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NavSource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive



Ship's patches courtesy of Mike Smolinski

USS Finch (DE-328)


Flag Hoist / Radio Call Sign:
N - T - M - D
Tactical Voice Radio Call: "Dayton"

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons




Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row: Combat Action Ribbon - China Service Medal
Second Row: American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal
Third Row: World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal - National Defense Service Medal w/ star
Fourth Row: Vietnam Service Medal w/ 6 stars - Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal


Class: Edsall      Type: FMR (geared diesel, Fairbanks-Morse reverse gear drive, 3" guns)
Displacement: 1,200 tons (std) 1,590 tons (full)   Dimensions: 306' (oa), 300' (wl) x 36' 10" x 12' 3" (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 Fairbanks-Morse Mod. 38d81/8 geared diesel engines, 4 diesel-generators, 6000 shp, 2 screws
Speed: 21 knots   Range: 9,100 nm @ 12 knots   Crew: 8 / 201

Operational and Building Data
Laid down by Consolidated Steel, Orange TX. on 29 June 1943, Launched 28 August 1943
Commissioned 13 December 1943, Decommissioned 4 October 1946
Loaned to USCG and Recommissioned WDE-428, 21 August 1951
Returned USN and Decommissioned 23 April 1954
Reclassified and converted DER-328, 21 October 1955
Recommissioned 17 September 1956, Decommissioned 1 October 1973
Stricken 1 February 1974

Fate: Sources differ
1.) Sold 16 August 1974 and broken up for scrap.
2.) Sunk as a target sometime after August 1974.

Click On Image
For Full Size Image
Size Image Description Contributed
By And/Or Copyright
Finch 80k undated wartime image David Buell
Finch 110k 5 March 1954: Mare Island NSY, Vallejo CA - USS Finch (WDE-428) at Mare Island. She was in overhaul at the yard from 7 January to 16 April 1954. (US Navy photo #DE 328 20362-3-54) Darryl Baker
Finch 56k Photo of Lcdr James Keith Athow first commanding officer of USS Finch as DER-328. (US Navy photo #DER 328 30290-7-56) Darryl Baker
Finch 105k 17 August 1956: Mare Island NSY, Vallejo CA - Commissioning ceremonies for USS Finch (DER-328) at Mare Island. She was converted to her DER configuration at the yard from 1 October 1955, to 12 October 1956. (US Navy photo #DER 328 30746-8-56) Darryl Baker
Finch 119k 17 August 1956: Mare Island NSY, Vallejo CA - Radm John R. Redman (Commandant 12th Naval District) is seen at the microphone as the main speaker at the commissioning of Finch. (US Navy photo #DER 328 30749-8-56) Darryl Baker
Finch 111k 17 August 1956: Mare Island NSY, Vallejo CA - LCDR James Keith Athow reads his orders at the commissioning of Finch. (US Navy photo #DER 328 30751-8-56) Darryl Baker
Finch 135k 17 August 1956: Mare Island NSY, Vallejo CA - View of the fantail of Finch during her commissioning ceremonies. USS Durant (DER-389) is seen in the background. (US Navy photo #DER 328 30748-8-56) Darryl Baker
Finch 108k 28 August 1956: San Francisco Bay off Vallejo CA - Port bow photo of Finch off Mare Island. (US Navy photo #DER 328 30889-8-56) Darryl Baker
Finch 155k 28 August 1956: San Francisco Bay off Vallejo CA - Port beam photo of Finch off Mare Island. (US Navy photo #DER 328 30890-8-56) Darryl Baker
Finch 61k March 1966: at Kaoshung, Taiwan (© Richard Leonhardt) Richard Leonhardt
Finch 158k 1968: Guam - Finch, moored inboard of USCGC Minnetonka (WHEC-67). Larry Roszkowiak

View the USS Finch (DE-328), DANFS history entry
located on the US Naval Historical Center web site.

Crew Contact And Reunion Information

Next Reunion
17 - 20 September 2008
at Colorado Springs CO
USS Finch DE-328 / DER-328, USCGC Finch WDE-428
Contact for ship history, reunions, crew list, both found and deceased
Contact Name: Chuck Poreda
E-mail: Chuck Poreda

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

USS Finch Website
DER Group on MSN
Destroyer Escort Sailors Association

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Page Last Updated 15 February 2008