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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
Specifications:
Class: Edsall
Type: FMR (geared diesel, Fairbanks-Morse reverse gear drive, 3" guns)
Displacement: 1200 tons (light), 1590 tons (full)
Length: 300' (wl), 306' (oa)
Beam: 36' 10" (extreme)
Draft: 20' 6" (draft limit)
Propulsion: 4 Fairbanks-Morse Mod. 38d81/8 geared diesel engines, 4 diesel-generators, 6000 shp, 2 screws
Speed: 21 kts
Range: 9,100 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: 8 / 201
Finch (DE 328) Building and Operational Data:
  • 29 June 1943: Keel laid at the Consolidated Steel Corp., Orange, Tex.
  • 28 August 1943: Launched and christened, sponsored by Miss Grace Cushing, fiancee of Lieutenant (junior grade) Finch
  • 13 December 1943: Commissioned, Lcdr Albert H. Nienau, USNR, in command
  • 4 October 1946: Decommissioned at Green Cove Springs, Fla.
  • 21 August 1951: Loaned to USCG and Recommissioned WDE 428 at Green Cove Springs, Fla., Cdr G. R. Boyce, Jr., USCG, in command
  • 23 April 1954: Returned USN and Decommissioned at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, Cal.
  • 1 October 1955: Conversion to DER commenced at Mare Island Naval Shipyard
  • 17 August 1956: Reclassified as DER 328, Recommissioned, Lcdr James K. Athow in command, assigned to Escort Squadron 5 at Seattle, Wash.
  • 16 September 1958: Homeport reassigned to Pearl Harbor, Hi.
  • 22 May 1960: Homeport reassigned to Treasure Island, San Francisco, Cal.
  • 29 June 1965: Homeport reassigned to Guam, as a unit of Escort Squadron 7
  • 15 January 1969: Homeport reassigned to Pearl Harbor, Hi.
  • 3 October 1969: Decommissioned at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Wash.
  • 1 February 1974: Stricken from the NVR
  • 27 September 1974: Sold for scrapping to the Levin Metals Corp., San Jose, Cal.
    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 Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, Cal. - USCG Finch (WDE 428) at Mare Island. She was in overhaul at the yard from 7 January to 16 April 1954. (U.S. Navy photo #DE 328 20362-3-54) Darryl Baker
    Finch 83k undated image as WDE 428 Nick Tiberio
    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 Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, Cal. - 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. (U.S. Navy photo #DER 328 30746-8-56)
    Finch 119k 17 August 1956: Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, Cal. - Radm John R. Redman (Commandant 12th Naval District) is seen at the microphone as the main speaker at the commissioning of Finch. (U.S. Navy photo #DER 328 30749-8-56)
    Finch 111k 17 August 1956: Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, Cal. - Lcdr James Keith Athow reads his orders at the commissioning of Finch. (U.S. Navy photo #DER 328 30751-8-56)
    Finch 135k 17 August 1956: Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, Cal. - View of the fantail of Finch during her commissioning ceremonies. USS Durant (DER 389) is seen in the background. (U.S. Navy photo #DER 328 30748-8-56)
    Finch 108k 28 August 1956: San Francisco Bay off Vallejo, Cal. - Port bow photo of Finch off Mare Island. (U.S. Navy photo #DER 328 30889-8-56)
    Finch 155k 28 August 1956: San Francisco Bay off Vallejo, Cal. - Port beam photo of Finch off Mare Island. (U.S. Navy photo #DER 328 30890-8-56)
    Finch 171k March 1966: Finch alongside USS Dixie (AD 14) at Kaoshiung, Taiwan. USS Piedmont (AD 17) is in the background. (Photo © Richard Leonhardt) Richard Leonhardt
    Finch 206k circa 1967 - 68 R.W. Piazza
    Captain, USN (Ret.)
    USS Finch MPA/DCA
    Finch 158k 1968: Guam - Finch, moored inboard of USCGC Minnetonka (WHEC67). Larry Roszkowiak
    View the USS Finch (DE328) DANFS history entry
    located on the Naval History and Heritage Command web site.
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    Next Reunion
    28 September - 2 October 2009
    a cruise on the Celebrity Mercury from Seattle, Wash.
    USS Finch DE328 / DER328, USCGC Finch WDE428
    Contact for ship history, reunions, crew list, both found and deceased
    Contact Name: Robert Bumbulucz
    Address: 1443 Porch Swing Lane / Matthews NC 28104
    Phone: (704)882-0570
    E-mail: rbumbulucz at carolina.rr.com
    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
    Destroyer Escort Sailors Association
    Tin Can Sailors Shipmate Registry - USS Finch
    The Destroyer History Foundation
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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 28 June 2011