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Navsource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive

USS Thomas (DE-102)

Flag Hoist / Radio Call Sign:
N - D - R - G

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 - European-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal w/ 4 stars - World War II Victory Medal

Class: Cannon      Type: DET (diesel-electric tandem motor drive, long hull, 3" guns)
Displacement: 1,240 tons (std) 1,620 tons (full)   Dimensions: 306' (oa), 300' (wl) x 36' 10" x 11' 8" (max)
Armament: 3 x 3"/50 Mk22 (1x3), 1 twin 40mm Mk1 AA, 8 x 20mm Mk 4 AA, 3 x 21" Mk15 TT (3x1),
1 Hedgehog Projector Mk10 (144 rounds), 8 Mk6 depth charge projectors, 2 Mk9 depth charge tracks
Machinery: 4 GM Mod. 16-278A diesel engines with electric drive, 6000 shp, 2 screws
Speed: 21 knots   Range: 10,800 nm @ 12 knots   Crew: 15 / 201

Operational and Building Data
Laid down by Dravo, Wilmington DE on 16 January 1943, Launched 31 July 1943
Commissioned 21 November 1943, Decommissioned 13 March 1947
Stricken 22 December 1948

Fate: To China 14 December 1948, renamed ROCS Tai Ho (F-23)
escaped to Taiwan with Nationalistist forces in 1949,
stricken in 1972, scrapped

Size	Image Description	Contributed By And/Or Copyright
99k	Painting of USS *Thomas, depicting the ramming of U-233* on 5 July 1944. This painting was done for Mr. Buring.	Bob Buring All Photos this series © Robert M. Buring
104k	5 July 1944: Photo taken just an "instant" before ramming U-233. Notice bow of *Thomas* at bottom of photo.
75k	5 July 1944 : picking up survivors from U-233
97k	8 July 1944: Boston MA - Photo showing damage to the bow of *Thomas* after ramming of *U-233*. Taken in a Boston Navy Yard drydock.
56k	Trip to Iceland, February 1945.
92k	1944 or 45: in the North Atlantic - *Thomas* preparing to go along side USS *Croatan* (CVE-25) for a mail pass.
75k	*Thomas* pulling away from USS *Croatan* after mail pass
58k	1945: the North Atlantic - *Thomas* conducting depth charge attack.
36k	11 June 1945: Capt. Dave Kellogg, Commanding Officer USS *Thomas*
45k	undated
76k	11 November 1945: Port Arthur, Texas - After WWII *Thomas* escorted the captured German Sub *U-530* on Victory Bond Tours.
51k	ROCS *Tai Ho* (F-23) underway, date / location unknown	Robert Hurst

View the USS Thomas (DE-102), DANFS history entry
located on the US Naval Historical Center web site.

Crew Contact And Reunion Information

Contact Name: Bob Buring
Address: 1280 G. Tamarack Circle / Florence KY 41042
Phone: (859) 371-7373
E-mail: Bob Buring

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.

Additional Resources

DE-102 USS Thomas Crew Photos
Destroyer Escort Sailors Association

To The DE Photo Index Page

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Page Last Updated 14 March 2008