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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Willoughby (AVP-57) (AGP-9)
USCGC Gresham (WAVP-387) (WHEC-387) (WAGW-387)

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Oscar - Delta - Bravo

USS Willoughby (AGP-9) was transferred to the US Coast Guard and commissioned USCGC Gresham (WAVP-387)
Willoughby (AGP) Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (3) - World War II Victory Medal - Philippines Liberation Medal (2)
Gresham (WHEC-387) Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - National Defense Service Medal
Bottom Row - Vietnam Service Medal (1) - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Barnegat Class Small Seaplane Tender:
  • Laid down, 15 March 1943, at Lake Washington Shipyards, Houghton, WA.
  • Redesignated Motor Torpedo Boat Tender, (AGP-9) 11 May 1943
  • Launched, 21 August 1943
  • Commissioned, USS Willoughby (AGP-9), 18 June 1944, Lcdr. A. J. Church in command
  • Decommissioned and transferred to the Coast Guard, 26 June 1946 at Government Island, Oakland, CA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 19 July 1946
  • Renamed and designated USCGC Gresham (WAVP-387)
  • Redesignated (WHEC-387), 1 May 1966
  • Redesignated (WAGW-387) in 1969
  • Decommissioned by the Coast Guard in 1973 and transferred to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) for disposal, 21 May 1973
  • Laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Fort Eustis, VA.
  • Final Disposition, sold by MARAD for scrapping, 25 October 1973 to B. V. Intershitra of Rotterdam, Netherlands
  • Willoughby earned three battle stars for her World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,766 t.(lt) 2,750 t.(fl)
    Length 311' 8"
    Beam 41' 1"
    Draft 13' 6"
    Speed 18.6 kts.
    Complement 215
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    one quad 40mm AA gun mount
    two dual 40mm AA gun mounts
    four dual 20mm AA gun mounts
    Propulsion diesel, two shafts, 6,000hp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed By /
    Source
    USS Willoughby (AGP-9)
    Willoughby 97k Willoughby (AGP-9) being launched at Lake Washington Shipyards, Houghton, WA., 21 August 1943.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-54642 a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection, now in the US National Archives.         		US Naval Historical Center
    Willoughby 62k Willoughby (AGP-9) off Houghton, WA., 24 June 1944, a few days after commissioning. Her camouflage scheme is Measure 32 Design 2Ax.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-69687 a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection, now in the US National Archives.         		US Naval Historical Center
    Willoughby 63k Willoughby (AGP-9) off Houghton, WA., 24 June 1944, a few days after commissioning.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-69688 a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection, now in the US National Archives.         		US Naval Historical Center
    Willoughby 79k Willoughby (AGP-9) off Houghton, WA., 24 June 1944, a few days after commissioning.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-69689 a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection, now in the US National Archives.         		US Naval Historical Center
    USCGC Gresham (WAVP-387) (WHEC-387) (WAGW-387)
    Willoughby 53k ex-Willoughby (AGP-9) in US Coast Guard service as Gresham (WAVP-387) underway, date and place unknown. Haze Gray & Underway Web Site
    Willoughby 88k Gresham (WAVP-387) underway, circa 1960, place unknown.
    US Coast Guard photo by M.E. Beach, SN, USCG, Office of the US Coast Guard Historian    		 Mike Green
    Willoughby 59k Gresham (WAVP-387) underway, date and location unknown. Robert Hurst
    Willoughby 56k Gresham (WAVP-387) underway, date and place unknown. US Coast Guard Historian's Office
    Willoughby 43k Gresham (WAVP-387) underway, date and place unknown.
    US Coast Guard photo by M.E. Beach, SN, USCG, Office of the US Coast Guard Historian    		 Mike Green
    View the Willoughby (AGP-9)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    U.S. Coast Guard Historian's Office - Gresham, 1947 (AGP-9; AVP-57; WAVP / WHEC / WAGW-387 ex-USS Willoughby)
    Back To The Main Photo Index Back To The Service Ship Type Index Back To The Small Seaplane Tender (AVP) Photo Index Back To The Motor Torpedo Boat Tender/Patrol Craft Tender (AGP) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 23 March 2007