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USS O'BANNON (DD-450 / DDE-450)


Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign - NUJC

Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign (circa 1968) - WASHBOWL

CLASS - FLETCHER As Built.
Displacement 2924 Tons (Full), Dimensions, 376' 5"(oa) x 39' 7" x 13' 9" (Max)
Armament 5 x 5"/38AA, 4 x 1.1" AA, 6 x 20mm AA, 10 x 21" tt.(2x5).
Machinery, 60,000 SHP; Westinghouse Turbines, 2 screws
Speed, 38 Knots, Range 6500 NM@ 15 Knots, Crew 273.
Operational and Building Data
Laid down by Bath Iron Works, Bath ME. March 3 1941.
Launched March 14 1942 and commissioned June 26 1942.
Decommissioned May 21 1946 and recommissioned February 19 1951.
Reclassified DDE-450 March 26 1949 And back to DD-450 June 30 1962.
Decommissioned and Stricken January 30 1970.
Fate Sold June 6 1970 to Union Minerals & Alloy, New York and broken up for scrap.

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O'Bannon 77kPresley Neville O’Bannon (1776 - 12 September 1850) was an officer in the United States Marine Corps, famous for his exploits in the First Barbary War. He received a sword for his role in restoring Prince Hamet Karamali to his throne at Tripoli in recognition of his bravery. That sword became the model for the Mameluke Sword adopted in 1825 as the Marine officers' sword that is still part of the dress uniform today. Born in Fauquier County, Virginia, O'Bannon entered the Marine Corps 18 January 1801. As a First Lieutenant, he commanded a detachment of seven Marines in General William Eaton’s little force in the War with Tripoli. During the combined operations with the U.S. Navy, he led the successful attack in the Battle of Derna 27 April 1805, giving the Marines' Hymn its immortal “to the shores of Tripoli”. Although some sources maintain that at this battle Presley O'Bannon became the first man to raise the American flag over foreign soil, his superior William Eaton had done so a few months earlier while traveling on the Nile from Alexandria to Cairo. According to tradition, Hamet Karamanli was so impressed with O'Bannon's bravery, that following the attack, he presented Lt. O'Bannon with his personal Mameluke sword as a gesture of gratitude. Upon his return to the states, the state of Virginia presented him with a silver-hilted sword featuring an eaglehead hilt and a curved blade modeled after the original Mameluke given him by Hamet. Its blade is inscribed with his name and a commemoration of the battle of Tripoli. After resigning from the Marine Corps 6 March 1807, O’Bannon moved to Logan County, Kentucky, where he built a home in Russellville. He served in the Kentucky state legislature 1812, 1817, 1820-21 and in the Kentucky state senate 1824-1826. He died 12 September 1850 in Franklin County, Kentucky. His remains were moved to the Frankfort Cemetery in 1919. Perhaps due to the Marines' distinguished record during this campaign, including the capture of the Tripolitan city of Derna after a long and dangerous desert march, Marine Corps Commandant Archibald Henderson adopted the Mameluke sword in 1825 for wear by Marine officers. After initial distribution in 1826, Mameluke swords have been worn except for the years 1859-75 (when Marine officers were required to wear Army M1850 foot officers' swords), and a brief period when swords were suspended during World War II. Since that time, Mameluke swords have been worn by Marine officers in a continuing tradition to the present day as of 2007.Bill Gonyo
O'Bannon 82kArtist's conception of the O'Bannon as she appeared after original construction 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
O'Bannon 78kArtist's conception of a cutaway view of the O'Bannon 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
O'Bannon 127kUndated, location unknown.-
O'Bannon 133kUndated, location unknown.David Buell
O'Bannon 93kUndated, location unknown.-
O'Bannon 36kUndated, location unknown.-
O'Bannon 87kUndated, location unknown.-
O'Bannon 61kUndated, location unknown.David Buell
O'Bannon 145kUndated, Bath Iron Works photo.David Buell
O'Bannon 86kUndated, Bath Iron Works photo. Photo taken from United States Destroyer Operations in World War II, by Theodore Roscoe.Robert Hurst
O'Bannon 200kUSS O'Bannon (DD-450) and USS Nicholas (DD-449) under construction at Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, 1 January 1942. Note: Stamp in upper right does not appear on negative. Source: United States National Archives, Photo No. 19-N-35342.Mike Green
O'Bannon 273kUSS Nicholas (DD-449) and USS O'Bannon (DD-450) under construction at Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, 1 January 1942. Note: Stamp in upper right does not appear on negative. Source: United States National Archives, Photo No. 19-N-35340.Mike Green
O'Bannon 344kLooking forward, USS O'Bannon (DD-450) and USS Nicholas (DD-449) under construction at Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, 1 January 1941. Source: United States National Archives, Photo No. 19-N-35343.Mike Green
O'Bannon 52kInclining test at Bath Iron Works, June 21 1942.Pieter Bakels
O'Bannon 110kInclining test at Bath Iron Works, June 21 1942.David Buell
O'Bannon 122kInclining test at Bath Iron Works, June 21 1942.David Buell
O'Bannon 128kInclining test at Bath Iron Works, June 21 1942.David Buell
O'Bannon 137kUSS O'Bannon at Bath during an inclining experiment, on 21 June 1942. Stacks, searchlights, and torpedo tubes are prominent, with the 5" practice loading machine at lower right. National Archives and Records Administration, College Park, MD. Photo # 19-N-18672.David Buell/Robert Hurst
O'Bannon 142kUSS O'Bannon (DD-450) moored to a buoy in mid 1942. The ship is painted in Camouflage Measure 12(Modified). Wartime censors retouched this image to remove radars atop the foremast and Mark 37 dun director. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections Photo #: 80-G-44177.Robert Hurst
O'Bannon 171kUSS O'Bannon (DD-450) moored to a buoy in mid 1942. The ship is painted in Camouflage Measure 12(Modified). Wartime censors retouched this image to remove radars atop the foremast and Mark 37 dun director. Source: United States National Archives, Photo No. 80-G-44177,Mike Green
O'Bannon 224kO'Bannon tied up alongside USS Medusa (AR-1) at Noumea, 08-11 August 1943. Cummings (DD-365) is moored between them. From the Cdr Dayton Brown photos. Note how the paint coloring works with it's surroundings. Help with ship details enabling the Desron 21 tin cans to be distinguished from each other came from Rick Davis.Dave Schroeder and John Chiquoine
O'Bannon 100kShips of Task Force 18 during gunnery exercises off Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, on 19 April 1943. At right are the destroyers Strong (DD-467) and O'Bannon (DD-450), making a turn. The three large ships in the distance are light cruisers, including St. Louis (CL-49) and Helena (CL-50) at left and either Nashville (CL-43) or Honolulu (CL-48) in the right center. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Photo #: 80-G-299058.Robert Hurst
O'Bannon 86kUSS O'Bannon (DD-450) picking up a pilot while operating with Task Force 36.1 in the Solomon Islands area, circa 3-4 July 1943. USS Chevalier (DD-451) is seen beyond O'Bannon's stern. Courtesy of Rick E. Davis, 2012. Source: United States National Archives, Photo No. 80-G-259193.Mike Green
O'Bannon 89kDestroyer Squadron Twenty-One. Three of the squadron's ships underway in the Solomon Islands, 15 August 1943. The ships are (from front to rear): USS O'Bannon (DD-450), USS Chevalier (DD-451) and USS Taylor (DD-468). Photographed from USS Nicholas (DD-449), while the ships were enroute to the landings at Vella Lavella, which took place on the same day. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.Fred Weiss
O'Bannon 66kUSS O'Bannon (DD-450) showing Tulagi harbour a year after its capture. Photo from United States Destroyer Operations in World War II, by Theodore Roscoe.Robert Hurst
O'Bannon 106kDestroyer Squadron Twenty-One. Three of the squadron's ships steaming in column, while en route to Guadalcanal and Tulagi on 15 August 1943, following the Vella Lavella landings. Photographed from USS Nicholas (DD-449). The ships seen are(from right to left): USS O'Bannon (DD-450), USS Chevalier (DD-451) and USS Taylor (DD-468). Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.Fred Weiss
O'Bannon 91kUSS Selfridge (DD-357), left, and USS O'Bannon (DD-450) damaged at Noumea, Espiritu Santo, after the naval Battle of Vella Lavella, on 7 October 1943. Selfridge´s bow was torn off by a Japanese torpedo (note sailors climbing in the wrecked gun turret). O'Bannon collided with USS Chevalier (DD-451) during the battle, after Chevalier had been hit by a torpedo (she had to be sunk later). U.S. Navy photo from Breaking the Bismarcks Barrier (History of US Naval Operations in WWII, Vol VI), by Samuel Eliot Morison, Castle Books, Edison (New Jersey, USA), 2001, p. 253 (reprint from 1950).Robert Hurst
O'Bannon 142kMidships looking aft plan view of the USS O'Bannon (DD 450) at Mare Island on 6 Jan 1944. She was in overhaul at Mare Island from 19 Nov 43 until 11 Jan 44.Darryl Baker
O'Bannon 93kForward plan view of the USS O'Bannon (DD 450) at Mare Island on 6 Jan 1944. She was in overhaul at Mare Island from 19 Nov 43 until 11 Jan 44.Darryl Baker
O'Bannon 142kJanuary 6 1944 at Mare Island after overhaul and weapons upgrades.David Buell
O'Bannon 93kStern view of the USS O'Bannon (DD 450) off Mare Island on 8 Jan 1944. She was in overhaul at Mare Island from 19 Nov 43 until 11 Jan 44.Darryl Baker
O'Bannon 73kBroadside view of the USS O'Bannon (DD 450) off Mare Island on 8 Jan 1944. She was in overhaul at Mare Island from 19 Nov 43 until 11 Jan 44.Darryl Baker
O'Bannon 70kBow on view of the USS O'Bannon (DD 450) off Mare Island on 8 Jan 1944. She was in overhaul at Mare Island from 19 Nov 43 until 11 Jan 44.Darryl Baker
O'Bannon 88kUSS O'Bannon (DD 450) off Mare Island on 8 Jan 1944.David Buell
O'Bannon 148kUSS O'Bannon seen firing in combat by an Army photographer off Mindoro, 13 Dec 1944. Two sister cans apparently in 6d and 13d camouflage are unclear at right. Photo NA SC260127.John Chiquoine and Dave Schroeder
O'Bannon 130kThe USS O'Bannon (DD-450) being removed from mothballs for conversion to the DDE configuration at Long Beach NY, 17 January 1949. Note the man standing on the radar on the Mk-37 Fire Control Director.Rick E. Davis
O'Bannon 116kA June 1950 photo at San Diego NY shows the USS Nicholas (DDE-449), USS O'Bannon (DDE-450), USS Walker (DDE-517) and USS Sproston (DDE-577), returned to Mothballs after being converted to the DDE ASW configuration. All four of these DDE's were armed with of 2-5"/38cal, 5 Torpedo Tubes, Mk-15 ASW Projector, and provisions for 4x2-20mm guns. Also, seen is the USS Killen (DD-593) and several DE's, including USS Raymond (DE-341) and USS Dennis (DE-405) and an APD. Cropped from an USN Photo from the NARA photo files, 80-G-428265.Rick E. Davis
O'Bannon 204kUSS Nicholas (DD-449) & USS O'Bannon (DD-450) berth at Mare Island on 15 Feb 1951 before their re-commissioning. Photos courtesy of the Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum.Darryl Baker
O'Bannon 242kUSS Nicholas (DD 449) & USS O'Bannon (DD 450) berth at Mare Island on 15 Feb 1951 before their re-commissioning. Photos courtesy of the Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum.Darryl Baker
O'Bannon 155kNew commanding officer and Commander Western Sea Frontier at the re-commissioning of the USS Nicholas (DD 449) & O'Bannon (DD 450) at Mare Island on 19 Feb 1951. Left to right: CDR H. C. Mason (CO, Nicholas), RADM T. R. Cooley & CDR D. J. Carrison (CO, O'Bannon). Photos courtesy of the Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum.Darryl Baker
O'Bannon 97kBow on view of USS O'Bannon (DDE 450) departing Mare Island on 1 March 1951.Darryl Baker
O'Bannon 80kBroadside view of USS O'Bannon (DDE 450) off Mare Island on 1 March 1951. She was in overhaul at the yard from 19 Feb. to 24 March 1951.Darryl Baker
O'Bannon 99kStern view of USS O'Bannon (DDE 450) off Mare Island on 1 March 1951.Darryl Baker
O'Bannon 150kMarch 17 1951 as a DDE at Mare Island.Ed Zajkowski
O'Bannon 98kUSS Regulus (AF-57) replenishing the destroyer USS O'Bannon (DD-450) and the aircraft carrier USS Shangri-La (CVA-38). Shangri-La, with assigned Air Task Group 3 (ATG-3), was deployed to the Western Pacific from 5 January to 23 June 1956. U.S. Navy photo from the USS Shangri-La (CVA-38) 1956 cruise book.Robert Hurst
O'Bannon 176kImage of the USS O'Bannon (DD-450) and USS Carpenter (DD-825) from ALL HANDS magazine dated April 1960.Stanley Svec/Robert Hurst
O'Bannon 157kUSS O'Bannon (DD 450) underway in 1961. Photo courtesy of Life magazine.Bill Gonyo
O'Bannon 171kUSS O'Bannon (DD 450) underway in 1961. Photo courtesy of Life magazine.Bill Gonyo
O'Bannon 181kUSS Currituck (AV-7), USS Maddox (DD-731), USS Brush (DD-745), USS Jenkins (DD-447) and USS O'Bannon (DD-450) at Okinawa circa 1961-1962.Gary Priolo
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Yokosuka, October 7 1961, with the O'Bannon and 10 other destroyers being serviced by the USS Piedmont (AD-17)Ed Zajkowski
O'Bannon 37kCirca 1963, location unknown.Robert Hurst
O'Bannon 173kDecember 1963, Hawaii, Students of Farrington High School are given a survival demo during their tour of the ship. Photo DAVA # 1098552 by G A Worthington.Ed Zajkowski
O'Bannon 65kMay 1966 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.Larry Backus
O'Bannon 86kThe Captain John William Wells on the bridge wing, June 25 1966 in Subic Bay.© Richard Leonhardt
O'Bannon 122kSubic Bay Philippine Islands, July 1966© Richard Leonhardt
O'Bannon 78kSubic Bay, Philippine Islands, July 5 1966© Richard Leonhardt
O'Bannon 189kSubic Bay, Philippine Islands, July 6 1966© Richard Leonhardt
O'Bannon 162kUSS O'Bannon (DD-450) underway, while serving with USS Enterprise (CVAN-65) in the Sea of Japan, 1968. She had been redesignated from DDE-450 to DD-450 in 1962, but remains in DDE configuration. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command. Photo #: NH 107450.Robert Hurst
O'Bannon 137kUSS Enterprise (CVAN-65) steams in formation with USS Nicholas (DD-449) and USS O'Bannon (DD-450) in the Gulf of Tonkin, 6 March 1968. Source: United States National Archives,USN 1130804.Robert Hurst
O'Bannon 71kOff Oahu Hawaii, October 1968.© Richard Leonhardt
O'Bannon 184kPearl Harbor, December 1968.© Richard Leonhardt
O'Bannon 82kPearl Harbor Hawaii, December 1968.© Richard Leonhardt
O'Bannon 81kPearl Harbor Hawaii, December 1968.© Richard Leonhardt
O'Bannon 83kMid-Pacific, April 16 1969.© Richard Leonhardt
O'Bannon 84kMid-Pacific, April 16 1969.© Richard Leonhardt
O'Bannon 197kO'Bannon in May 1972 at the Mare Island Inactive Ship Facility prior to her towing to the scrap heap.Darryl Baker
O'Bannon 202kAs above.Darryl Baker
THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
WASHINGTON
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION to the
UNITED STATES SHIP USS O’BANNON (DD-450)
for service as set forth in the following CITATION:
"For outstanding performance in combat against enemy Japanese forces in the South Pacific from October 7, 1942, to October 7, 1943. An aggressive veteran after a year of continuous and intensive operations in this area, the U.S.S. O’BANNON has taken a tremendous toll of vital Japanese warships, surface vessels and aircraft. Launching a close range attack on hostile combatant ships off Guadalcanal on the night of November 13, 1942, the O’BANNON scored three torpedo hits on a Japanese battleship, boldly engaged two other men o’ war with gunfire and retired safely in spite of damage sustained. During three days of incessant hostilities in July 1943, she gallantly stood down Kula Gulf to bombard enemy shore positions in coverage of our assault groups, later taking a valiant part in the rescue of survivors from the torpedoed U.S.S STRONG while under fierce coastal battery fire and aerial bombing attack and adding her fire power toward the destruction of a large Japanese naval force. In company with two destroyers, the O’BANNON boldly intercepted and repulsed nine hostile warships off Vella Lavella on October 7, 1943, destroying two enemy ships and damaging others. Although severely damaged, she stood by to take aboard and care for survivors of a friendly torpedoed destroyer and retired to base under her own power. The O’BANNON’s splendid achievements and the gallant fighting spirit of her officers and men reflect great credit upon the United States Naval Service."
For the President, /s/ Frank Knox, Secretary of the Navy
Bill Gonyo
O'Bannon 56kShip's patchMike Smolinski

USS O'BANNON DD-450 / DDE-450 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 Edwin Richard Wilkinson    Jun 26 1942 - Jan 19 1943 (Later RADM)

CDR Donald John MacDonald    Jan 19 1943 - Mar 1 1944 (Later RADM)

CDR Robert William Smith    Mar 1 1944 - Dec 23 1944

CDR James Arthur Pridmore    Dec 23 1944 - May 21 1946

(Decommissioned May 21 1946 - Feb 19 1951)

CDR Daniel Jordan Carrison    Feb 19 1951 - Apr 11 1952

CDR Edward Boyce Jarman    Apr 11 1952 - Jun 26 1954

CDR John Frank Maddox Jr.    Jun 26 1954 - Dec 20 1955

LCDR Edward Lull Cochrane Jr.    Dec 20 1955 - Mar 4 1956

CDR Louie Woodrow (Woo) Barnard    Mar 4 1956 - Apr 4 1958

LCDR Basil Duffield Slaymaker    Apr 4 1958 - Apr 13 1960

CDR David Sloane Stanley    Apr 13 1960 - Mar 31 1962

CDR David Lowry Miller    Mar 31 1962 - Mar 3 1964

CDR Thomas Fletcher Utegaard    Mar 3 1964 - Jan 22 1965

CDR Alan Jarman Kaye    Jan 22 1965 - Oct 8 1965

CAPT John William Wells    Oct 8 1965 - Jun 26 1968

CAPT John Paul Iredale    Jun 26 1968 - Jan 3 1970


Crew Contact And Reunion Information

Contact Name: Robert Martin
Address: 18275 Wild Mustang Drive, Surprise, AZ. 85374
Phone: (623) 546-1748
E-mail: rmartin18275@msn.com


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
Crewmember Ernest Herr's Story
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 25 December 2017