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Navsource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive

USS Finnegan (DE 307)


Flag Hoist / Radio Call Sign:
N - H - R - L
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row: Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive)
Second Row: Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ 3 stars - WWII Victory Medal - Philippine Liberation Ribbon
Specifications:
Class: Evarts
Type: GMT (diesel-electric tandem motor drive, short hull, 3" guns)
Displacement: 1,140 tons (light), 1,430 tons (full)
Length: 283' 6" (wl), 289' 5" (oa)
Beam: 35' 0" (extreme)
Draft: 11' 0" (draft limit)
Propulsion: 4 GM Model 16-278A diesel engines with electric drive, 6000 shp, 2 screws
Speed: 19 kts
Range: 4,150 nm @ 12 knots
Armament: 3 - 3"/50 Mk22 (1x3), 1 - 1.1"/75 cal. Mk2 quad AA (4x1), 9 x 20mm Mk 4 AA, 1 Hedgehog Projector Mk10 (144 rounds), 8 Mk6 depth charge projectors, 2 Mk9 depth charge tracks
Complement: 15 / 183
Finnegan (DE 307) Building and Operational Data:
  • 05 July 1943: Keel laid by the Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, Cal.
  • 22 February 1944: Launched and christened, sponsored by Mrs. Charles Schroeder, sister of Ensign Finnegan
  • 19 August 1944: Commissioned, Lcdr. Huston Huffman, USNR, in command
  • 26 February 1945: Sank Japanese submarine I-370, 120 miles south of Iwo Jima
  • 27 September 1945: Departed Pearl Harbor in company with Connolly (DE 306) for Charleston, S.C., via San Pedro, Cal., for decommissioning
  • 27 November 1945: Decommissioned at Charleston Navy Yard, S.C., after 1 year and 3 months of service
  • 19 December 1945: Struck from the NVR
  • June 1946: Sold, scrapped
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By And/Or Copyright
    Finnegan
    0630701    		 7k William Michael Finnegan was born 18 April 1897 in Bessemer, Mich. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on 22 October 1917, and served continuously, rising to Chief Radio Electrician on 08 November 1929. His last of many responsible assignments ashore and afloat was in USS Oklahoma (BB 37), to which he reported 30 August 1941. Appointed ensign on 18 November 1941, William Finnegan was killed in action when Oklahoma was sunk in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, 07 December 1941.)

    USS Finnegan (DE 307) (1944-1945) was the first ship named in his honor.

    (Photo from The Official Web Site of the USS Oklahoma BB 37 thanks to Kevin King)    		 Bill Gonyo
    Downey, Cal.

    Assoc. Researcher
    Navsource
    Finnegan
    0630702    		 181k 22 July 1943: Stern view of USS Finnegan on the building ways at Mare Island. USS Creamer (DE 308) is on the building ways to the right.

    (U.S. Navy Photo #DE-307-4818-43)    		 Darryl Baker
    PNCM, USNR (ret.)

    Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum
    Finnegan
    0630703    		 167k 22 July 1944: Bow view of Finnegan on the building ways. Creamer is on the building ways to the left. Another Mare Island unidentified DE is in the background to the right.

    (US Navy Photo #DE-307-4821-43)
    Finnegan
    0630704    		 106k 25 July 1944: Milton L. McInnis and G. J. Nible were honorary keel layers for USS Finnegan (DE 307).

    (U.S. Navy Photo #DE-307-4894-43)
    Finnegan
    0630705    		 124k 22 February 1944: Distinguished guests at the launching of Finnegan at Mare Island. Left to right: Mrs. M. S. Tisdale, Mr. L. M. Brown, Mrs. Charles Schroeder (Sponsor), Radm M. S. Tisdale (Shipyard Commandant), Miss Schroeder, Capt. G. C. Klein (Captain of the Yard), Mr. T. F. Finnegan, Mr. H. J. Finnegan, Mrs. Marian Bechtal (Matron of Honor), Mrs. H. J. Finnegan, Mrs. L. M. Brown, and Mr. W. E. Finnegan.

    (US Navy Photo #DE-307-1811-43)
    Finnegan
    0630706    		 92k 22 February 1944: Mrs. Charles Schroeder, the sponsor of Finnegan is holding the christening bottle and standing at the bow of the ship with Mrs. Marian Bechtal, Matron of Honor.

    (US Navy Photo #DE-307-1178-44)
    Finnegan
    0630707    		 91k 22 February 1944: Finnegan at the end of the ways at her launching.

    (U.S. Navy Photo #DE-307-1184-44)
    Finnegan
    0630708    		 50k 22 February 1944: Finnegan is seen immediately after her launching.

    (U.S. Navy Photo #DE-307-1232-44)
    Finnegan
    0630709    		 137k 25 July 1944: Aft plan view of Finnegan at her outfitting berth.

    (U.S. Navy Photo #DE-307-4203-44)
    Finnegan
    0630710    		 115k 25 July 1944: Forward plan view of Finnegan at her outfitting berth.

    (U.S. Navy Photo #DE-307-4204-44)
    Finnegan
    0630711    		 100k 22 August 1944: Broadside view of radar antenna arrangement aboard Finnegan at Mare Island.

    (U.S. Navy Photo #DE-307-5401-44)
    Finnegan
    0630712    		 92k 22 August 1944: Bow view view of radar antenna arrangement aboard Finnegan at Mare Island.

    (U.S. Navy Photo #DE-307-5402-44)
    Finnegan
    0630713    		 88k 22 August 1944: Stern view of radar antenna arrangement aboard Finnegan at Mare Island.

    (U.S. Navy Photo #DE-307-5403-44)
    Finnegan
    0630714    		 121k 21 September 1944: off Mare Island - Starboard forward quarter view of Finnegan.

    (U.S. Navy Photo #DE-307-5494-44)
    Finnegan
    0630715    		 138k 24 September 1944: Bow on view of Finnegan off Mare Island.

    (U.S. Navy Photo #DE-307-5497-44)
    Finnegan
    0630716    		 119k 24 September 1944: Broadside view of Finnegan off Mare Island.

    (U.S. Navy Photo #DE-307-5499-44)
    Finnegan
    063071    		 112k 24 September 1944: Stern view of Finnegan off Mare Island.

    (U.S. Navy Photo #DE-307-5501-44)
    Finnegan
    0630718    		 496k 01 September 1944: off Vallejo, Cal. - A starboard beam view of Finnegan taken near the Mare Island Navy Yard.

    (U.S. Navy photo #CP-DE-307 19-N-131514 from the National Archives and Records Administration, College Park, Md.; courtesy of  Chris Wright)    		 Ed Zajkowski
    Narvon, Pa.
    Finnegan History
    View the USS Finnegan (DE 307) DANFS history entry located on the Naval History and Heritage Command web site.
    View a short article on the design and development of the Evarts Class DE submitted by Bob Sables.
    Finnegan's Commanding Officer
    Thanks to Wolfgang Hechler & Ron Reeves
    Dates of Command Commanding Officer
    1.) 19 Aug. 1944 - 27 Nov. 1945Lcdr. Huston Huffman, USNR (Albany, N.Y.)
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    None
    Note About Contacts

    Contact information is compiled from various sources over a period of time and may, or may not, be correct. Every effort has
    been made to list the newest contact. However, our entry is only as good as the latest information that's been sent to us. We list
    only a contact for the ship if one has been sent to us. We do NOT have crew lists, rosters, or deck logs available. Please see the
    Frequently Asked Questions section on NavSource's Main Page for that information.

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    This Page Created And Maintained By Mike Smolinski
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    by Paul R. Yarnall, All Rights Reserved.
    Page Last Updated: 19 August 2020