Please Report Any Broken Links Or Trouble You Might Come Across To The Webmaster
Please Take A Moment To Let Us Know So That We Can Correct Any Problems And Make Your Visit As Enjoyable And As Informative As Possible.


Navsource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive

USS Deede (DE 263)


Flag Hoist / Radio Call Sign:
N - D - S - B
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ 6 stars - World War II Victory Medal


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
Deede (DE 263) Building and Operational Data:
  • 23 February 1943: Keel laid by the Boston Navy Yard, Charlestown, Mass.
  • 06 April 1943: Launched and christened, sponsored by Mrs. M. B. Deede, mother of Lieutenant (junior grade) Deede
  • 29 July 1943: Commissioned, Lcdr. J. W. Whaley in command
  • 09 January 1946: Decommissioned at Richmond Kaiser Yard #2, Victory Dock #2, Berth 12, Richmond, Cal. after 2 years and 5⅓ months of service
  • 21 January 1946: Struck from the NVR
  • 12 June 1947: Sold, scrapped
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Contributed
    By And/Or Copyright
    Deede
    0626301

    Deede

    42k LeRoy Clifford Deede was born on 05 February 1916 in Woodworth, N.D., to Mr. Gottlieb and Mrs. Marnie Deede in Stutaman County. LeRoy attended Medina High school and then earned his degree at Jamestown College majoring in Biology. He enlisted in the Naval Reserve as an Aviation Cadet on 2 July 1937 in Minneapolis, Minn. to begin Elimination Flight Training. Having completed his initial training he received orders on 06 October 1937 to Pensacola Naval Air Station. He completed his advanced flight training as a Naval Aviator on 21 September 1938. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his outstanding service while commanding a PBY during a bombing attack on a Japanese naval force in Jolo Harbor, Sulu, Philippine Islands, 27 December 1941. With his plane crippled after splashing an enemy plane which tried to down him Deede crash landed at sea where he and his crew could be rescued. Lieutenant (junior grade) Deede was killed 17 June 1942 returning to Bankstown Aerodrome in Sydney, Australia during an authorized flight. He was buried at Rockwood Cemetery in Sydney. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 15 June 1942 by a law enacted by President Roosevelt. His awards also included the Silver Star (Army); American Defense Service Medal; and World War II Victory Medal.

    Distinguished Flying Cross: "For extraordinary flying achievement while commanding a PBY type airplane which delivered a bombing attack on a Japanese Naval force in Jolo Harbor, Sulu, P.I. on 27 December 1941, and while under continuous antiaircraft fire which crippled your plane and opposed by enemy fighters, you successfully evaded the enemy and landed your plane at sea from which you and the members of your crew were rescued by another PBY type; further successfully shooting down an enemy fighter which attacked you". The medal was posthumously awarded to his mother on 17 July 1942 by then Governor John Moses.

    USS Deede (DE 263) (1943-1946) was the first ship to be named in his honor.

    (Photo Courtesy of Jamestown College)
    Bill Gonyo
    Downey, Cal.

    Assoc. Researcher
    Navsource
    Deede
    0626302
    57k 21 May 1945: San Francisco, Cal. - USS Deede at Mare Island Navy Yard.

    (U.S. Navy Photo)
    -
    Elden
    0626305
    211k 21 May 1945: San Francisco, Cal. - Two views of USS Deede (DE 263) at the Hunter's Point Naval dry-docks, San Francisco, California. Circles mark recent alterations.

    (U.S. Naval Historical Center photos #NH 91593 and NH 91594, courtesy of A.D. Baker III, from the Naval History and Heritage Command)
    Mike Green
    Port Angeles, Wash.
    Elden
    0626306
    204k
    Elden
    0626307
    148k 21 May 1945: San Francisco, Cal. - A view of Mark 52 gun director with its' attached Mark 26 fire control radar aboard the U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Deede (DE 263) at the San Francisco Naval Shipyard (Hunter's Point), California.

    (U.S. Naval Historical Center photos #NH 91630, from the Naval History and Heritage Command)
    Bob Hurst
    Worksop, Nottinghamshire,
    England, United Kingdom
    Deede
    0626303
    266k 06 December 1945: San Francisco, Cal. - Crew photo (covered) of USS Deede at Mare Island Navy Yard.
    (David's father-in-law, George Donald Kirby, who was known as Don, was a cook aboard Deede)
    David Hicks
    Deede
    0626304
    277k 06 December 1945: San Francisco, Cal. - Crew photo (uncovered) of USS Deede.

    Deede History
    View the USS Deede (DE 263) DANFS history entry located on the Naval History and Heritage Command web site.
    View the official War History of USS Deede as submitted by the ship at war's end.
    View a short article on the design and development of the Evarts Class DE submitted by Bob Sables.

    Deede's Commanding Officers
    Thanks to Wolfgang Hechler & Ron Reeves
    Dates of Command Commanding Officers
    1.) 29 Jul. 1943 - 17 Jan. 1944Lcdr. James William Whaley, USN
    2.) 17 Jan. 1944 - 27 Oct. 1945Lt. / Lcdr. Murdock M. Maxwell, USNR
    3.) 27 Oct. 1945 - 09 Jan. 1946Lt. James D. Camp, USNR

    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.


    Additional Resources

    Tin Can Sailors
    The U.S. Navy Memorial
    Destroyer Escort Sailors Association
    The Destroyer Escort Historical Museum
    The Destroyer History Foundation
    To The DE, FF, LCS Photo Index Page
    Back To The Main Photo Index

    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail: Webmaster.

    This Page Created And Maintained By Mike Smolinski
    All pages copyright Navsource Naval History
    by Paul R. Yarnall, All Rights Reserved.
    Page Last Updated: 03 August 2019