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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

DD-344 / AVP-20 / AVD-7 William B. Preston

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Uniform - Mike - Quebec
 NUMQ
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Second Row - Yangtze Service Medal - American Defense Service Medal - American Campaign Medal
Third Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal - Philippines Defense Medal
 Personnel Awards

Purple Hearts (12 February 1942, 11-KIA, 2-MIA, 3-WIA)
Clemson Class Destroyer:
  • Laid down, 18 November 1918, as William B. Preston (Destroyer # 344) at Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, VA.
  • Launched, 9 August 1919
  • Reclassified DD-344 in the Navy's fleet-wide assignment of alphanumeric hull numbers, 17 July 1920
  • Commissioned USS William B. Preston (DD-344), 23 August 1920, at Norfolk, VA., LT. James B. Ryan in temporary command,
  • LT. Ryan is relieved of command, 7 September 1920, by CDR. William E. Eberle
  • Decommissioned, 15 October 1934, at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, laid up in reserve
  • Reclassified Seaplane Tender, Small AVP-20, 18 November 1939, converted at New York Navy Yard, circa 1939-40
  • Recommissioned USS William B. Preston (AVP-20), 14 June 1940, at New York Navy Yard, LCDR. Francis J. Bridget in command
  • Reclassified Seaplane Tender, Destroyer AVD-7, 2 August 1940
  • During World War II William B. Preston was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaign:
  • Decommissioned, 6 December 1945, at Navy Yard Philadelphia, PA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 3 January 1946
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 6 November 1946, to Northern Metals Co., Philadelphia, PA.
  • William B. Preston earned one 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
    Belknap 137k Belknap (AVD-8) underway, date and location unknown Paul Rebold
    View the William B. Preston (DD-344 / AVP-20 / AVD-7)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    No Information Available
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To USS William, B. Preston (DD-344) Page Back To The Small Seaplane Tender (AVP) Photo Index Back To The Seaplane Tender, Destroyer (AVD) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2009 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 11 January 2008