March 1908 in Omaha, Nebraska, and graduated from the Naval Academy in 1929. After serving aboard Texas (BB-35) he underwent flight instruction at NAS Pensacola 1930-31. Collett then served with Scouting Squadron 9S on USS Chester (CA-27) 1931-34 and Patrol Plane Squadron 1F at NAS Pearl Harbor, 1934-36. After serving with Torpedo Squadrons 2B on Saratoga (CV-2) and Five on Yorktown (CV-5), Collett commanded the aviation unit aboard Savannah (CL-42) 1938-39 before being assigned Patrol Squadron 23 at Pearl Harbor to the outbreak of war. After commanding Torpedo Squadron Nine on Saratoga, Collett took command of Torpedo Squadron Ten on Enterprise (CV-6) 16 October 1942. Ten days later, he was killed in action during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands. Twelve Japanese Zero fighters pouncend on the Enterprise attack formation NE of the Solomons. In the ensuing air action, all the Zeros were downed, but five American fighters, two divebombers, and all the torpedo bombers were lost. Among these was Collett's TBF; the gunner, AMsmth1c Stephen Nadison, was killed in action; both Collett and his radioman, ARM1c Thomas C. Nelson were seen parachuting from the stricken acircraft. Nelson survived the war as a POW, but Collett was never seen again.		Bill Gonyo / Dave Wright
USS Collett (DD-730)
	153k	Undated, location unknown.		-
	110k	Undated, post FRAM Conversion		Steve Singlar
	139k	CCDP number CDP-618, undated. Photo probably taken in Hawaii.		David Buell
	99k	USS Collett (DD-730), date and location unknown. Photo from the collection of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum.		Darryl Baker
	164k	Undated, location unknown.		David Buell
	250k	Undated, location unknown.		Ed Zajkowski
	179k	Undated, location unknown.		Robert M. Cieri/Roy Thomas
	139k	Undated, location unknown.		Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
	156k	Undated, location unknown.		Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
	126k	Undated, location unknown.		Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
	99k	Undated, location unknown.		Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
	87k	Launch of Collett (DD-730) at Bath Iron Works, 05 March 1944. Douglas photo.		Dave Wright
	200k	Inclining experiment at Bath, 14 May 1944.		Ed Zajkowski
	67k	USS Collett (DD-730) off Boston, Massachusetts, 31 May 1944. She was underway that day on gunnery and radar calibration tests in Massachusetts Bay. National Archives photo 19-N-130517.		Robert Hurst
	104k	USS Collett (DD-730) probably homeward bound to the West coast from Pearl Harbor, 27 October 1945.		Dave Wright
	69k	Stern view of USS Collett (DD-730) off Mare Island, 29 December 1945.		Darryl Baker
	66k	Broadside view of USS Collett (DD-730) off Mare Island, 29 December 1945. She was in overhaul at the yard 30 October 1945 to 05 January 1946.		Darryl Baker
	82k	Bow on view of USS Collett (DD-730) off Mare Island, 29 December 1945.		Darryl Baker
	138k	Aft plan view of USS Collett (DD-730) at Mare Island, 04 January 1946.		Darryl Baker
	81k	Forward plan view of USS Collett (DD-730) at Mare Island, 04 January 1946. USS Lyman K. Swenson (DD-729) is moored inboard of Collett.		Darryl Baker
	166k	USS Collett (DD-730) off Mare Island, 12 November 1947. Photo from the collection of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum.		Darryl Baker
	96k	Forward plan view of USS Collett (DD-730) at Mare Island, 14 November 1947. She was in overhaul at Mare Island from 13 September to 18 November 1947.		Darryl Baker
	147k	Aft plan view of USS Collett (DD-730) at Mare Island, 14 November 1947.		Darryl Baker
	95k	Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 14 November 1947.		Pieter Bakels
	84k	Destroyer Division 91 (L to R) Mansfield (DD-728) (flag ship); Collett (DD-730); DeHaven (DD-727) and Lyman K. Swenson (DD-729), at buoy in San Diego harbor, circa July-August 1948.		Richard A. Bowman QM2
	51k	USS Collett (DD-730) photographed from HMAS Sydney, probably in Korean waters August 1951 - February 1952. Australian War Memorial photo P05890.045.		Mike Green
	128k	Highlining with the USS Chara (AK-58) at sea near Songjin, Korea December 1951. From the Wilbur "Casey" Karsten collection.		David Kusel
	202k	"Men of Destroyer Division 91 crowd the foc'sle and superstructure of their ships in Sasebo, Japan, to receive their Navy Unit Commendations. During the presentation on the Mansfield, a crane crew in the background continues its task of installing new gun barrels on the De Haven. Streaks of red lead on the Collett and the Swenson in the foreground show the work that has occupied all the crews while in port. By coincidence the famed 'Sitting Duck' destroyers are berthed in their numerical order: USS De Haven (DD-727), Mansfield (DD-728), Lyman K. Swenson (DD-729), and Collett (DD-730)." Photograph and caption released by Commander Naval Forces, Far East, under date of 18 December 1951. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the "All Hands" collection at the Naval Historical Center.		Joe Radigan
	64k	From the January 1952 All Hands magazine. The ship is painted in camouflage Measure 31, Design 16d.		Stanley Svec
	32k	DesRon 9 in Long Beach; USS Collett (DD-730), USS Lyman K. Swenson (DD-729), USS Mansfield (DD-728) and USS De Haven (DD-727).		Richard Miller BMCS USNR (Ret.)
	24k	Location unknown, circa 1960.		Richard Miller BMCS USNR (Ret.)
	344k	At Long Beach Navy Yard after the collision with the Ammen (DD-527). On 19 July 1960, Collett collided with Ammen off Long Beach, California, killing 11 and injuring 20, all members of Ammen's crew.		Ed Zajkowski/R. S. Gregory
	50k	As above.		Ron Reeves
	130k	AP Wire Photo describing the collision in the above photos.		Tommy Trampp
	260k	AP Wire Photo describing the collision in the above photos.		Tommy Trampp
	141k	USS Collett (DD-730) in port, following her 19 July 1960 collision with USS Ammen (DD-527). Naval History Heritage and Command photo NH 105936.		Mike Green
	98k	USS Bryce Canyon (AD-36) at Terminal Island, Long Beach, California, circa 1962. Alongside are the destroyers USS Lyman K. Swenson (DD-729), USS Collett (DD-730), USS Blue (DD-744), and USS Shelton (DD-790). USS Colahan (DD-658) is moored on the other side of the pier.		Robert Hurst/Rich Angelini
	50k	USS Columbus (CG-12) with USS Collett (DD-730) and USS Blue (DD-744) in the background during 1965, location unknown.		Tommy Trampp
Three views of Collett (DD-730) maneuvering alongside Oriskany (CVA-34) in the South China Sea, circa 1965-1966. These photos are believed to have been taken by Ensign Darwin J. Thomas of VA-152 "Friendlies," assigned to CVW-16 aboard Oriskany. Thomas was KIA 14 October 1966 when his A-1H Skyraider went down on an armed reconnaissance mission over North Vietnam.				Andy Thomas via Bob Canchola
	52k	I was a hoist operator/gunner in an HS-6 ( Helantisubron 6, homebased on USS Kearsarge, CVS-33) SH-3A Sea King helicopter side number 69, call sign Indian Gal 69, converted for combat Search And Rescue.  We were part of SAR Detachment Charlie, at that time operating from USS Intrepid, CV-11.  We had inserted a SOG (CIA/Special Forces "Studies and Observation Group") unit, Route Team Iowa, as part of one of the first Bright Light missions to look for an A-1 pilot, LT Robert Woods.  We had searched Woods about 25 miles inland from Thanh Hoa on the 12th, 13th and 14th of October.  The team arrived on on Intrepid on the 15th, but when we got to the area it was socked in from 6000 feet to ground level.  The next day was better weather.  Insertion went well, but not long after the team ran into NVA and had a brief fire fight.  They called for extraction and we headed toward their radio signal.   The third hoist load of two people was just off the ground when we took a rifle round in the fuel line to the port engine.  Fuel streamed past me in the cargo door as I brought in the third load and then manned my M-60.  We had little more fire leaving the area, but flying low and slow we had no accurate navigational aids and ended up right over Thanh Hoa at 3000 feet as the overcast broke up and we were quickly surrounded by AAA bursts.  On the one tired engine we couldn't do much more than 70 knots.  Our bird took at least three direct hits from 37mm shells and numerous fragments from larger shells, but we made it about 15 miles out to sea where we ditched between the Collett and the Halsey,  (DLG-23, later CG-23).  Both ships had boats in the water and the Halsey's UH-2 helo was airborne. All ten of us aboard were wounded to one degree or another, mostly minor, one moderate and one serious.   Pilot LCDR David Murphy received the Navy Cross, the rest of us (ENS Ed Marsyla, ADJ-1 Vincent Vocari, and myself, then AX-2 William S. Caple were awarded Silver Stars.  Thanks to Collett and Halsey none of us spent more than a few minutes in the water.		Steve Caple
	21k	USS Collett (DD-730) underway in the South China Sea, from her homeport of Yokosuka, Japan circa 1967.		Rick Sherley
	194k	At Wellington, NZ, August 31 1968.		Chris Howell
	218k	USS Collett (DD-730) underway in 1969, location unknown. United States Navy, PHI E. L. Goligoski.		Robert Hurst
	67k	San Francisco, July 1970.		Marc Piché
	36k	Ship's patch.		Mike Smolinski
	100k-120k	Uniform Ship's name shoulder patch.		Al Grazevich
On Argentinian Service
	26k	ARA Piedra Buena (D 29) underway, date and location unknown. Argentine Navy official photo, from the ArmadaArgentina website.		Robert Hurst
	146k	The First and Second Destroyer Divisions in 1979 at the Naval Base of Puerto Belgrano, near Bahia Blanca in the south part of Buenos Aires Province. Since no hull numbers can be seen it is impossible to accurately identify each ship, however, the ships present include the Rosales (D 22, ex-Stembel (DD-644)), Piedra Buena (D 29, ex-Collett (DD-730)), D 25 Seguí (D 25, ex-Hank (DD-702)), D 23 Domecq Garcia (ex DD630 Braine), D 24 Storni (ex DD 547 Cowell), Py (D 27, ex-Perkins (DD-877)) and the Bouchard (D 26, ex-Borie (DD-704)). Additional info thanks to Adalberto Alvarez; "In the photograph, the ships on the right belong to the 2nd Division of Destroyers. On the left, we see the 1st Division of Destroyers, and we find the Bouchard among these. (The Bouchard was assigned to the 2nd Division in 1980). The ship we see on the front of the 1st Division Destroyers is not the Bouchard, because the Bouchard didn’t have that kind of life rafts until 1982, during the war. The ship in the middle belongs to the Fletcher class. This means that the Bouchard is the one moored to dock."		Horacio Héctor Virardi
Click here to see our Special Feature - Interior Views of Sumner Class Destroyers as Built

CDR James Dahlman Collett    May 16 1944 - Aug 17 1945

CDR Charles Richard Herms    Aug 17 1945 - Mar 14 1946

CDR Paul Sheppard Savidge    Mar 14 1946 - Jun 2 1947 (Later RADM)

CDR Bernard Franklin Roeder    Jul 2 1947 - Dec 1947

CDR Thomas Hodgskin DuBois    Dec 1947 - Aug 1949 (Later RADM)

CDR Robert Hamilton Close    Aug 1949 - Sep 1951

CDR Edward Peter Madley    Sep 1951 - Nov 1953

CDR John Earl Boyle Jr.    Nov 1953 - Sep 1956

CAPT John Randolph Schwartz    Sep 1956 - Jan 1958

CDR John Durant Patterson    Jan 1958 - Nov 1959

CDR Albert Tenney Ford    Nov 1959 - Sep 6 1960

CDR Robert Bruce Kitt    Sep 6 1960 - Jul 12 1962

CDR William Webster Bischof    Jul 12 1962 - Jan 1 1964

CDR William Rice Zimmerman Jr.    Jan 1 1964 - May 1965

CDR Richard Roy Davison    May 1965 - Nov 1966

CDR John Robert Kearney    Nov 1966 - Dec 18 1968

CDR Walter Raymond Beck    Dec 18 1968 - Sep 1970

LCDR David Winston Geer    Sep 1970 - Dec 18 1970