Radford (DD 446) - Naval Cruise Book

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HISTORY OF UQQ I2ADFOI2D fDD -446, Th 'cious career of USS RADFORD QDD-4461 began late in 1941, when her keel was laid e auspi on 2 October at Kearney, New jersey. The ship was named after Rear Admiral William Radford, a hero of the Mexican and Civil War. 1 1942 t the New York Navy Yard, and Lieutenant Comman- RADFORD was commissioned on 21 ju y a der William Romoser, USN, assumed command. RADFORD'S first taste of combat was the shore bombardment of Japanese positions off Guadal- canal on 19 January. One month later, she shot down her first plane, a bomber, near Guadal- canal. During the months of june and july, RADFORD participated in bombardments and landings at Rendova and New Georgia Islands. During these two months, RADFORD was credited with n five enem aircraft sinking one submarine and, in company with USS NICHOLAS , shooting dow y , , rescuing the majority of the survivors of the cruiser HELENA. In November, RADFORD sank another submarine with a new skipper, Commander G. E. Griggs, at the helm. For the remainder of the war, RADFORD participated in several major invasions, contributing her gunfire support and AA cover. On 13 February 1945, RADFORD struck a mine off Bataan, putting an end to her combatant days. She sa iled for Mare Island Naval Shipyard, remaining there until the end of the war. In addition to her many battle stars, RADFORD was awarded the highest honor given to a com- batant ship, the Presidential Unit Citation. After the war., RADFORD was placed in the Pacific Reserve Fleet at San Francisco. In her wake she left a brilliant and enviable war record. After spending two years in mothballs, RADFORD was converted to an escort destroyer, and was recommissioned in October, 1949. 3

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USS RADFORD and USS JENKINS during a depth charge attack RADFORD was on a cruise to the Far East when the Korean War erupted in june 1950. She returned to her home port after being relieved in the Far East in November. She spent a total of 15 months in the Korean operating area during the time of hostilities. Since the end of the War, RADFORD has remained in the limelight with her Work in anti- submarine Warfare tactics, various rescue missions and good will visits to Southeast Asian countries. On 25 March 1960, RADFORD entered the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, and commenced a seven-month PRAM overhaul. During this time, her 3-inch guns were replaced by a helicopter hanger, and the interior of the ship Was modernized to a considerable extent. As her first major assignment after PRAM, RADFORD was sent to the north of Oahu to recover the nose cone of Discoverer XXV. Steaming at 25 knots throughout the night RADFORD arrived on the scene shortly after daybreak on 19 june 1961. Within 13 minutes the nose cone together With the three man U. S. Air Force Pararescue Team Was on board and headed back to Pearl Harbor. For this operation, a first of its type, RADFORD received a commendation from Commander, Pacific Missile Range, Point Mugu, California. On December 7th, 1962, RADFORD commenced a four-month leave, up-keep and yard overhaul period at Pearl Harbor. She emerged four months later with added VDS and DASH equipment, making her an ever-more potent destroyer. RADFORD was cruise ship for a group of Midshipmen who reported aboard on 16 june. She departed for American Samoa on 11 july for a fifteen-day good-will cruise, returning to Pearl Harbor with a full complement of Shellbacks. X lui- K The first RADFORD commissioned in 1917