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Navsource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive



Top Left Ship's Patch Courtesy of Robert P. Pallat, TMC(SW), USN (ret.)
Remainder from Mike Smolinski

USS J. Douglas Blackwood (DE 219)


N - W - M - U
Tactical Voice Radio Call: "Waterbury" ("Jangle How", early 1950's)

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row: Navy Expeditionary Medal - American Campaign Medal
Second Row: Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ 3 stars - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal w/ 1 star


"Dedicated - Dauntless"
Specifications:
Class: Buckley
Type: TE (turbine-electric drive, 3" guns)
Displacement: 1400 tons (light), 1740 tons (full)
Length: 300' (wl), 306' (oa)
Beam: 36' 9" (extreme)
Draft: 10' 6" (draft limit)
Propulsion: 2 "D" Express boilers, G.E. turbines with electric drive, 12000 shp, 2 screws
Speed: 24 kts
Range: 6,000 nm @ 12 knots
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
Complement: 15 / 198
J. Douglas Blackwood (DE 219) Building and Operational Data:
  • 22 February 1943: Keel laid by the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pa.
  • 29 May 1943: Launched and christened, sponsored by Mrs. J. Douglas Blackwood, widow of Cmdr. Blackwood
  • 15 December 1943: Commissioned, Cmdr. R. V. Randolph in command
  • 14 April 1947: Decommissioned at Charleston, S.C. after 3 years and 4 months of service
  • 05 February 1951: Recommissioned, Lcdr. J. R. McKee in command, assigned to Norfolk, Va. as a unit of Escort Squadron 8
  • 15 November 1957: Assigned to NRT, 4th Naval District at Philadelphia, Pa.
  • 01 August 1958: Decommissioned at the North Keystone Ship Repair and Drydock Co., Philadelphia, Pa., placed "in service" as a unit of the Selected Reserve Force, 4th Naval District at Naval Base, Philadelphia
  • 02 October 1961: Recommissioned at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard for the Berlin Crisis, Cmdr. J. J. Grelis III, USNR, in command; homeport changed to Newport, R. I. as a unit of Escort Squadron 8
  • 01 August 1962: Decommissioned at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, placed "in service" at NRT Philadelphia, Pa., Lt. W. D. Wilson, USNR assumed command as Officer in Charge
  • 18 October 1968: NRT assignment changed to 3rd Naval District at U. S. Naval Reserve Training Center, Whitestone, N.Y.
  • 30 January 1970: Placed "out of service, in reserve" at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, and struck from the NVR with a total of 22 years and 4 months of service, custody to CO, Philadelphia Group, U. S. Atlantic Reserve Fleet
  • 20 July 1970: Sunk as a target
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Contributed
    By And/Or Copyright
    ***Enright / Blackwood***
    0621602
    82k 29 May 1943: Philadelphia Navy Yard - The christening of six destroyer escorts in a dry-dock at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. The three ships in the foreground are (from left): USS Enright (DE 216), USS Coolbaugh (DE 217) and USS Darby (DE 218). Those in the background are (from left), USS J. Douglas Blackwood (DE 219), USS Francis M. Robinson (DE 220) and USS Solar (DE 221).

    (U.S. Navy Photo #NH 75610 from the Naval History and Heritage Command, Courtesy of James Russell, 1972)
    Bill Gonyo
    Downey, Cal.

    Assoc. Researcher
    Navsource
    J.D. Blackwood
    0621902
    62k Undated Wartime Image Bob Hurst
    Worksop, Nottinghamshire,
    England, United Kingdom
    J.D. Blackwood
    0621903
    173k 02 November 1945: Mare Island Navy Yard, San Francisco, Cal. - Aft plan view of USS J. Douglas Blackwood (DE 219) at Mare Island. USS Darby (DE 218) is inboard and USS Mansfield (DD 728), USS Stanly (DD 478) and USS Evans (DD 552) are forward of Blackwood. Blackwood was in overhaul at the yard from 4 September to 17 November 1945.

    (U.S. Navy photo #DE-219-6946-45)
    Darryl Baker
    PNCM, USNR (ret.)

    Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum
    J.D. Blackwood
    0621904
    150k 02 November 1945: Mare Island Navy Yard, San Francisco, Cal. - Forward plan view of J. Douglas Blackwood at Mare Island. USS Darby (DE 218) is inboard and USS Harmon (DE 678) is outboard of USS Coolbaugh (DE 217) in the background.

    (U.S. Navy photo #DE-219-6947-45)
    J.D. Blackwood
    0621912
    520k 13 November 1945: Vallejo, Cal. - A port quarter view of J. Douglas Blackwood stopped off the Mare Island Navy Yard.

    (Photo courtesy of  Chris Wright)
    Ed Zajkowski
    Narvon, Pa.
    J.D. Blackwood
    0621916
    432k 13 November 1945: Mare Island Navy Yard, San Francisco, Cal. - J. Douglas Blackwood at Mare Island post-overhaul testing her smoke generators.

    (U.S. Navy photo #DE-219-7075-45)
    Darryl Baker
    PNCM, USNR (ret.)

    Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum
    J.D. Blackwood
    0621905
    157k 15 November 1945: Mare Island Navy Yard, San Francisco, Cal. - After plan view of J. Douglas Blackwood at Mare Island. USS Darby (DE 218) is inboard and USS Harmon (DE 678) is outboard of USS Coolbaugh (DE 217) in the background.

    (U.S. Navy photo #DE-219-7188-45)
    J.D. Blackwood
    0621906
    157k 15 November 1945: Mare Island Navy Yard, San Francisco, Cal. - Forward plan view of J. Douglas Blackwood at Mare Island. USS Darby (DE 218) is inboard and USS Harmon (DE 678) is outboard of USS Coolbaugh (DE 217) in the background.

    (U.S. Navy photo #DE-219-7190-45)
    J.D. Blackwood
    0621907
    75k Undated Postwar Image DESA archives
    J.D. Blackwood
    0621908
    34k (early 50's): Undated Images David Titus
    Crewmember 1952-1955
    J.D. Blackwood
    0621909
    35k
    J.D. Blackwood
    0621910
    61k early 50's Bob Hurst
    Worksop, Nottinghamshire,
    England, United Kingdom
    J.D. Blackwood
    0621915
    449k 1958: Starboard bow view of the destroyer escort USS J. Douglas Blackwood (DE 219) underway.

    (U.S. Navy National Archives photo #USN 1035698 from the Naval History and Heritage Command)
    Mike Smolinski
    Clifton, N.J.

    Navsource Archive Manager
    DE / FF / LCS Archive
    J.D. Blackwood
    0621911
    283k 02 May 1964: USS J. Douglas Blackwood (DE 219) at Philadelphia.

    (Photo courtesy of Dr. Ian S. Pearsall; from "Jane's Fighting Ships, 1964 - 65")
    Bob Hurst
    Worksop, Nottinghamshire,
    England, United Kingdom
    J.D. Blackwood
    0621913
    219k September 1966 Nick Tiberio
    Shelton, Conn.
    J.D. Blackwood
    0621914
    244k Undated Postwar Image

    J. Douglas Blackwood Memorabilia
    News Article
    May 1960
    A.C. Cockrell
    Courtesy of
    Mike Smolinski
    Ship's
    Matchbook
    J.D. Blackwood
    Courtesy of
    Mike Smolinski
    Ship's
    Plaque
    J.D. Blackwood
    Courtesy of
    Mike Smolinski
    Ship's
    Lighter (early)
    J.D. Blackwood
    Courtesy of
    Mike Smolinski
    Ship's
    Lighter (later)
    J.D. Blackwood
    Courtesy of
    Mike Smolinski
    Squadron
    Plaque, late '50's
    DeLong
    Courtesy of
    Bob Hurst

    J. Douglas Blackwood History
    View the USS J. Douglas Blackwood (DE 219) DANFS history entry located on the Naval History and Heritage Command web site.

    J. Douglas Blackwood's Commanding Officers
    Thanks to Wolfgang Hechler
    Dates of Command Commanding Officers
    1.)  15 Dec. 1943 – 05 Aug. 1944Cmdr. Ralph Baker Randolph, USNR (Comm. CO)
    2.)  05 Aug. 1944 – 01 Nov. 1945Cmdr. James Lamont Johnston, USNR (Chattanooga, Tenn.)
    3.)  01 Nov. 1945 – 20 Apr. 1946Lcdr. Everett Allen (Dusty) Rhoades, USNR (Wyeth, Mo.)
    4.)  20 Apr. 1946 – 14 Apr. 1947Lcdr. Robert Sherwood Tackaberry, USN (Decomm. CO) (USNA ‘40) (Evanston, Ill)
    5.)  05 Feb. 1951 – 08 Jan. 1952Lcdr. John Raymond McKee, USN (Recomm. CO)
    6.)  08 Jan. 1952 – .. .... 1953Lcdr. Edwin Miller Rosenberg, USN (USNA '41) (Moscow, Id.) (ret. as Radm.)
    7.)  .. .... 1953 – .. Jul. 1954Lcdr. Francis Albert Lewis, USN (Woodbine, Md.)
    8.)  .. Jul. 1954 – 17 Jul. 1956Cmdr. James Woodleigh Short, USN (USNA ‘43) (Fort Worth, Tex.)
    9.)  17 Jul. 1956 – 31 Jan. 1958Lcdr. Frederick Phillip McDermott, USN
    10.) 31 Jan. 1958 – 01 Aug. 1958Lcdr. Thomas George Miskill, USN (Washington, D. C.)
    11.) 01 Aug. 1958 – 14 Apr. 1959Lcdr. William Harold Gatts, USN (Moundsville, W. V.)
    12.) 14 Apr. 1959 – 28 Apr. 1960Lt. Fredric Jonasz, USNR (OinC)
    13.) 28 Apr. 1960 – 15 Sep. 1961Lt. Lloyd Winther Rasmussen, USN (OinC)
    14.) 15 Sep. 1961 – 02 Oct. 1961Lt. John David Allemang, USN (OinC)
    15.) 02 Oct. 1961 – 01 Aug. 1962Cmdr. John Joseph Grelis III, USNR (Recomm. / Decomm. CO) (Philadelphia, Pa.)
    16.) 01 Aug. 1962 – 06 Dec. 1963Lt./Lcdr. William Drayton Wilson, USN (OinC) (USNA ‘48-A) (Newberry, S. C.)
    17.) 06 Dec. 1963 – 20 May 1965Lt. Raymond John Harbrecht, USN (OinC) (St. Paul, Minn.)
    18.) 20 May 1965 – 04 Jan. 1968Lt. George Stefencavage, USN (OinC) (Gilberton, Pa.)
    19.) 04 Jan. 1968 – 04 Oct. 1968Lt. George Vincent Reilly Jr., USN (OinC)
    20.) 04 Oct. 1968 – 30 Jan. 1970Lt. John Carl Darwin, USN (Decomm. OinC) (OCS '61) (Fairhaven, Mass.)

    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, rosters, or deck logs available. Please see the
    Frequently Asked Questions section on NavSource's Main Page for that information.


    Additional Resources

    Tin Can Sailors
    The U.S. Navy Memorial
    Destroyer Escort Sailors Association
    The Destroyer Escort Historical Museum
    The Destroyer History Foundation
    To The DE, FF, LCS Photo Index Page
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    This Page Created And Maintained By Mike Smolinski
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    by Paul R. Yarnall, All Rights Reserved.
    Page Last Updated: 29 April 2023