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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

DD-244 / AVP-15 / AVD-2 Williamson

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive, June 1942, 15 May 1943) - American Defense Service Medal
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (4) - World War II Victory Medal
Clemson Class Destroyer:
  • Laid down, 27 March 1919, as Williamson (Destroyer # 244) at New York Shipbuilding Corp, Camden, N.J.
  • Launched, 16 October 1919
  • Reclassified DD-244 in the Navy's fleet-wide assignment of alphanumeric hull numbers, 17 July 1920
  • Commissioned USS Williamson (DD-244), 29 October 1920, at Philadelphia Navy Yard, LCDR. J, C. Cunningham in command
  • Converted to a Seaplane Tender, at Navy Yard Philadelphia, circa 1938-39
  • Reclassified Sea Plane Tender, Small AVP-15, 1 July 1938
  • Reclassified Sea Plane Tender, Destroyer AVD-2, 2 August 1940
  • During World War II Williamson was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaign:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Aleutians operation
    Attu occupation, May 1943     		Iwo Jima operation
    Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima, 15 to 26 February 1945
    Marianas operation
    Capture and occupation of Saipan, June 1944
    Capture and occupation of Guam, July-August 1944     		Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 1 to 22 April 1945

  • Redesignated AVD (Escort Type), 3 January 1943
  • Reclassified Destroyer DD-244, 1 December 1943
  • Decommissioned, 8 November 1945, at Navy Yard Philadelphia, PA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 30 October 1946
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 4 November 1948
  • Williamson earned four battle star for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement; 1,215 t.
    Length; 314'4½"
    Beam; 31' "
    Draft; 9' 9¾"
    Speed; 34.72 kts.
    Complement; 130
    Boats; 4 LCP(L) landing craft
    Armament
    three single 5"/50 gun mounts
    two single 40mm AA gun mounts
    five single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Propulsion; geared turbines, 26,500shp, two propellers
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Williamson 45k Williamson (AVD-2) preparing to get underway, circa 1940-43, location unknown. .
    View the Williamson (DD-244 / AVP-15 / AVD-2)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center web site
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    No Information Available
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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 15 December 2006