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Navsource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive

USS Finnegan (DE 307)


Flag Hoist / Radio Call Sign:
N - H - R - L
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row: Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive)
Second Row: Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ 3 stars - WWII Victory Medal - Philippine Liberation Ribbon
Specifications:
Class: Evarts
Type: GMT (diesel-electric tandem motor drive, short hull, 3" guns)
Displacement: 1,140 tons (light), 1,430 tons (full)
Length: 283' 6" (wl), 289' 5" (oa)
Beam: 35' 0" (extreme)
Draft: 11' 0" (draft limit)
Propulsion: 4 GM Model 16-278A diesel engines with electric drive, 6000 shp, 2 screws
Speed: 19 kts
Range: 4,150 nm @ 12 knots
Armament: 3 - 3"/50 Mk22 (1x3), 1 - 1.1"/75 cal. 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
Complement: 15 / 183
Finnegan (DE 307) Building and Operational Data:
  • 5 July 1943: Keel laid by the Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, Cal.
  • 22 February 1944: Launched and christened, sponsored by Mrs. Charles Schroeder, sister of Ensign Finnegan
  • 19 August 1944: Commissioned, Lcdr Huston Huffman, USNR, in command
  • 27 November 1945: Decommissioned at Charleston, S.C.
  • 19 December 1945: Stricken from the NVR
  • June 1946: Sold, scrapped
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By And/Or Copyright
    Finnegan 7k William Michael Finnegan, born 18 April 1897 in Bessemer, Mich., enlisted in the Navy 22 October, 1917, and served continuously, rising to Chief Radio Electrician 8 November 1929. His last of many responsible assignments ashore and afloat was in USS Oklahoma (BB 37), to which he reported 30 August 1941. Appointed ensign 18 November 1941, Chief Radio Electrician Finnegan was killed in action when his ship was sunk in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941.)

    USS Finnegan (DE 30) (1944-1945) was the first ship named in his honor.

    (Photo from The Official Web Site of the USS Oklahoma BB 37 thanks to Kevin King)    		 Bill Gonyo
    Finnegan 181k 22 July 1943: Stern view of USS Finnegan on the building ways at Mare Island. USS Creamer (DE 308) is on the building ways to the right. (U.S. Navy Photo #DE-307-4818-43) Darryl Baker
    Finnegan 167k 22 July 1944: Bow view of Finnegan on the building ways. Creamer is on the building ways to the left. Another Mare Island unidentified DE is in the background to the right. (US Navy Photo #DE-307-4821-43)
    Finnegan 106k 25 July 1944: Milton L. McInnis and G. J. Nible were honorary keel layers for USS Finnegan (DE 307). (U.S. Navy Photo #DE-307-4894-43)
    Finnegan 124k 22 February 1944: Distinguished guests at the launching of Finnegan at Mare Island. Left to right: Mrs. M. S. Tisdale, Mr. L. M. Brown, Mrs. Charles Schroeder (Sponsor), Radm M. S. Tisdale (Shipyard Commandant), Miss Schroeder, Capt. G. C. Klein (Captain of the Yard), Mr. T. F. Finnegan, Mr. H. J. Finnegan, Mrs. Marian Bechtal (Matron of Honor), Mrs. H. J. Finnegan, Mrs. L. M. Brown, and Mr. W. E. Finnegan. (US Navy Photo #DE-307-1811-43)
    Finnegan 92k 22 February 1944: Mrs. Charles Schroeder, the sponsor of Finnegan is holding the christening bottle and standing at the bow of the ship with Mrs. Marian Bechtal, Matron of Honor. (US Navy Photo #DE-307-1178-44)
    Finnegan 91k 22 February 1944: Finnegan at the end of the ways at her launching. (U.S. Navy Photo #DE-307-1184-44)
    Finnegan 50k 22 February 1944: Finnegan is seen immediately after her launching. (U.S. Navy Photo #DE-307-1232-44)
    Finnegan 137k 25 July 1944: Aft plan view of Finnegan at her outfitting berth. (U.S. Navy Photo #DE-307-4203-44)
    Finnegan 115k 25 July 1944: Forward plan view of Finnegan at her outfitting berth. (U.S. Navy Photo #DE-307-4204-44)
    Finnegan 100k 22 August 1944: Broadside view of radar antenna arrangement aboard Finnegan at Mare Island. (U.S. Navy Photo #DE-307-5401-44)
    Finnegan 92k 22 August 1944: Bow view view of radar antenna arrangement aboard Finnegan at Mare Island. (U.S. Navy Photo #DE-307-5402-44)
    Finnegan 88k 22 August 1944: Stern view of radar antenna arrangement aboard Finnegan at Mare Island. (U.S. Navy Photo #DE-307-5403-44)
    Finnegan 121k 21 September 1944: off Mare Island - Starboard forward quarter view of Finnegan. (U.S. Navy Photo #DE-307-5494-44)
    Finnegan 138k 24 September 1944: Bow on view of Finnegan off Mare Island. (U.S. Navy Photo #DE-307-5497-44)
    Finnegan 119k 24 September 1944: Broadside view of Finnegan off Mare Island. (U.S. Navy Photo #DE-307-5499-44)
    Finnegan 112k 24 September 1944: Stern view of Finnegan off Mare Island. (U.S. Navy Photo #DE-307-5501-44)
    Finnegan 496k 1 September 1944: off Vallejo, Cal. - A starboard beam view of Finnegan taken near the Mare Island Navy Yard. (U.S. Navy photo #CP-DE-307 19-N-131514 from the National Archives and Records Administration, College Park, Md.; courtesy of  Chris Wright) Ed Zajkowski
    View the USS Finnegan (DE 307) DANFS history entry
    located on the Naval History and Heritage Command 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.

    Additional Resources
    Destroyer Escort Sailors Association
    Tin Can Sailors Shipmate Registry - USS Finnegan
    The Destroyer History Foundation
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    Page Last Updated 7 September 2011