USS Leland E. Thomas (DE-420)
Encyclopedia
USS Leland E. Thomas (DE-420) was a John C. Butler-class destroyer escort
acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II
. The primary purpose of the destroyer escort was to escort and protect ships in convoy
, in addition to other tasks as assigned, such as patrol or radar picket
. Post-war, after her service in the Pacific Ocean
war zone, her crew members returned home proudly with one battle star to their credit.
Leland E. Thomas (DE-420) was named in honor of Leland Evan Thomas
who contributed to the sinking of a Japanese
cruiser
and a destroyer
and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
.
Leland E. Thomas (DE-420) was laid down 21 January 1944 by Brown Shipbuilding
Co., Houston, Texas
; launched 28 February 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Benjamin E. Thomas, mother of Lieutenant Thomas; and commissioned 19 June 1944, Lt. Comdr. Leslie E. Rosenberg in command.
, and shakedown
off Bermuda
, Leland E. Thomas got underway for Massachusetts
11 August, arriving Boston the 13th. After completing availability at the Boston Navy Yard
, the destroyer escort headed for Norfolk, Virginia
, arriving 25 August. Two days later she began hunter-killer operations along the U.S. East Coast until she headed for Maine
5 September, arriving at Casco Bay
the 6th. She operated along the Atlantic coast until she sailed for Italy
20 September, escorting a convoy
into Naples, Italy, 4 October.
The destroyer escort sailed for the United States
10 October, escorting a convoy to New York
23 October. She got underway 10 November escorting store ship Polaris (AF-11)
to the Panama Canal Zone
, arriving Cristobal
16 November.
Leland E. Thomas, with other ships of Escort Division 76, proceeded to the southwest Pacific 17 November, arriving at Manus
20 December. From 1 January to 19 February 1945, she escorted convoys between Leyte Gulf
, Manus, and Hollandia
. The DE was busy defending Mangarin Bay
, Mindoro
, and patrolling lanes in the Sulu Sea
, Mindoro Strait
, and western approaches to Luzon
until 17 March. On 4 March, while she was investigating a possible submarine
sighting south of San Jose de Buenavista, Panay
, her lookouts spotted enemy planes on a nearby airstrip. Immediately the ship requested fighter-bombers which soon effectively bombed the airstrip. From 18 March to 28 April, she escorted ships and convoys within the Philippine sea frontier
.
From 29 April to 9 June 1945, she protected Polloc
Harbor, Mindanao
, and operated with the Davao Gulf
3d Resupply Echelon and the Davao Gulf Attack Unit. Leland E. Thomas bombarded Falisay Point area, north of Cape San Augustan, Davao Gulf 19 May and on 1 June with destroyer
Flusser (DD-368)
shelled Luayan Point. The same task unit participated in the landing on Balut Island, Sarangani
Group. The DE headed for Borneo
escorting Chepachet (AO-78)
to a fueling rendezvous with the task group which bombarded Balikpapan
, Borneo
. Later she patrolled the outer anchorage area in Balikpapan during the initial landings. On 20 July she set course for Subic Bay
, arriving 28 July. Leland E. Thomas was busy escorting convoys between Subic Bay
and Okinawa when the war ended 15 August, and continued on this duty, touching at Manila
and other Philippine Islands ports until 28 November.
, Philippine Islands for home via Eniwetok and Pearl Harbor
, arriving San Pedro, California, 17 December 1945. She decommissioned 3 May 1946 and entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet Group at San Diego, California
. On 1 September 1972 she was struck from the Navy list
, and, on 11 September 1973, she was sold for scrapping.
Destroyer escort
A destroyer escort is the classification for a smaller, lightly armed warship designed to be used to escort convoys of merchant marine ships, primarily of the United States Merchant Marine in World War II. It is employed primarily for anti-submarine warfare, but also provides some protection...
acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The primary purpose of the destroyer escort was to escort and protect ships in convoy
Convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support, though it may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas.-Age of Sail:Naval...
, in addition to other tasks as assigned, such as patrol or radar picket
Radar picket
A radar picket is a radar-equipped ship, submarine, aircraft, or vehicle used to increase the radar detection range around a force to protect it from surprise attack. Often several detached radar units encircle a force to provide increased cover in all directions.-World War II:Radar picket ships...
. Post-war, after her service in the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
war zone, her crew members returned home proudly with one battle star to their credit.
Leland E. Thomas (DE-420) was named in honor of Leland Evan Thomas
Leland Evan Thomas
-Marine Corps career:He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves September 10, 1941, was appointed air cadet October 15, 1941 and commissioned 2d lieutenant April 17, 1942.-Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross:...
who contributed to the sinking of a Japanese
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
cruiser
Cruiser
A cruiser is a type of warship. The term has been in use for several hundreds of years, and has had different meanings throughout this period...
and a destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
.
Leland E. Thomas (DE-420) was laid down 21 January 1944 by Brown Shipbuilding
Brown Shipbuilding
The Brown Shipbuilding Company was founded in Houston, Texas in 1942 as a subsidiary of Brown and Root by brothers Herman and George R. Brown to build ships for the US Navy during World War II....
Co., Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
; launched 28 February 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Benjamin E. Thomas, mother of Lieutenant Thomas; and commissioned 19 June 1944, Lt. Comdr. Leslie E. Rosenberg in command.
History
Following fitting out and tests at Galveston, TexasGalveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
, and shakedown
Shakedown (testing)
A shakedown is a period of testing or a trial journey undergone by a ship, aircraft or other craft and its crew before being declared operational. Statistically, a proportion of the components will fail after a relatively short period of use, and those that survive this period can be expected to...
off Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
, Leland E. Thomas got underway for Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
11 August, arriving Boston the 13th. After completing availability at the Boston Navy Yard
Boston Navy Yard
The Boston Navy Yard, originally called the Charlestown Navy Yard and later Boston Naval Shipyard, was one of the oldest shipbuilding facilities in the United States Navy. Established in 1801, it was officially closed as an active naval installation on July 1, 1974, and the property was...
, the destroyer escort headed for Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
, arriving 25 August. Two days later she began hunter-killer operations along the U.S. East Coast until she headed for Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
5 September, arriving at Casco Bay
Casco Bay
Casco Bay is an inlet of the Gulf of Maine on the southern coast of Maine, New England, United States. Its easternmost approach is Cape Small and its westernmost approach is Two Lights in Cape Elizabeth...
the 6th. She operated along the Atlantic coast until she sailed for Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
20 September, escorting a convoy
Convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support, though it may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas.-Age of Sail:Naval...
into Naples, Italy, 4 October.
The destroyer escort sailed for the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
10 October, escorting a convoy to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
23 October. She got underway 10 November escorting store ship Polaris (AF-11)
USS Polaris (AF-11)
-World War II North Atlantic operations:Polaris made five round trips from the U.S. East Coast to Reykjavík, Iceland from June 1942 to February 1943. She then made five voyages from the U.S. East Coast to Port of Spain, Trinidad, and San Juan, Puerto Rico, March to July 1943...
to the Panama Canal Zone
Panama Canal Zone
The Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
, arriving Cristobal
Cristóbal, Colón
Cristóbal is a port in the Atlantic side of the Panama Canal. It is located on the western edge of Manzanillo Island and is part of the Panamanian city and province of Colón...
16 November.
Leland E. Thomas, with other ships of Escort Division 76, proceeded to the southwest Pacific 17 November, arriving at Manus
Manus Island
Manus Island is part of Manus Province in northern Papua New Guinea and is the largest island of the Admiralty Islands. It is the fifth largest island in Papua New Guinea with an area of 2,100 km², measuring around 100 km × 30 km. According to the 2000 census, Manus Island had a...
20 December. From 1 January to 19 February 1945, she escorted convoys between Leyte Gulf
Leyte Gulf
Leyte Gulf is a body of water immediately east of the island of Leyte in the Philippines, adjoining the Philippine Sea of the Pacific Ocean, at . The Gulf is bounded on the north by the island of Samar, which is separated from Leyte on the west by the narrow San Juanico Strait, and on the south by...
, Manus, and Hollandia
Jayapura
Jayapura City is the capital of Papua province, Indonesia, on the island of New Guinea. It is situated on Yos Sudarso Bay . Its approximate population in 2002 was 200,000....
. The DE was busy defending Mangarin Bay
Mangarin Bay
Mangarin Bay is situated to the east of Mangarin Point, on the west coast of Mindoro, among the Philippine Islands. The bay is shoal and sheltered from the wind by the point and Ilin Island. Magarin point terminates in a long sandy pit off which the depth is 4 to 5 fathoms. Farther in the water...
, Mindoro
Mindoro
Mindoro is the seventh-largest island in the Philippines. It is located off the coast of Luzon, and northeast of Palawan. The southern coast of Mindoro forms the northeastern extremum of the Sulu Sea.-History:...
, and patrolling lanes in the Sulu Sea
Sulu Sea
The Sulu Sea is a body of water in the southwestern area of the Philippines, separated from the South China Sea in the northwest by Palawan and from the Celebes Sea in the southeast by the Sulu Archipelago. Borneo is found to the southwest and Visayas to the northeast.Sulu Sea contains a number of...
, Mindoro Strait
Mindoro Strait
Mindoro Strait is a strait in the Philippines, separating Mindoro Island from Busuanga Island of Palawan. Located within its waters is the Apo Reef, the largest coral reef system in the Philippines....
, and western approaches to Luzon
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
until 17 March. On 4 March, while she was investigating a possible submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
sighting south of San Jose de Buenavista, Panay
Panay
Panay may refer to*Panay Island*Panay *Panay, Capiz*Panay River*Panay Gulf* USS Panay *Panay incident...
, her lookouts spotted enemy planes on a nearby airstrip. Immediately the ship requested fighter-bombers which soon effectively bombed the airstrip. From 18 March to 28 April, she escorted ships and convoys within the Philippine sea frontier
Philippine Sea Frontier
The Philippine Sea Frontier was a United States Navy Sea Frontier active in 1941, and reformed in 1944.On 8 December 1941 it was part of the 16th Naval District, a component of the United States Asiatic Fleet....
.
From 29 April to 9 June 1945, she protected Polloc
Polloc
Polloc Island is an uninhabited island in the province of Romblon in the Philippines. It is part of barangay Yabawon in the municipality of Banton....
Harbor, Mindanao
Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
, and operated with the Davao Gulf
Davao Gulf
Davao Gulf is a gulf found in Mindanao in the Philippines. It has an area of 308,000 hectares. Davao Gulf cuts into the island of Mindanao from Celebes Sea. It is surrounded by all four provinces in the Davao Region. The largest island in the gulf is Samal Island. Davao City, on the gulf's west...
3d Resupply Echelon and the Davao Gulf Attack Unit. Leland E. Thomas bombarded Falisay Point area, north of Cape San Augustan, Davao Gulf 19 May and on 1 June with destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
Flusser (DD-368)
USS Flusser (DD-368)
The fourth USS Flusser was a Mahan-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was named for Charles W. Flusser.-History:...
shelled Luayan Point. The same task unit participated in the landing on Balut Island, Sarangani
Sarangani
In 1945, Filipino troops of the 6th, 10th, 101st and 102nd Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and 10th Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary entered and liberated in Southern Cotabato In 1945, Filipino troops of the 6th, 10th, 101st and 102nd Infantry Division of the...
Group. The DE headed for Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
escorting Chepachet (AO-78)
USS Chepachet (AO-78)
USS Chepachet , originally named SS Eutaw Springs, and later known as USNS Chepachet until disposition, was a Suamico-class fleet oiler, of the T2-SE-A1 tanker hull type, serving in the United States Navy during World War II...
to a fueling rendezvous with the task group which bombarded Balikpapan
Balikpapan
Balikpapan is a seaport city on the eastern coast of the island of Borneo, Indonesia, in the East Kalimantan province, a resource-rich region well known for its timber, mining, and petroleum export products. Two harbors, Semayang and Kariangau , and the Sepinggan International Airport are the main...
, Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
. Later she patrolled the outer anchorage area in Balikpapan during the initial landings. On 20 July she set course for Subic Bay
Subic Bay
Subic Bay is a bay forming part of Luzon Sea on the west coast of the island of Luzon in Zambales, Philippines, about 100 kilometers northwest of Manila Bay. Its shores were formerly the site of a major United States Navy facility named U.S...
, arriving 28 July. Leland E. Thomas was busy escorting convoys between Subic Bay
Subic Bay
Subic Bay is a bay forming part of Luzon Sea on the west coast of the island of Luzon in Zambales, Philippines, about 100 kilometers northwest of Manila Bay. Its shores were formerly the site of a major United States Navy facility named U.S...
and Okinawa when the war ended 15 August, and continued on this duty, touching at Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
and other Philippine Islands ports until 28 November.
Fate
She got underway from SamarSamar
Samar, formerly and also known as Western Samar, is a province in the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Catbalogan City and covers the western portion of Samar as well as several islands in the Samar Sea located to the west of the mainland...
, Philippine Islands for home via Eniwetok and Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
, arriving San Pedro, California, 17 December 1945. She decommissioned 3 May 1946 and entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet Group at San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
. On 1 September 1972 she was struck from the Navy list
Navy List
A Navy List or Naval Register is an official list of naval officers, their ranks and seniority, the ships which they command or to which they are appointed, etc., that is published by the government or naval authorities of a country....
, and, on 11 September 1973, she was sold for scrapping.
See also
- List of United States Navy ships
- World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
- DestroyerDestroyerIn naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
- Destroyer escortDestroyer escortA destroyer escort is the classification for a smaller, lightly armed warship designed to be used to escort convoys of merchant marine ships, primarily of the United States Merchant Marine in World War II. It is employed primarily for anti-submarine warfare, but also provides some protection...