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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
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    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
    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 11 January 2008