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Navsource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive

USS Dale W. Peterson (DE 337)


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

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
American Campaign Medal - European-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal
Specifications:
Class: Edsall
Type: FMR (geared diesel, Fairbanks-Morse reverse gear drive, 3" guns)
Displacement: 1200 tons (light), 1590 tons (full)
Length: 300' (wl), 306' (oa)
Beam: 36' 10" (extreme)
Draft: 20' 6" (draft limit)
Propulsion: 4 Fairbanks-Morse Mod. 38d81/8 geared diesel engines, 4 diesel-generators, 6000 shp, 2 screws
Speed: 21 kts
Range: 9,100 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: 8 / 201
Dale W. Peterson (DE 337) Building and Operational Data:
  • 25 October 1943: Keel laid by the Consolidated Steel Corp., Orange, Tex.
  • 22 December 1943: Launched and christened, sponsored by Mrs. N. F. Peterson, mother of Ensign Peterson
  • 17 February 1944: Commissioned, Lcdr A. A. Hero, USNR, in command
  • 27 March 1946: Decommissioned at Green Cove Springs, Fla. after 2 years and 1⅓ months of service
  • 02 January 1971: Struck from the NVR
  • 10 April 1972: Sold for scrapping
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    Dale W. Peterson

    Dale W. Peterson

    		 11k Dale William Peterson was born o 18 November 1919 in St. Joseph, Mo. He enlisted in the Naval Reserve on 26 March 1940 for aviation training. Commissioned as Ensign on 05 April 1941, he reported to Fighting Squadron 6 on 12 May 1941, and flew with that group until his death on 08 May 1942 during the Battle of the Coral Sea. Ensign Peterson was awarded the Navy Cross for distinguished service in intercepting enemy bombers attacking his carrier on 20 February 1942, and was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions during the Battle of the Coral Sea in which he gave his life.

    Citation: The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Ensign Dale William Peterson (NSN: 0-85948), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron THREE (VF3), attached to the U.S.S. LEXINGTON (CV-2), in action against enemy forces in the Pacific War Area when his ship was attacked by eighteen Japanese bombing planes on 20 February 1942. In the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire, Ensign Peterson intercepted a formation of nine enemy aircraft and succeeded in shooting down one twin-engine bomber and aided in shooting down another. Ensign Peterson's outstanding courage, daring airmanship and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

    USS Dale W. Peterson (DE 337) (1944-1946) was the first ship to be named in his honor.

    (Photo from the web site, The Hall of Valor Project)    		 Mike Smolinski
    Clifton, N.J.

    Archive Manager
    DE / FF / LCS Archive
    Navsource
    Dale W. Peterson 436k 1944: An overhead starboard view of USS Dale W. Peterson (DE 337) early in her career, as evidenced by her as commissioned Measure 22 camouflage scheme.

    (U.S. Navy photo)    		 Mike Green
    Port Angeles, Wash.
    Dale W. Peterson 155k July 1944: Lcdr A.A. Hero, CO of the destroyer escort USS Dale W. Peterson (DE 337) at Naples, Italy.

    (Photograph taken by RT1c Herbert Meyerson)    		 Bob Hurst
    Worksop, Nottinghamshire,
    England, United Kingdom
    Dale W. Peterson 136k January 1945: Casco Bay, Me. - Officers "at the helm" of the destroyer escort USS Dale W. Peterson at Casco Bay while on "Shakedown Cruise". The officers are from L to R: A. A. Hero, Albert S. Bigelow, and Exec Officer Bower.

    (Photograph taken by RT1c Herbert Meyerson while assigned to the DE 337)
    Dale W. Peterson 48k September 1945: entering San Diego Harbor LeRoy W. Robbins
    Dale W. Peterson History
    View the USS Dale W. Peterson (DE 337) DANFS history entry located on the Naval History and Heritage Command web site.
    Dale W. Peterson's Commanding Officers
    Thanks to Wolfgang Hechler
    Dates of Command Commanding Officers
    1.) 17 Feb. 1944 - 05 Feb. 1945Lcdr. Alvin Anthony Hero, USNR (Comm. CO)
    2.) 05 Feb. 1945 – 28 Sep. 1945Lcdr. Albert S. Bigelow, USNR
    3.) 28 Sep. 1945 - .. .... 1946Lcdr. William L. Vaughn, USNR
    4.) .. .... 1946 – 27 Mar. 1946Lt.(jg) Carl E. Radcliffe, USN (Decomm. CO)
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    None
    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, rosters, or deck logs available. Please see the
    Frequently Asked Questions section on NavSource's Main Page for that information.

    Additional Resources
    Tin Can Sailors
    The U.S. Navy Memorial
    Destroyer Escort Sailors Association
    The Destroyer Escort Historical Museum
    The Destroyer History Foundation
    Tin Can Sailors Shipmate Registry - USS Dale W. Peterson
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    This Page Created And Maintained By Mike Smolinski
    All pages copyright Navsource Naval History
    by Paul R. Yarnall, All Rights Reserved.
    Page Last Updated: 22 July 2021