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USS NICHOLSON (DD-442)


Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign - NETZ

CLASS - GLEAVES As Built.
Displacement 2395 Tons (Full), Dimensions, 348' 4"(oa) x 36' 1" x 13' 2" (Max)
Armament 4 x 5"/38AA, 6 x 0.5" MG, 10 x 21" tt.(2x5).
Machinery, 50,000 SHP; General Electric Turbines, 2 screws
Speed, 35 Knots, Range 6500 NM@ 12 Knots, Crew 208.
Operational and Building Data
Laid down by Boston Navy Yard November 1 1939.
Launched May 31 1940 and commissioned June 3 1941.
Decommissioned February 26 1946, Recommissioned July 17 1950.
Decommissioned January 15 1951.
Stricken January 22 1951.
To Italy January 15 1951, renamed Aviere.
Converted to experimental gun ship in 1970.
Fate Stricken and sunk as target in 1975.

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Size Image Description Contributed
By
Nicholson
James Nicholson
1737-1804

Nicholson
Samuel Nicholson
1743-1811

Nicholson
James William Augustus Nicholson
1821-1887
28k









13k









21k
A family renowned in American naval history, five of whose members gave especially distinguished service in the Revolution, the War of 1812, and the Civil War. The first three, all sons of Joseph and Hannah Scott Nicholson, were born in Chestertown, Md.: James in 1737, Samuel in 1743, and John in 1756. James Nicholson served in the colonial Navy with the British in the assault on Havana in 1762, and was commissioned Captain in the Continental Navy 10 October 1776. He commanded Defense, Trumbull, and Virginia, and when blockaded at Baltimore, took his men to join Washington at Trenton to aid in that key victory. He died 2 September 1804 at his home in New York City. Samuel Nicholson was a Lieutenant in Bon Homme Richard under John Paul Jones; then, in command of Deane, captured three British sloops-of-war. Appointed Captain upon the reorganization of the Navy in 1794, he superintended the construction of frigate Constitution and commanded her during her first commission. He died at Charlestown, Mass., 29 December 1811. John Nicholson entered the Continental Navy as Lieutenant in October 1776 and the next month was promoted to Captain to command sloop Hornet. After the war he was active in public affairs in Maryland, where he died in the summer of 1844. In the next generation, John’s son William Carmichael Nicholson, born 1800 in Maryland, entered as a midshipman in 1812 and served in President under Stephen Decatur during the War of 1812. Commissioned Captain in 1855, he commanded steam frigate Roanoake from May 1861. Appointed Commodore on the Retired List in July 1862, he served a year on the Retiring Board. He died 25 July 1872 at the Naval Asylum, Philadelphia. In the third generation, Samuel’s grandson James William Augustus Nicholson, born 10 March 1821 in Dedham, Mass., carried on the family tradition, entering the Navy as a midshipman in February 1838. As a Lieutenant, he served in Vandalia in Commodore Matthew G. Perry’s Japanese Expedition (1853–55). During the Civil War he served in Pocahontas and Pensacola, and commanded Isaac Smith, Shamrock, Manhattan, and Mohongo. Commodore from August 1873 and Rear Admiral from October 1881, he commanded the European Station 16 September 1881 to February 1883. When the British bombarded Alexandria, Egypt, in 1882, he rescued the records of the American Consulate and took American and other refugees aboard his flagship, Lancaster. Commendation from the Navy Department and awards of gratitude from European governments followed. He retired 10 March 1883 and died at his home in New York 28 October 1887.Bill Gonyo
Nicholson 82kArtist's conception of the Nicholson as she appeared in World War II by the renowned graphic illustrator John Barrett with the text written by naval author and historian Robert F. Sumrall. Their company Navy Yard Associates offers prints of most destroyers, destroyer escorts, submarines and aircraft carriers in various configurations during the ship's lifetime. The prints can be customized with ship's patches, your photograph, your bio, etc. If you decide to purchase artwork from them please indicate that you heard about their work from NavSource.Navy Yard Associates
Nicholson 121kUndated, location unknown.-
Nicholson 133kUndated, location unknown. Photo from the collection of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum.Darryl Baker
Nicholson 82kUSS Nicholson (DD-442) photographed circa 1942. She is painted in Camouflage Measure 12(Modified). This image was retouched by wartime censors to remove radar antennas atop the foremast and the Mark 37 gun director. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command. Photo #: NH 107432Rob Rielly/Robert Hurst
Nicholson 27kHalifax, Nova Scotia circa May 1942. Nova Scotia Archives and Records Management, Halifax, NS.Tracy White
Nicholson 249kAerial detail views of USS Nicholson (DD442), in early 1943 while still in the Atlantic. Cropped into 3 views for greater detail from NA 80G68123.Dave Schroeder and John Chiquoine
Nicholson 256kAs above.Dave Schroeder and John Chiquoine
Nicholson 243kAs above.Dave Schroeder and John Chiquoine
On Italian Service
Nicholson 48kCirca 1952, location unknown. On Italian service as the Aviere.Robert Hurst
Nicholson 36kCirca 1954, location unknown.Robert Hurst
Nicholson 88kAviere (ex-USS Nicholson, DD-442), circa 1955. Photo Italian Navy, official. Photo and text taken from "Jane's Fighting Ships 1958-59" Edition.Robert Hurst
Nicholson 180kThe Aviere in Genoa on July 3 1956 by photographer Augusto Nani.Giorgio Parodi
Nicholson 159kIn Genoa April 25 1957.Carlo Martinelli
Nicholson 59kCirca 1960, location unknown. Photo from "Jane's Fighting Ships" 1960-1961 Edition.Robert Hurst
Nicholson 78kDestroyer Aviere, D 554 (ex-USS Nicholson, DD-442), underway, circa 1963, location unknown. Photo courtesy Captain Aldo Fraccaroli.Robert Hurst
Nicholson 34kCirca 1966, location unknown.Robert Hurst
Nicholson 252kAt La Spezia, Italy on August 26 1969.Carlo Martinelli
Nicholson 241kEx-USS Woodworth (DD-460) and ex-USS Nicholson (DD-442) at La Spezia, August 26 1969.Carlo Martinelli
Nicholson 150kAt La Spezia, Italy on May 22 1973.Carlo Martinelli
Nicholson 177kAt La Spezia, Italy on May 22 1975.Carlo Martinelli
Nicholson 125kIn Italy ready for scrapping.Ron Reeves

USS NICHOLSON DD-442 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 John Stuart Keating    Jun 3 1941 - Jan 1 1943
CDR Lewis Merrill Markham Jr.    Jan 1 1943 - Oct 14 1943
CDR William Winfred Vanous    Oct 14 1943 - Sep 23 1944
CDR Warfield Clay Bennett Jr.    Sep 23 1944 - Feb 26 1946

Crew Contact And Reunion Information

Contact Name: Eugene F. Hinz
Address: 1001 Pheasant Ave, Apt. 305, Fairmont, MN 56031
Phone: 507-238-5474
E-mail: None


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
John Hood's USS Nicholson Website
Tin Can Sailors Website
Destroyer History Foundation
Destroyers Online Website
Official U.S.Navy Destroyer Website

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