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Navsource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive

USS England (DE 635)



Flag Hoist / Radio Call Sign:
N - T - Q - J
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row: Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive) - Presidential Unit Citation - American Campaign Medal
Second Row: Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ 10 stars - WWII Victory Medal - Philippine Liberation Ribbon
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
England (DE 635) Building and Operational Data:
  • 4 April 1943: Keel laid by the Bethlehem Steel Shipyard Corp., San Francisco, Cal.
  • 26 September 1943: Launched and christened, sponsored by Mrs. H. B. England, mother of Ensign England; and commissioned 10 December 1943,
  • 10 December 1943: Commissioned, Cmdr W. B. Pendleton in command
  • 16 July 1945: Arrived at the Philadelphia Navy Yard for conversion to APD 41, war's end cancelled the conversion
  • 15 October 1945: Decommissioned at Philadelphia, Pa.
  • 1 November 1945: Struck from the NVR
  • 26 November 1946: Sold, scrapped
    Note: USS England was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for sinking six subs in twelve days. On 25 June 1944
    the Japanese submarines RO-104, RO-105, RO-106, RO-108, and RO-116 were posted as missing, and presumed sunk.

    The President of the United States has presented the Presidential Unit Citation to the USS England for service as set forth in the following citation:

    "For outstanding performance in combat against enemy forces from May 19 to 31, 1944. Utilizing to the full all available weapons and equipment the USS ENGLAND skillfully
    coordinated her attacks with other vessels and with cooperating aircraft, striking boldly and with exceptional precision at the enemy. In a sustained series of attacks, she destroyed
    six hostile ships within twelve days effecting this devastating blow to enemy operations during a particularly crucial period and disrupting attempts by the enemy to supply or evacuate
    key units. By this heavy loss to the enemy the ENGLAND contributed substantially to unmolested advance of the United States Fleet pointing toward subsequent seizure and occupation
    by our forces. A gallant and daring fighter, superbly ready combat, the ENGLAND has achieved an outstanding record of success, reflecting the highest credit upon her gallant officers
    and men and the United States Naval Service."
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By And/Or Copyright
    England 48k John Charles England was born in Harris, Mo., on 11 December 1920. His family then moved to Alhambra, Cal. He attended Pasadena Junior College in 1940, was a Yell King on the Pep Commission, a member of the Players Guild, were he was in the cast of their annual fall presentation of "Bachelor Born". J.C. was also a member of Delta Psi Omega, a national honorary dramatics fraternity which he acted in their annual spring production, "Outward Bound". J.C. graduated in spring, 1940. He enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve as an Apprentice Seaman at Los Angeles on 6 September 1940. After active duty training on board the USS New York from 25 November to 21 December 1940 he attended Naval Reserve Midshipman's School, New York, N.Y. and was appointed Midshipman, USNR, 6 March 1941. He completed his training on 5 June and was commissioned Ensign, USNR, 6 June 1941. On 3 September 1941, he reported for duty in USS Oklahoma (BB 37), and was killed in action during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941. Ensign England survived the initial attack and escaped topside as the ship was capsizing. He remembered the men still in the radio room. He returned three times to the radio room, each time guiding a man to safety. He left to go back below decks for the fourth time and was never seen again. He was one of twenty officers and 395 enlisted men were killed on board USS Oklahoma that morning. Ensign John Charles England was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.

    USS England (DE 635) (1943-1945) was the first ship named in his honor, she was succeeded by DLG 22 (1963-1994).

    (U.S. Navy photo #NH-85190 (Courtesy of his mother, Mrs. H.B. England, 1976) from the Naval History and Heritage Command)    		 Bill Gonyo
    England 91k 26 September 1943: San Francisco, Cal. - USS England (DE 635) is christened by Mrs. Harry B. England, mother of Ensign John C. England, the ship's namesake, during launching ceremonies at the Bethlehem Steel Company shipyard. (U.S. Navy Photo #19-N-51897 from from the Bureau of Ships Collection at the National Archives) Bill Gonyo
    England 47k 26 September 1943: San Francisco, Cal. - Launch (U.S. Navy Photo #19-N-51896 from the National Archives) -
    England 60k 9 February 1944: off San Francisco, Cal. (U.S. Navy Photo #19-N-60938 from the National Archives) -
    England 58k 9 February 1944: off San Francisco, Cal. (U.S. Navy Photo #19-N-60940 from the National Archives) -
    England 56k 9 February 1944: off San Francisco, Cal. (U.S. Navy Photo #19-N-60941 from the National Archives) -
    England 67k 9 February 1944: off San Francisco, Cal. (U.S. Navy Photo #19-N-60942 from the National Archives) -
    England 65k 9 February 1944: off San Francisco - The famous DE England, which sank six Japanese submarines in just a few days in the Pacific. Note the large rangefinder on the bridge. [U.S. National Archives photo, from the book "Allied Escort Ships of World War II (A Complete Survey)", by Peter Elliott] Edib Krlicbegovic,
    Bosnia - Hercegovina
    England 40k 21 July 1945: The Philadelphia Navy Yard - She was there for repairs after being hit by a "Kamikaze" off Okinawa on 9 May 1945. -
    England 72k Damage from a "Kamikaze" hit received off Okinawa on 9 May 1945. This view, taken at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, on 24 July 1945, shows the port side of the forward superstructure, near where the suicide plane struck. Note scoreboard painted on the bridge face, showing her Presidential Unit Citation pennant and symbols for the six Japanese submarines and three aircraft credited to England. Also note fully provisioned life raft at right.
    England 143k showing Kamikaze damaged bridge.. (U.S. Navy Photo #80-G-336953 from the National Archives)
    England 152k 24 July 1945: Philadelphia Navy Yard - Burned-out officers' stateroom in the forward superstructure, from a "Kamikaze" that hit near her bridge while she was off Okinawa on 9 May 1945. (U.S. Navy Photo #80-G-336950 from the National Archives)
    View the USS England (DE 635) DANFS history entry
    located on the Naval History and Heritage Command web site.
    England's Commanding Officers
    Thanks to Wolfgang Hechler & Ron Reeves
    Dates of Command Commanding Officers
    1.) 10 Dec. 1943 - 30 Aug. 1944Cmdr. Walton Barclay Pendleton (comm.)
    2.) 30 Aug. 1944 - 15 Sep. 1945Lcdr. John Alexander Williamson
    3.) 15 Sep. 1945 - 15 Oct. 1945Lt. Augustus Dee Daily (decomm.)
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    Contact Name: Dennis O'Brien
    E-mail: dennis@ussengland.net
    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 England DE-635 Web Site
    Destroyer Escort Sailors Association
    Tin Can Sailors
    The Destroyer History Foundation
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    Page Last Updated 08 March 2012