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USS MITSCHER (DD-927 / DL-2 / DDG-35)


Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign - NBQI

Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign (circa 1968) - FISH FRY

CLASS - MITSCHER As Built.
Displacement 4855 Tons (Full), Dimensions, 490' (oa) x 47' 6" x 14' 8" (Max)
Armament 2 x 5"/54 RF (2x1), 4 x 3"/50 (2x2), 8 20mm (4x2) 2 Weapon Alfa ASW
Systems, 4 x 21" TT, 1 DC Track.
Machinery, 80,000 SHP; Geared Turbines, 2 screws
Speed, 36.5 Knots, Range 4500 NM@ 20 Knots, Crew 360.
Operational and Building Data
Laid down by Bath Iron Works October 3 1949.
Launched January 26 1952.
Commissioned May 15 1953.
Decommissioned March 18 1966 and recommissioned June 29 1968.
Reclassified DDG-35 June 1968.
Decommissioned and stricken June 1 1978.
Fate Sold for scrap August 1 1980.

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By
Mitscher 67kMarc Andrew Mitscher, born 26 January 1887 in Hillsboro, Wis., graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy 3 June 1910 and served 2 years at sea in Colorado. Commissioned ensign 7 March 1912, he served in San Diego during the Mexican campaign, and in September 1915 he reported for aviation training in North Carolina, one of the first ships in the Navy to carry an airplane. Designated naval aviator No. 33 on 2 June 1916, he served at various east coast naval air stations and in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations before reporting to Seaplane Division 1. On 16 May 1919 he took off from Newfoundland as pilot of NC-1. His plane and NC-3 landed in heavy fog near the Azores, but heavy seas prevented them from joining NC-4 in completing the first transatlantic air passage. For his part in this historic operation, Mitscher received the Navy Cross. In addition to several shore-based commands, Mitscher, during the next two decades, served in carriers Langley and Saratoga, seaplane tender Wright, and as commander, Patrol Wing 1. Between June 1939 and July 1941 be served as assistant chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics. Thence, he fitted out carrier Hornet and assumed command at her commissioning 20 October 1941. While under his command, Hornet launched Doolittle’s Army bombers for airstrikes against Japan 18 April 1942 and thus gained fame as "Shangri La". He captained her during the mighty battle of Midway 4 to 6 June, but was detached from the carrier 30 June less than 4 months before her loss 26 October during the battle of Santa Cruz Islands. Mitscher commanded Patrol Wing 2 until December when he became commander fleet air, Noumea. In April 1943 he became commander air, Solomon Islands, and from August to January 1944 he commanded fleet air, west coast. Returning to the central Pacific as Commander, Carrier Division 3, he was appointed vice admiral 21 March 1944 and ordered to take command of TF 58. This fast carrier task force, which operated alternately as TF 38, inflicted severe and irreparable damage on Japanese ground installations and against enemy naval and merchant shipping. His hard-hitting, wide-ranging carriers pounded the enemy from Truk to the Palaus, along the New Guinea coast, and throughout the Marianas. His eager, resourceful aviators devastated the enemy in the Battle of the Philippine Sea 19 to 20 June 1944. During the next year his warring carriers spearheaded the thrust-of-death against the heart of the Japanese Empire, covering successively the invasion of the Palaus, the liberation of the Philippines, and the conquest of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. During these operations he repeatedly led the fast carriers northward to pound the Japanese home islands. By July 1945 when he returned to the United States to serve as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Air, Mitscher had received, among other awards, two Gold Stars in lieu of a second and third Navy Cross and the Distinguished Service Medal with two Gold Stars. He served briefly as commander 8th Fleet and on 1 March 1946 became Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, with the rank as admiral. While serving in that capacity, Mitscher died at Norfolk, Va., 3 February 1947. Photo #: 80-G-424169. Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher, USN, photographed during World War II. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.Bill Gonyo
DL-2
Mitscher 212kUSS William V. Pratt (DLG-13) and USS Mitscher (DL-2) in Genoa, Italy, undated.Carlo Martinelli
Mitscher 108kUSS William V. Pratt (DLG-13) and USS Mitscher (DL-2) in Genoa, Italy, undated.Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
Mitscher 173kMrs. Marc Mitscher at the launching on January 26 1952.Ed Zajkowski
Mitscher 41kCirca 1953, location unknown.Robert Hurst
Mitscher 51kMitscher circa 1953, location unknown. Edited by Destroyer History Foundation from NARA photo 80-G-632755. Naval Historical Center photo.Courtesy Destroyer History Foundation
Mitscher 37kCirca 1954, location unknown.Robert Hurst
Mitscher 31kCirca 1955-56, location unknown.Robert Hurst
Mitscher 43kFrom the Springfield, Massachusetts Sunday Republican dated July 15 1956.Stanley Svec
Mitscher 121kUnderway at slow speed on 8 February 1957. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command. Photo # NH 106795.Ron Reeves/Robert Hurst
Mitscher 74kIn New York on May 4 1957.Gerd Matthes
Mitscher 890kAs submarine equipment aboard USS Mitscher picks up sonar contact, HUL helicopter prepares to take off from the frigate's "flight deck." Note the two torpedoes carried by the helicopter. The HUL-1 was a Navy adaptation of the ubiquitous Bell 47, a precursor to the LAMPS (light Airborne Multi-Purpose System) program.
Official US Navy photo 709875, released 08 February 1957.
Brian Miller
Mitscher 149kUSS Mitscher (DL-2) underway circa 1960, location unknown. Note helicopter on her fantail aft. Photo USN, Official.Robert Hurst/Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
Mitscher264k Aerial view of Boston Navy Yard, looking Southwest, 1 April 1960. Photo taken by a helicopter from Naval Air Station South Weymouth. Ships and Craft present:
LocationShip (Hull No.)Ship Type
Pier 11USS Wasp (CVS-18)Aircraft Carrier
Dry Dock 5ARD-16Floating Dry Dock
In ARD-16YFND-23Dry Dock Companion Craft
Pier 10Empty 
Pier 9EUSS Macon (CA-132)
YD-196
Heavy Cruiser
Floating Crane
Pier 9WUSS Hugh Purvis (DD-709)Destroyer
Pier 8EUSS Thor (ARC-4)
YPD-24
Cable Layer
Floating Pile Driver
Pier 7EUSS Springfield (CLG-7)Guided Missile Light Cruiser
Pier 7WEmpty 
Pier 6EUSS Perry (DD-844)Destroyer
Pier 6WUSS Mitscher (DL-2)Destroyer Leader
Pier 5EUSS Albany (CG-10)Guided Missile Heavy Cruiser
Pier 5WUSS Yosemite (AD-19)Destroyer Tender
Pier 4EEmpty 
Pier 4WUSS Skywatcher (AGR-3)Radar Picket Ship
U.S. Navy photo, Boston NHP Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-10111)
Stephen P. Carlson, Preservation Specialist, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, MA 02129
Mitscher 115kUSS Mitscher (DL-2) in Boston Navy Yard in June 1963.Ed Zajkowski
DDG-35
Mitscher 93kUndated location unknown.-
Mitscher 75kPostcard sold in the Ship's Store. Undated, location unknown.Scott Maxwell
Mitscher 82kUndated, location unknown.Ron Reeves
Mitscher 211kUndated, location unknown.Robert Hurst/Bill Gonyo
Mitscher 220kUndated, location unknown.Robert Hurst
Mitscher 117kUndated, location unknown.Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
Mitscher 192kMarch 1968 at Philadelphia Navy Yard.Ed Zajkowski
Mitscher 37k1969, location inknown.Richard Miller BMCS USNR (Ret.)
Mitscher 122kUSS Mitscher (DDG-35) at Souda Bay, Crete with the USS America (CVA-66) in the background. Photo was received by the Naval Photographic Center in November 1971. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command. Photo # NH 106796.Robert Hurst
Mitscher 180kSeptember 30 1975, Eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea, Kithira Strait. American warships after Deep Express-75 Naval Exercise. The USS Mitscher lies at anchor near the Soviet Kashin class DDG Krasny Krim.The USS Hermitage (LSD-34) is background.Eugene Ivkin
Mitscher 29kThe destroyer USS Mitscher (DDG-35) clearing from RFA Regent, North Atlantic, October 1975. George Mortimer.Robert Hurst
Mitscher 154kThree views of the USS Mitscher (DDG-35) underway off Naval Station Norfolk, on 13 September 1977. Photos taken by Karsten Petersen.Robert Hurst
Mitscher 126kAs above.Robert Hurst
Mitscher 126kAs above.Robert Hurst
Mitscher 184kUSS Dupont (DD-941) tied up pierside, at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Virginia, circa 1978. Note USS Mitscher (DDG-35) at left. Photo by Karsten Petersen.Robert Hurst
Mitscher   Mitscher   Mitscher   Mitscher   Mitscher
Mitscher   Mitscher   Mitscher   Mitscher   Mitscher
Mitscher   Mitscher   Mitscher   Mitscher   Mitscher
Decommissioning pamphlet - June 1 1978
Wolfgang Hechler
Patches
Mitscher 48kShip's patchMike Smolinski
Mitscher 56kShip's patch.Mike Smolinski
Mitscher 38kShip's patchMike Smolinski
Mitscher 81kShip's patchTom Gamstetter
Mitscher 100kBumper sticker.Wolfgang Hechler

USS MITSCHER DD-927 / DDG-35 / DL-2 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 Terrell Hoyt Woodward Connor    May 15 1953 - Nov 1954

CDR James Robert Payne    Nov 1954 - Aug 1956

CDR Sheldon Hoard Kinney    Aug 1956 - Jan 1958 (Later RADM)

CDR Douglas Caufield Plate    Jan 1958 - Jul 1959 (Later VADM)

CDR Maylon Truxtun Scott    Jul 1959 - Jul 1961

CDR Douglas Grey Parramore    Jul 1961 - Aug 1963

CDR Joseph Domingo Usina    Aug 1963 - Apr 1965

CDR Henry Farandis (Hank) Munnikhuysen    Apr 1965 - Mar 18 1966

(Decommissioned Mar 18 1966 - Jun 29 1968)

CDR Robert Russell Robertson Jr.    Jun 29 1968 - Aug 1970

CDR Siras Dean Browning    Aug 1970 - Jun 1971

LCDR Fletcher James Barnes III    Jun 1971 - Sep 1972

LCDR Roy Scott McCartney    Sep 1972 - Apr 19 1974

CDR Joel Porter Wallace Decker    Apr 19 1974 - Mar 1976

CDR Donald Eugene Mosman    Mar 1976 - May 2 1978

LCDR Robert Sutton    May 2 1978 - Jun 1 1978


Crew Contact And Reunion Information

Contact Name: Gary Marchido
Address:
Phone: (231) 206-1665
E-mail: garymarchido@aol.com
Next Reunion: August 8-15, 2020 at New Orleans, Louisiana


Note About Contacts.

The contact listed, Was the contact at the time for this ship when located. If another person now is the contact, E-mail me and I will update this entry. These contacts are compiled from various sources over a long period of time and may or may not be correct. Every effort has been made to list the newest contact if more than one contact was found.


Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
Destroyer Leader Assoc. Website
Tin Can Sailors Website
Destroyer History Foundation
Destroyers Online Website
Official U.S.Navy Destroyer Website

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This page was created by Fred Willishaw (ex ARG-4, AS-11 & DD-692) and is maintained by David L. Wright
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Last Updated 08 January 2020