Navsource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive
USS Fleming (DE-32)
Flag Hoist / Radio Call Sign:
N - G - D - N
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons
Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row: Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive)
Second Row: American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/4 stars- WWII Victory Medal
CLASS: Evarts TYPE: GMT (diesel-electric tandem motor drive, short hull, 3" guns)
Displacement: 1,140 (std), 1,430 tons (full) Dimensions: 289' 5" (oa), 283' 6" (wl) x 35' 0" x 11' 0" (max)
Armament: 3 x 3"/50 Mk22 (1x3), 1 x 1.1"/75 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
Machinery: 4 GM Model 16-278A diesel engines with electric drive, 6000 shp, 2 screws
Speed: 19 knots Range: 4,150 nm @ 12 knots Crew:15 / 183
Operational and Building Data
Laid down by Mare Island NSY on 24 December 1942, Launched 16 June 1943
Commissioned 18 September 1943, Decommissioned 10 November 1945
Stricken 28 November 1945
Fate: Sold for scrapping 29 January 1948
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Size | Image Description | Contributed By And/Or Copyright |
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54k | Richard Eugene Fleming was born 2 November 1917 in St. Paul, Minn. He attended St. Thomas Academy and the University of Minnesota before enlisting in the Marine Corps Reserve for aviation training. He went through the AVCAD (Aviation Cadet Training) program at Wold-Chamberlain Field in Minneapolis and trained at Pensacola. He was sent to the Pacific and was at sea with the U.S. carrier task force during the attack on Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941. He went to Midway Island to help defend against the Japanese assault. On 4 June 1942 led an attack on one of the three Japanese carriers sunk during the initial battle. On 5 June 1942, he led a bombing attack on the Japanese cruiser Mikuma near Midway. He died when his Vindicator aircraft was struck by the ship’s anti-aircraft fire. Both his bomb and the plane struck the Japanese ship, exploding and disabling it. Fleming was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. The South St. Paul Airport is named in honor of Captain Richard E. Fleming. USS Fleming was the first ship to be named in his honor. (US Marine Corps photo from the USMC History Division) |
Bill Gonyo | |
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121k | 16 June 1943: Mrs. W. E. Rutherford christens the USS Fleming (DE-32) at Mare Island Navy Yard. Radm W. L. Friedell (Shipyard Commandant) is seen to the far right. (US Navy Photo #DE-32-4415-43) | Darryl Baker | |
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133k | 16 June 1943: Fleming is way half down the building ways at her launching at Mare Island. (US Navy Photo #DE-32-4426-43) | ||
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88k | 16 June 1943: Broadside view of Fleming immediately after her launching . (US Navy Photo #DE-32-4429-43) | ||
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118k | 2 July 1943: USS Fleming is seen being outfitted at Mare Island. USS Sederstrom (DE 31) is to the left. The ships are berthed at the foot of the building ways used to construct them. (US Navy Photo #DE-32-4822-43) | ||
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29k | 1944: in Hawaiian waters | Don Gish | |
View the USS Fleming (DE 32), DANFS history entry
located on the US Naval Historical Center website.
View a short article on the design and development of the Evarts Class DE submitted by Bob Sables.
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 or rosters available. Please see the Frequently Asked
Questions section on Navsource's Main Page for that information.
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