Hugh W. Hadley

HUGH W. HADLEY, COMMANDER, US NAVY

His story, as much as we know it. The ships he served on and their stories.
Also what we know about his family.

Commander Hadley was Killed in Action 15 September 1942 while in command of Transport Division 12. His ships came under fire from three Japanese destroyers off of Lunga Point. Hopelessly outgunned, his flagship USS Little APD4 (DD79) and USS Gregory APD5 (DD82) were sunk by IJS Yudachi.

Commander Hadley was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for his outstanding service in the bitter Solomon's Campaign.

3 June 1925. Lieutenant – 17 March 1930 – Lieutenant Commander 23 June 1938 –

H. W. Hadley served on this ship as division flag in 1942 until sunk 5 Sept. 1942

dp. 1,191;
l. 314.5";
dr. 9'2";
s. 35 k.;
cpl. 133;
a. 4.4", 2 1-pdrs., 12 21" tt.;
cl. Wickes)

The first Little (DD-79) was laid down by Fore River Shipbuilding Corporation, Quincy, Mass., 18 June 1917; launched 11 November 1917; sponsored by Mrs. Samuel W. Wakeman; and commissioned 6 April 1918, Comdr. Joseph K. Taussig in command.

Little departed Norfolk 5 May 1918 for convoy escort duty with Patrol Force, Coast of France, and operated from Brest until she sailed for home 26 December. During this period she escorted President Woodrow Wilson's party to the Continent to attend the Paris Peace Conference.

The ship arrived Boston 18 January 1919 for drydock and operations with Destroyer Force, Atlantic. She escorted the President's party back into New York 6 to 8 July, and then engaged in tactical exercises. She was transferred to Reserve Status with ComDesRon 3 at Philadelphia 17 November where she remained until 4 January 1921. The ship then operated along the Atlantic coast until she returned to Philadelphia and was decommissioned 5 July 1922.

Converted to a high-speed transport, Little was re-designated ADP-4, 2 August 1940, and recommissioned 4 November 1940, Lt. Comdr. K. Earl in command. She sailed for the Caribbean in February 1941 for maneuvers with the Atlantic Fleet, and then steamed to San Diego where she arrived 9 March for amphibious training. The ship returned to the East Coast in late summer, and arrived Norfolk 1 December for dry-docking.

As flagship for TransDiv 12 she departed for San Diego 14 February 1942 for repairs and alterations. Upon completion of amphibious landing exercises in April, she steamed for Pearl harbor. A short cruise to Midway Island in late June preceded her departure to New Caledonia 7 July for the Solomons campaign.

Supplies for American troops on Guadalcanal had been badly disrupted by the Battle of Savo Island 9 August 1942. High-speed destroyer-transports were called upon to remedy this shortage. As she discharged stores on the Guadalcanal beaches 30 August, Little witnessed the destruction of her sister ship, Colhoun (APD-2) by enemy aircraft.

The three remaining APDs, Little, Gregory (APD-3), and McKean (APD-5), continued to support and help supply the marines. On 4 September, Little and Gregory brought a detachment of marine raiders to Savo Island on an unfounded rumor that enemy forces had occupied it. The troops were returned to Lunga Point, Guadalcanal. That night was unusually dark, so division Comdr. Hugh W. Hadley decided to patrol off Lunga Point rather than attempt to negotiate Tulagi Harbor with no visible landmarks.

About 0100 5 September, Little observed gun flashes to the east and believed this to be an enemy submarine. Moments later a Navy Catalina flying over Savo Sound released a string of five flares to illuminate what he also thought was a submarine. The flares illuminated the APD's instead. A surprised Japanese surface force, source of the flashes presumed to have come from a submarine, shifted their guns toward the APD's, and searchlights stabbed through the darkness. Though outgunned, Little opened fire on the enemy destroyers, but took direct hits from salvos which left her helpless and ablaze by 0115. Gregory suffered the same fate. The Japanese, to assure their kill, steamed between the two stricken ships firing shells and strafing survivors. Gregory sank stern first about 0140. Little went down on an even keel about 2 hours later. Fleet Adm. Chester W. Nimitz paid sincere tribute to these gallant ships: "With little means, the ships performed duties vital to the success of the campaign."

USS Hart DD110, same class as USS Little, at war games San Diego in the 1920s.
This is how this class appeared at commissioning time.

USS Roper DD147, was recommissioned APD20, 20 October 1943. CDR Hadley
commanded this ship in the late 1930's when it was still DD147. It then looked pretty
much like the Hart, shown above. The USS Little looked pretty much like this ship
after it became a APD.

dp. 1,090,
1. 314'5",
b. 31'8",
dr. 9'10",
s. 35 k. cpl. 101,
a. 4 4", 2 3",
12 21" tt.,
el. Wickes)

Roper (DD-147) was laid down on 19 March 1918 by William Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia, Pa., launched 17 August 1918, sponsored by Mrs. Jesse M. Roper widow of Lieutenant Commander Roper, and commissioned on 15 February 1919, Commander Abram Claude in command.

Following shakedown off the New England coast, Roper sailed east in mid June 1919 and, after stops at Ponta Delgada, Gibraltar, and Malta, anchored in the Bosporus on 5 July. For the next month she supported Peace Commission and Relief Committee work in the Black Sea area, carrying mail and passengers to and from Constantinople, Novorossisk Batum, Samsun, and Trebizond. On 20 August the destroyer returned to the United States, at New York, only to sail again 6 days later. At the end of the month she transited the Panama Canal and moved north to San Diego.

Roper remained on the west coast until July 1921. On the 23d, she departed San Francisco for duty on the Asiatic Station. Arriving at Cavite on 24 August, she remained in the Philippines into December. She then moved into Chinese waters and, into the summer, operated primarily from Hong Kong and Chefoo. On 25 August 1922, she headed back to California. Routed via Nagasaki, Midway, and Pearl Harbor she arrived at San Francisco on 13 October. Two days later she shifted to San Pedro, thence, proceeded to San Diego where she was decommissioned on 14 December 1922 and berthed with the Pacific Reserve Fleet.

Recommissioned On 18 March 1930, Roper resumed operations in the Pacific. Operating primarily in the southern California area, in active and rotating reserve squadrons, for the next 7 years, she deployed to Panama, to Hawaii and to the Caribbean for fleet problems and maneuvers fin 1931 1933, 1935, and 1936. During January and February of the latter year, she also moved north for operations in Alaskan waters.

In February 1937, Roper departed California and, after transiting the Panama Canal, joined the Atlantic Fleet. For the remainder of the year, through 1938 and into 1939, she conducted exercises primarily off the mid-Atlantic seaboard and, during part of each Year, in the Caribbean. In November 1939, after the outbreak of World War II in Europe, she shifted from Norfolk to Key West, whence she patrolled the Yucatan Channel and the Florida Straits. In December she returned to Norfolk. In January 1940, she moved south again, to Charleston and in March she headed north for duty on the New England Patrol.

Through the prewar "Neutrality Patrol" period, Roper continued to range the waters off the east and gulf coasts. Off Cape Cod on 7 December 1941, she returned to Norfolk for an abbreviated availability at midmonth, then steamed to Argentina. In early February 1942, she completed a convoy escort run to Londonderry, then, in March, returned to the Norfolk area for patrol and escort duty. A month later, on the night of 13-14 April, she made contact with a surfaced German U-boat off the coast of North Carolina. The ensuing chase ended with the sinking of U-86, a unit of the 7th U-boat Flotilla.

At the end of May, Roper began a series of coastwise escort runs, from Key West to New York, which took her into 1943. In February of that year, she shifted to Caribbean-Mediterranean convoy work and remained on that duty until October when she entered the Charleston Navy Yard for conversion to a high speed transport.

Reclassified APD-20 on 20 October 1943, Roper departed Charleston in late November and trained in the Chesapeake Bay area and off the Florida coast into the new year, 1944 On 13 April she steamed east and at the end of the month joined the 8th Fleet at Oran, Algeria. A unit of Transport Division 13, assigned to support the offensive in Italy, Roper landed units of the French Army on Pianosa on 17 June and into July, plied between Oran and Naples and operated along the western coast of the embattled peninsula. In August she shifted her attention to southern France. On the 15th she arrived off that coast as part of the "Sitka" Force and landed troops on Levant Island. On 5 September she returned to Italy; resumed runs between Naples and Oran, and, in early December departed the latter port for Hampton Roads.

Arriving at Norfolk on the 21st, Roper sailed again on 29 January 1945. On transiting the Panama Canal, she reported to the Pacific Fleet, and after stops in California and Hawaii, moved into the Marianas. On 11 May she departed Guam for the Ryukyus. Arriving in Nakagusuku Wan on the 22d, she circled to the Hagushi anchorage the same day. Three days later, while on screening station off that transport area she was hit by a kamikaze.

Ordered back to the United States to complete repairs, she departed the Ryukyus on 6 June and reached San Pedro a month later. In August she shifted to Mare Island, but with the cessation of hostilities repair work was halted. Decommissioned on 15 September 1945, Roper's name was struck from the Navy list on 11 October 1945 and her hulk was sold to the Lerner Co., Oakland, Calif. Removed in June 1946, it was scrapped the following December

USS Pennsylvania traversing the Panama Canal. This is how it appeared in 1923 when
H. W. Hadley was aboard as a fresh young Ensign.

The second Pennsylvania (BB-38) was laid down 27 October 1913 by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, Va.; launched 16 March 1915; sponsored by Miss Elizabeth Kolb; and commissioned 12 June 1916, Capt. H. B. Wilson in command.

Pennsylvania was attached to the Atlantic Fleet. On 12 October 1916 she became flagship of Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, when Admiral Henry T. Mayo shifted his flag from Wyoming to Pennsylvania. In January 1917, Pennsylvania steamed for Fleet maneuvers in the Caribbean. She returned to her base at Yorktown, Va., 6 April 1917, the day of declaration of war against Germany. She did not sail to join the British Grand Fleet since she burned fuel oil and tankers could not be spared to carry additional fuel to the British Isles. In the light of this circumstance, only coal burning battleships were selected for this mission. Based at Yorktown, she kept in battle trim with Fleet maneuvers, tactics, and training in the areas of the Chesapeake Bay, intervened by overhaul at Norfolk and New York, with brief maneuvers. in Long Island Sound.

While at Yorktown, 11 August 1917, Pennsylvania manned the rail and rendered honors as, with President Wilson aboard, Mayflower stood in and anchored. At 12:15 p.m. President Wilson returned the call of Commander, Battle Force aboard Pennsylvania and was given full honors.

On 2 December 1918, Pennsylvania steamed to anchorage off Tompkinsville, New York. On 4 December, she got underway for Brest, France. At 11:00 a.m., transport George Washington flying the flag of the President of the United States, stood out with an escort of ten destroyers. Pennsylvania manned the rail and fired a salute of 21 guns. she took position ahead of George Washington as guide for the President's escort. Arriving in Brest 13 December, the crew manned the rail and cheered as George Washington passed and proceeded to her anchorage. On 14 December Pennsylvania departed for New York, arriving 25 December.

In February 1919, Pennsylvania steamed for Fleet maneuvers in the Caribbean Sea, returning to New York in the late spring. While at New York, 30 June 1919, Admiral Mayo was relieved as Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, by Vice Admiral Henry B. Wilson.

At Tompkinsville, New York, 8 July 1919, Pennsylvania embarked Vice President Marshall, Cabinet Secretaries Daniels, Glass, Wilson, Baker, Lane, and Senator Champ Clark, and then put to sea. At 10:00 a.m. Oklahoma was sighted with George Washington flying the President's flag and accompanied by her ocean escort. Pennsylvania fired a presidential salute, then took position ahead of Oklahoma and steamed to New York, stopping enroute to disembark her distinguished guests before proceeding to berth.

On 7 January 1920, she departed New York for Fleet maneuvers, in the Caribbean Sea, returning to New York 26 April 1920. She resumed a schedule of local training operations until 17 January 1921 when she departed New York for the Panama Canal, arriving at Balboa, 20 January, to join units of the Pacific Fleet and became flagship of the combined fleets, the Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet assuming command of the U.S. Battle Fleet on orders of the Navy Department. On 21 January 1921, the Fleet sailed from Balboa, enroute to Callao, Peru, arriving 31 January 1921. Departing, 2 February, Pennsylvania returned to Balboa, 14 February, then conducted brief exercises while based at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Upon return to Hampton Roads, 28 April 1921, she rendered a 21 gun salute as she passed Mayflower. The Secretary of the Navy, the Chief of Naval Operations, and the Assistant Secretary of the Navy came aboard for a reception to the President of the United States. At 11:40 President Harding came aboard and his flag was broken at the main.

On 22 August 1922, Pennsylvania departed Lynhaven Roads to join the Pacific Fleet. Arriving at San Pedro, Calif., 26 September 1922, her principal area of operations until 1929 was along the coast of California, Washington, and Oregon, with periodic maneuvers and tactics off the Panama Canal, in the Caribbean Sea, and Hawaiian operating areas. She departed with the Fleet from San Francisco, 15 April 1925, and after war games in the Hawaiian area, departed Honolulu, 1 July, enroute to Melbourne, Australia. After a visit to Wellington, New Zealand, she returned to San Pedro, Calif., 26 September 1925.

In January 1929, Pennsylvania cruised to Panama, and after training maneuvers while based at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, steamed to the Philadelphia Navy Yard, arriving 1 June 1929, to undergo overhaul and modernization. She remained in the yard for near ly two years. On 8 May 1931, she departed for a refresher training cruise to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and then returned. On 6 August 1931, she again sailed for Guantanamo, and later continued on to San Pedro, where she again joined the Battle Fleet.

From August 1931 to 1941, Pennsylvania engaged in Fleet tactics and battle practice along the west coast and participated in Fleet problems and maneuvers which were held periodically in the Hawaiian area as well as the Caribbean Sea. After overhaul in the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, 7 January 1941, she again sailed for Hawaii where she carried out scheduled operations with units of Task Forces 1 and 5, throughout that year, making one brief voyage to the west coast with Task Force 18.

At the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941, Pennsylvania was in dry-dock in the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard. She was one of the first ships in the harbor to open fire as enemy dive bombers and torpedo planes roared out of the high overcast. They did not succeed in repeated attempts to torpedo the caisson of the dry-dock but Pennsylvania and the surrounding dock areas were severely strafed. The crew of one 5-inch gun mount was wiped out when a bomb struck the starboard side of her boat deck and exploded inside casemate 9. Destroyers Cassin and Downes, just forward of Pennsylvania in dry-dock were seriously damaged by bomb hits. Pennsylvania was pockmarked by flying fragments. A part of a torpedo tube from destroyer Downes, about 1000 pounds in weight, was blown onto the forecastle of Pennsylvania. She'd had 15 men killed, 14 missing in action, and 38 men wounded.

On 20 December 1941, Pennsylvania sailed for San Francisco, arriving 29 December 1941. She underwent repairs until 30 March 1942. From 14 April to 1 August 1942, Pennsylvania conducted extensive training operations and patrol along the coast of California, intervened by overhaul at San Francisco. During this duty, 4 June 1942, Admiral Ernest J. King, Commander in Chief of the United States Fleet, held brief ceremonies aboard Pennsylvania to present the Distinguished Service Medal to Admiral Chester W. Nimitz for exceptionally meritorious service as Commander in Chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet since 31 December 1941.

On 1 August 1942, Pennsylvania departed San Francisco for Pearl Harbor, arriving 14 August. She conducted gunnery exercises and took part in carrier task force guard tactics in the Hawaiian area. On 4 October, Pennsylvania returned to San Francisco, remaining for overhaul which was completed by 5 February 1943. She then conducted refresher training and air defense patrol off the coast of California. On 23 April Pennsylvania for Alaska to take part in the Aleutian Campaign.

On 30 April, Pennsylvania arrived at Cold Bay, Alaska. During 11-12 May, she engaged in shore bombardment of Holtz Bay and Chicago Harbor, Attu, in support of the landings. As she retired from Attu on 12 May, a patrol plane warned that a torpedo wake was headed for Pennsylvania. She maneuvered at full speed as the torpedo passed safely astern. Destroyer Edwards teamed with Farragut to hunt down the attacker. After ten hours of relentless depth charge attack submarine I-31 was forced to the surface and was shelled by gunfire from Edwards. Severely damaged, the enemy survived until 13 June, then being sunk by destroyer Frazier. Torpedo wakes were again sighted, the morning of 14 May, and destroyers conducted a fruit less search for the enemy. That same morning Pennsylvania's seaplanes were launched to operate from seaplane tender Casco in making strafing attacks on enemy positions on Attu.

The afternoon of 14 May, Pennsylvania conducted her third bombardment mission, this time in support of the infantry attack on the west arm of Holtz Bay. She then operated to the north and east of Attu until 19 May when she steamed for Adak. She departed Adak 21 May and arrived at the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Wash., 28 May. She returned to Adak, 7 August, and departed 13 August as flagship of Admiral Rockwell, commanding the Kiska Attack Force. On 15 August assault troops landed without opposition on the western beaches of Kiska. By the evening of 16 August it became apparent the Japanese had evacuated under cover of fog prior to the landing. She patrolled off Kiska for a time then returned to Adak, 23 August.

On 16 August Pennsylvania steamed for Pearl Harbor, arriving 1 September. Here she took aboard 790 passengers and departed 19 September for San Francisco where she arrived 25 September. She returned to Pearl Harbor, 6 October, and after debarking passengers, took part in rehearsal and bombardment exercises in the Hawaiian areas. She became flagship of Rear Admiral Richmond K. Turner, Commander Fifth Amphibious Force, and formed part of the Northern Attack Force, departing Pearl Harbor, 10 November, for the assault on Makin Atoll, Gilbert Islands.

The Task Force, comprising four battleships, four cruisers, three escort carriers, transports and destroyers, approached Makin Atoll from the southeast on the morning of 20 November. Pennsylvania opened fire on Butaritari Island with her main battery at the initial range of 14,200 yards and then opened with her secondary battery.

Just before general quarters on the morning of 24 November a tremendous explosion took place off the starboard bow as Pennsylvania was returning to a screening sector off Makin. At almost the same instant a screening destroyer reported sound contact and disposition immediately executed a course change. For several minutes after the explosion, a large fire lighted up the entire area. Word soon came that escort carrier Liscome Bay had been torpedoed. She sank with tremendous loss of life. Determined night air attacks were made by enemy torpedo planes on the nights of 25 and 26 November but were repelled without damage to ships of the Task Force.

On 31 January 1944, Pennsylvania commenced bombardment of Kwajalein Island which was continued throughout the day. Landings were made 1 February, with Pennsylvania joining in bombardment support before and after the landing operations. On the evening of 3 February, she anchored in the lagoon near Kwajalein Island. The success of the Kwajalein operation was ensured and Pennsylvania retired to Majuro Atoll to replenish ammunition.

On 12 February Pennsylvania got underway for operations against Eniwetok, Marshall Islands. On 17 February, Pennsylvania steamed boldly through the deep entrance into Eniwetok Lagoon with her batteries blazing away. She steamed up a swept channel in the lagoon to a position off Engebi Island and commenced bombardment of enemy installations. On the morning of 18 February, Pennsylvania bombarded Engebi before and during the approach of the assault waves to the beach. When Engebi had been secured, Pennsylvania steamed southward through the lagoon to the vicinity of Parry Island, where she took part in bombardment 20- 21 February, preparatory to the landing assaults. At the commencement of bombardment the island had been covered with a dense growth of palm trees extending to the waters edge. At conclusion of bombardment, not a single tree remained standing. On the morning of 22 February, she gave bombardment support prior to the landing on Parry Island.

Pennsylvania retired to Majuro, 1 March, then steamed south to Havannah Harbor, Efate, New Hebrides Islands. She remained at Efate until late April. On 29 April, Pennsylvania arrived in Sydney, Australia. She returned to Efate, 11 May, then sailed to Port Purvis, Florida Islands, from which she operated to conduct bombardment and amphibious assault exercises. She returned to Efate 27 March, and after replenishment of ammunition, departed, 2 June, arriving at Roi, 3 June.

On 10 June, Pennsylvania formed with a force of battleships, cruisers, escort carriers, and destroyers enroute for the assault and occupation of the Marianas Islands. That night a destroyer in the screen reported sound contact and emergency turn left 90 degrees was ordered. As a result of this maneuver, Pennsylvania collided with high-speed transport Talbot and sustained minor damage. Talbot put into Eniwetok for emergency repairs.

On 14 June, Pennsylvania took part in the bombardment of Saipan preparatory to the assault landings made the next day while she cruised off the northeastern shore of Tinian, conducting heavy bombardment of that island to neutralize any enemy batteries which might have opened fire on the landing beaches of Saipan. On 16 June she conducted bombardment of targets on Orote Point, Guam, then retired to cover the Saipan area. Pennsylvania departed the Marianas, 25 June, and after a brief stay at Eniwetok, Marshall Islands, departed 9 July to resume support of the Marianas Campaign.

From 12 though 14 July, Pennsylvania conducted bombardment of Guam in preparation for the assault and landings on that island. On completion of firing the evening of 14 July, she returned to Saipan to replenish ammunition. She returned to Guam, 17 July, and delivered protective fire support to demolition parties. At the same time she continued deliberate destructive fire on designated targets through 20 July.

On the early morning of 21 July, Pennsylvania took a position between Agat Beach and Orote Peninsula, and commenced bombardment of beach areas in immediate preparation for the assault while troops and equipment were loaded into landing craft and landing waves were being formed. Upon establishment of the beachhead she stood by for fire support missions as might be called for by shore fire control parties, continuing this duty until 3 August. She then steamed to Eniwetok, thence to the New Hebrides Islands, and after rehearsal of landing assaults on Cape Severances, Guadalcanal, arrived at Port Purvis, Florida Island. She departed 6 September as part of the Palau Bombardment and Fire Support Group. From 12 through 14 September, Pennsylvania took part in intensive bombardment of targets on the island of Peleliu. On 15 September, she also furnished gunfire support for the landings on that island. She then delivered a devastating fire on enemy gun emplacements among the rocks and cliffs flanking Red Beach on Angaur Island.

On 25 September Pennsylvania steamed for emergency repairs at Manus, Admiralty Island, entering floating dry-dock, 1 October 1944. She departed 12 October, one of six battleships in Rear Admiral Jesse B. Oldendorf's Bombardment and Fire Support Group which formed a part of the Central Philippine Attack Force under command of Vice Admiral Thomas Cassin Kinkaid, enroute to the Philippine Islands.

Pennsylvania reached fire support station on the eastern coast of Leyte, 18 October, and commenced covering bombardment for beach reconnaissance, underwater demolition teams, and minesweeping units operating in Leyte Gulf and San Pedro Harbor. She conducted bombardment missions the next day and supported the landings on Leyte, 20 October. Gunfire support missions continued through 22 October, including harassing and night illumination fire.

On 24 October all available United States vessels prepared for action as units of the Japanese Fleet closed the Philippines, preliminary to the Battle for Leyte Gulf. Pennsylvania and five other battleships, with cruisers and destroyers of Rear Admiral Oldendorf's Force, steamed south and by nightfall were steaming slowly back and forth across the northern entrance of Surigao Strait, awaiting the approach of the enemy. That night, American motor torpedo boats stationed well down in Surigao Strait made the first encounter with torpedo attacks. Destroyers of the Force, on either flank of the enemy's line of approach, followed with torpedo and gun attacks. At 0353, 26 October, West Virginia opened fire, joined shortly thereafter by other battleships and cruisers. The Japanese had run head on into a perfect trap. Rear Admiral Oldendorf had executed the dream of every naval tactician by crossing the enemy's "T". The Japanese lost two battleships and three destroyers in the Battle of Surigao Strait. Cruiser Mogami in company with a destroyer, all that remained of the enemy force, managed to escape. Rear Admiral Oldendorf's Force did not suffer the loss of a single vessel. Mogami was sunk the next day by carrier planes.

On 26 October 1944 ten enemy planes made a simultaneous run on a destroyer close aboard Pennsylvania which assisted in splashing four and driving off the others. On the night of 28 October, she shot down a bomber as it attempted a torpedo run.

Remaining on patrol in Leyte Gulf until 25 November, Pennsylvania then steamed to Manus, Admiralty Islands, and thence to Kossol Passage where she loaded ammunition. She departed 1 January 1945 with Vice Admiral Oldendorf's Lingayen Bombardment and Fire Support Group, steaming for Lingayen Gulf. The Group came under heavy air attacks 4-6 January and the escort carrier Ommaney Bay was hit by a suicide plane and destroyed by the resulting fire. Many other ships were damaged.

On the morning of 6 January, Pennsylvania commenced bombardment of target areas on Santiago Island at the mouth of Lingayen Gulf. That afternoon she entered the Gulf to conduct counter-battery fire in support of minesweeping forces, retiring at night. At daybreak, 7 January, the entire bombardment force entered Lingayen Gulf to deliver supporting and destructive fire. Preliminary assault bombardment was continued the next day. On 9 January, Pennsylvania provided gunfire support for the protection of the waves of landing troops. Enemy aircraft attacked the force in Lingayen Gulf, 10 January. Four bombs landed close by, but Pennsylvania was not hit. That afternoon she executed her last call fire mission in support of the operation by firing twelve rounds to destroy a concentration of enemy tanks which had been located inland by a shore fire control party.

From 10 to 17 January Pennsylvania conducted patrol in the South China Sea, off Lingayen Gulf, with other ships of the task group. On 17 January she anchored in Lingayen Gulf, remaining until 10 February when she sailed for temporary repairs at Manus, Admiralty Islands. Departing 22 February, she steamed via the Marshall Islands and Pearl Harbor to San Francisco arriving 13 March. She entered the Hunter's Point Shipyard and underwent thorough overhaul. Her main battery turrets and secondary battery mounts were regunned. Additional close range weapons as well as improved radar and fire control equipment were installed.

Upon completion of overhaul, Pennsylvania conducted trial runs out of San Francisco, followed by refresher training while based at San Diego, Calif. She departed San Francisco 12 July for Pearl Harbor, arriving 18 July. She sailed for Okinawa, 24 July. Enroute she took part in the bombardment of Wake Island, I August, and, after loading ammunition at Saipan the next day, resumed her voyage. She anchored in Buckner Bay alongside Tennessee. On 12 August a Japanese torpedo plane slipped in over Buckner Bay without detection and launched a torpedo at Pennsylvania which lay at anchor. Hit well aft, Pennsylvania suffered extensive damage. Twenty men were killed and ten injured. Many compartments were flooded and Pennsylvania settled heavily b the stern. The flooding was brought under control by efforts of Pennsylvania's repair parties and the prompt assistance of two salvage tugs. The following day, she was towed to more shallow water where salvage operations continued.

On 18 August, Pennsylvania departed Buckner Bay, Okinawa, under tow of two tugs. She arrived Apra Harbor, Guam 6 September and entered dry-dock where a large sheet steel patch was welded over the torpedo hole and repairs to permit her to return to t he United States under her own power were completed. On 4 October, she sailed for the Puget Sound Navy Yard in company with destroyer Walke and cruiser Atlanta. On 17 October number 3 shaft suddenly carried away inside the stern tube and the shaft slipped aft. It was necessary to send divers down to cut through the shaft, letting the shaft and propeller drop into the sea. Shipping water and with only one screw turning, Pennsylvania limped into Puget Sound Navy Yard, 24 October.

Repairs were made to enable Pennsylvania to steam to the Marshall Islands where she was used as a target ship in the atomic bomb tests at Bikini during July 1946. She was then towed to Kwajalein Lagoon where she decommissioned 29 August 1946. She remained in Kwajalein Lagoon for radiological and structural studies until 10 February 1948 when she was sunk off Kwajalein. She was struck from the Navy List 19 February 1948.

USS Maryland getting underway a Pearl after the attack. See upturned hull in foreground,
this USS Oklahoma. Maryland was the only battleship that was able to get up steam after
the attack but was not sea worthy until hull damage was repaired.

With a new type seaplane catapult and the Brat 16-Inch guns mounted on a U.S. ship, Maryland was the pride of the Navy. Following an east coast shakedown she found herself in great demand for special occasions. She appeared at Annapolis for the 1922 Naval Academy graduation and at Boston for the anniversary of Bunker Hill and the Fourth of July. Between 18 August and 25 September she paid her first visit to a foreign port transporting Secretary of State Charles Evans Hughes to Rio de Janeiro for Brazil's Centennial Exposition. The next year, after fleet exercises off the Panama Canal Zone. Maryland transited the canal In the latter part of June to join the battle fleet stationed on the west coast.

She made a goodwill voyage to Australia and New Zealand In 1925, and transported President-elect Herbert Hoover on the Pacific leg of his tour of Latin America In 1928. Throughout these years and the 1930's she served as a mainstay of fleet readiness through tireless training operations. In 1940 Maryland and the other battleships of the battle force changed their bases of operations to Pearl Harbor. She was present at battleship row along Ford Island when Japan struck 7 December 1941.

A gunner's mate striker, writing a letter near his machine-gun, brought the first of his ship's guns into play, shooting down one of two attacking torpedo planes. Inboard of Oklahoma and thus protected from the initial torpedo attack, Maryland managed to bring all her antiaircraft batteries into action. Despite two bomb hits she continued to fire and, after the attack, sent firefighting parties to assist her sister ships. The Japanese announced that she had been sunk, but 30 December , battered yet sturdy, the entered the repair yard at Puget Sound Navy Yard.

She emerged 26 February 1942 not only repaired but modernized and ready for great service. During the important Battle of Midway, the old battleships, not fast enough to accompany the carriers, operated as a backup force. Thereafter Maryland engaged in almost constant training exercises until 1 August, when she returned to Pearl Harbor.

Assigned sentinel duty along the southern supply routes to Australia and the Pacific fighting fronts, Maryland and Colorado operated out of the Fiji Islands in November and advanced to the New Hebrides in February 1943. Her return to Pearl Harbor after 10 months in the heat of the South Pacific brought the installation of additional 40mm. antiaircraft protection.

In the vast amphibious campaigns of the Pacific the firepower of Maryland and her sister ships played a key role. Departing the Hawaiian Islands 20 October for the South Pacific, Maryland became flagship for Rear Adm. Harry W. Hill's Southern Attack Force in the Gilberts Invasion, with Maj. Gen. Julian C. Smith, Commander, 2d Marine Division, embarked. Early on 20 November her big guns commenced 5 days of shore bombardment and call fire assignment in support of one of the most gallant amphibious assaults in history, at Tarawa. After the island's capture, she remained in the area protecting the transports until she headed back to the United States 7 December.

Maryland steamed from San Pedro 13 January 1944, rendezvoused with TF 53 at Hawaii, and sailed in time to be in position off the well-fortified Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshalls on the morning of the 31st. Assigned to reduce pillboxes and block houses on Roi Island, the old battleship fired splendidly all day and again the following morning until the assault waves were within 500 yards of the beach. Following the operation she steamed back to Bremerton, Wash., for new guns and an overhaul.

Two months later Maryland, again readied for battle, sailed westward 5 May to participate in the biggest campaign yet attempted in the Pacific war - Saipan. Vice Adm. R. K. Turner allotted TF 52.3 days to soften up the island before the assault. Firing commenced 0545 on 14 June. Silencing two coastal guns, Maryland encountered little opposition as she delivered one devastating barrage after another. The Japanese attempted to strike back through the air. On the 18th the ship's guns claimed their first victim but 4 days later a Betty sneaked in flying low over the still-contested Saipan hills and found two anchored battleships. Crossing the bow of Pennsylvania, she dropped a torpedo which opened a gaping hole in Maryland's bow, portside. Casualties were light and in 15 minutes she was underway for Eniwetok, and shortly thereafter to the repair yards at Pearl Harbor.

With an around-the-clock effort by the shipyard workers, on 19 August, 34 days after arrival, the ship again steamed forth for the war zone. Rehearsing briefly in the Solomons, she joined Rear Adm. J. B. Oldendorf's Western Fire Support Group (TG 32.5) bound for the Palau Islands. Firing first on 12 September to cover minesweeping operations and underwater demolition teams, she continued the shore bombardment until the landing craft approached the beaches on the 15th. Four days later organized resistance collapsed, permitting the fire support ships to retire to the Admiralty Islands.

Reassigned to the 7th Fleet, Maryland sortied 12 October to cover the important initial landings in the Philippines at Leyte. Despite floating mines, the invasion force entered Leyte Gulf on the 18th. The bombardment the following day and the landings of the 20th went well, but the Japanese decided to contest this success with both kamikazes and a three-pronged naval attack.

Forewarned by submarines and scout planes, the American battleship-cruiser force steamed 24 October to the southern end of Leyte Gulf to protect Surigao Strait. Early on the 25th the enemy battleships Fuso and Yamashiro led the Japanese advance into the Strait. The waiting Americans pounded the enemy ships severely. First came torpedoes from the fleeting PT boats, then more torpedoes from the daring destroyers. Next came gunfire from the cruisers. Finally, at 0355 the readied guns of the battleship line opened fire. Thunderous salvos of heavy caliber fire slowed the enemy force and set the Japanese battleships on fire. Leaving their doomed battleships behind, the decimated enemy ships fled; only a remnant of the original force escaped subsequent naval air attacks. Similarly other U.S. forces blunted and repulsed attacks by the center and northern enemy forces during the decisive Battle for Leyte Gulf.

In the aftermath of this important victory, Maryland patrolled the southern approaches to Surigao Strait until 29 October; after replenishment at Manus, Admiralties, she resumed patrol duty 16 November. Japanese air attacks continued to pose a definite threat. During a raid on 17 November, guns of TG 77.2 splashed 11 of the attacking planes. Shortly after sunset 2 days later, a determined suicide plane dove through the clouds and crashed Maryland between turrets Nos. 1 and 2. Thirty- one sailors died in the explosion and fire that followed; however, the sturdy battleship continued her patrols until relieved 2 December. She reached Pearl Harbor 18 December and during the next 2 months workmen repaired and refitted "Fighting Mary."

After refresher training, Maryland headed for the western Pacific 4 March 1945, arriving Ulithi the 16th. There she joined Rear Adm. M. L. Deyo's TF 54 and on 21 March departed for the invasion of Okinawa. She closed the coast of Okinawa 25 March and began pounding assigned targets along the southwestern part of the Japanese island fortress. In addition, she provided fire support during a diversionary raid on the southeast coast drawing enemy defenses from the main amphibious landings on the western beaches. On 3 April she received a fire support call from Minneapolis (CA-36). The cruiser was unable to silence entrenched shore batteries with 8-inch fire and called on "Fighting Mary's" mighty 16-inch guns for aid. The veteran battleship hurled six salvos which destroyed the enemy artillery.

Maryland continued fire support duty until 7 April when She sailed with TF 54 to intercept a Japanese surface force to the northward. These ships, including mighty battleship Yamato, came under intense air attacks that same day, and planes of th e Fast Carrier Task Force sank six of 10 ships In the force. At dusk on the 7th Maryland took her third hit from enemy planes in 10 months. A suicide plane loaded with a 500-pound bomb crashed the top of turret No. 3 from starboard. The explosion wiped out the 20mm. mounts, causing 53 casualties. As before, however, she continued to blast enemy shore positions with devastating 16- inch fire. While guarding the western transport area 11 April, she splashed two planes during afternoon raids.

On 14 April Maryland left the firing line as escort for retiring transports. Steaming via the Marianas and Pearl Harbor, she reached Puget Sound 7 May and entered the Navy Yard at Bremerton the next day for extensive overhaul. Completing repair s in August, she now entered the "Magic Carpet" fleet. During the next 4 months she made five voyages between the west coast and Pearl Harbor, returning more than 8,000 combat veterans to the United States.

Arriving Seattle, Wash., 17 December, she completed "Magic Carpet" duty. She entered Puget sound Naval Shipyard 15 April 1946 and was placed in commission in reserve on an inactive basis 16 July. She decommissioned at Bremerton 3 April 1947 and remained there as a unit of the Pacific Reserve Fleet. Maryland was sold for scrapping to Learner Co. of Oakland, Calif., 8 July 1959.

On 2 June 1961 the Honorable J. Millard Tawes, Governor of Maryland, dedicated a lasting monument to the memory of the venerable battleship and her fighting men. Built of granite and bronze and incorporating the bell of "Fighting Mary," this monument honors a ship and her men whose service to the Nation reflected the highest traditions of the naval service. This monument is located on the grounds of the State House, Annapolis, Md.

V-3, SF-6
Displacement: Surfaced: ??? t. Submerged: 2,000 t.
Length: 341’ 6"; Beam: 27’7”; Draft: 15’11”
Speed:
Surfaced: 18.8 k.
Submerged: ??
Complement: 56
Armament: 1 5”; 6 21” torpedo tubes

The third Bonita (SF-6) was launched 9 June 1925 as V-3 by Portsmouth Navy Yard; sponsored by Mrs. L. R. DeSteiguer, wife of Rear Admiral DeSteiguer; and commissioned 22 May 1926, Lieutenant Commander C. A. Lockwood, Jr., in command.

Assigned to Submarine Division 20, V-3 cruised along the east coast and in the Caribbean until November 1927. With her division, she then transferred to the Pacific arriving at San Diego 17 December 1927. After service with Submarine Divisions 20 and 12 along the Pacific coast and off Hawaii, she joined Submarine Division 15 of the Rotating Reserve at Mare Island Navy Yard 1 June 1932. She was renamed Bonita 9 March 1931 and reclassified SS-165, 1 July 1931

Bonita rejoined Submarine Division 12 in September 1933 and cruised in Caribbean, west coast, and Hawaiian waters through 1936. She departed San Diego 20 January 1937 and arrived at Philadelphia Navy Yard 18 February. She was placed out of commission in reserve at Philadelphia 4 June 1937.

Recommissioned 5 September 1940, she departed New London, Conn., 17 November 1940 for Coco Solo, C. Z. Bonita patrolled in the Pacific, off Panama, until she returned to Philadelphia for overhaul in October 1942. Patrolling off the Maine coast until mid-1943, she then joined Submarine Division 13, Submarine Squadron 1, on training duty out of New London. She remained on that duty until February 1945. Arriving at Philadelphia Navy Yard 17 February 1945, she was decommissioned 3 March and sold 28 October 1945.

From the “Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships,” (1976) Vol. 6, pp.182-183.

S-17, SS-122
Displacement: Surfaced: 876 t. Submerged: 1,092 t.
Length: 231’ Beam: 21’10” Draft: 13’1”
Speed:
Surfaced: 15 k.
Submerged: 11 k.
Complement: 38
Armament: 1 4”; 4 21” torpedo tubes

Class: S-3 S-17 (SS-122) was laid down on 19 March 1918 by the Lake Torpedo Boat Co., Bridgeport, Conn.; launched on 22 May 1920; sponsored by Mrs. Raymond G. Thomas; and commissioned on 1 March 1921, Lt. Comdr. Charles S. Alden in command.

Departing from New London, Conn., on 31 May 1921, S-17 sailed via the Panama Canal, California, Hawaii, and Guam to the Philippines, arriving at Cavite, Luzon, on 1 December. In 1922, she sailed from Manila Bay on 11 October, visited Hong Kong from the 14th to the 28th, and returned to Cavite on 1 November. Sailing from Manila on 15 May 1923, S-17 visited Shanghai, Chefoo, and Chinwangtao, before returning via Woosung and Amoy to Cavite on 11 September. In the summer of 1924, she visited Shanghai, Tsingtao, Chefoo, and Chinwangtao, before returning via Chefoo and Amoy to Olongapo, Luzon, on 23 September. Departing Cavite on 29 October, she arrived at Mare Island, Calif., on 31 December.

Remaining at Mare Island in 1925 and 1926, she operated along the California coast in 1927, mainly at Mare Island, San Diego, and San Pedro. From February 1928 into December 1934, S-17 served in the Panama Canal area. Departing from Coco Solo on 10 December 1934,

S-17 was recommissioned on 16 December 1940. After voyages to Bermuda, S-17 operated in the Panama Canal area from December 1941 into February 1942; at St. Thomas in March; in the Panama Canal area from April into August; and out of New London from September that year into July 1944. Her cruises from New London often included operations at Casco Bay, Maine.

Decommissioned on 4 October 1944, S-17 was struck from the Navy list on 13 November of that year and was intentionally sunk on 5 April 1945.

Transcribed and edited by: Larry W. Jewell

From the “Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships,” (1976) Vol. 6, pp.209-211.

S-47, SS-158
Displacement: Surfaced: 800 t. Submerged: 1,126 t.
Length: 219’3” Beam: 20’6” Draft: 15’1” (mean)
Speed:
Surfaced: 14.5 k.
Submerged: 11 k.
Complement: 42
Armament: 1 4”; 4 21” torpedo tubes

S-42 S-47 (SS-158) was laid down on 26 February 1921 by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp., Quincy, Mass.; launched on 5 January 1924; sponsored by Mrs. Morris D. Gilmore; and commissioned on 16 September 1925, Lt. John Wilkes in command Following commissioning and fitting out, S-47 conducted engineering and torpedo tests off the southern New England coast. However, with the new year, 1926, she departed New England and moved south to join Submarine Division (SubDiv) 19 in the Panama Canal Zone.

She arrived at Coco Solo on 19 January and, for the next year and one-half, conducted local operations in the Pacific and Caribbean. During this period, her routine was broken by joint Army-Navy exercises testing the defenses of the canal; by Fleet Problem VI (February 1926) and VII (March 1927); and by extended training cruises in the Caribbean (June 1926 and April 1927). Transferred to San Diego with her division in June 1927, she continued to participate in individual, division, fleet, and joint Army-Navy exercises into 1932.

At that time, a period of inactivity in rotating reserve status was added to S-boat employment schedules. In 1936, S-47, now in SubDiv 11, was transferred back to Coco Solo, where she was based through the end of the decade. In the summer of 1941, she returned to New London and commenced operations off the southern New England coast. During September, she patrolled in the Bermuda area; and, in October, she returned to New London. The following month, she moved north to Argentia to participate in exercises to test S-boat capabilities in arctic and sub arctic waters. By mid-December, she was back at New London, and, by January 1942, she was back in the Panama Canal Zone. Defensive operations in the approaches to the canal took S-47 into March.

On the 5th, she moved west with SubDiv 53 to join TF 42 at Brisbane. She arrived in mid-April, and, on the 22d, she got underway to conduct her first offensive war patrol in the New Britain-New Ireland area. On the 27th, she commenced submerged operations during daylight hours. On the morning of the 29th, she passed Bougainville, and, on the night of 30 April, she arrived off New Britain. The next evening, she attempted to close an enemy submarine but lost contact with the target. That night, she transited St. George Channel; and, on the morning of 2 May, she closed Blanche Bay. Despite numerous enemy patrol craft both surface and air, off the Crater Peninsula, she moved toward Simpson Harbor in an attempt to score on an oiler accompanied by a destroyer. Her quarry, however, reached safety before S-47 could close the range. S-47 waited outside the harbor. Four hours later, two destroyers entered the harbor, and, a short while after that, a cruiser was sighted on the same course. S-47 increased her speed and maneuvered to attack. But, before she was ready, a short in the electrical firing circuit fired No. 4 tube. The cruiser continued into the harbor. The electrical firing circuit in S-47 was disconnected. Still in the area on the 3d, S-47 became the target of a three-hour submarine hunt conducted by two destroyers and two minesweepers and punctuated by frequent depth charge attacks. That night, she cleared the area. By 5 May, she was off New Hanover; and, on the 8th, she fired on a cargoman which reversed course and headed for the submarine at high speed. S-47 went deep and readied two tubes for firing. The target, however, passed overhead; resumed its original course; and soon outdistanced the submarine. S-47 remained on patrol in that area for another four days. On the 12th, she shifted to the Buka area and patrolled off Queen Carola Harbor until 15 May. She then turned for Brisbane. In port for repairs from 20 May until early June, S-47 cleared Moreton Bay on 6 June to return to New Britain. Again, she hunted off the Crater Peninsula and between there and the Duke of York Islands; then moved into the Shortland Island area before heading for Australia on the 22d. She departed the Australian coast again on 28 July, but fuel tank leaks forced her to turn back on 1 August. From the 5th to the 24th, she was back in Brisbane. On the 25th, she was again underway for St. George Channel and the area to the northwest of Rabaul. On 2 September, her patrol was shifted to include the eastern and southeastern coasts of New Ireland, where, on the 12th, she damaged an enemy warship. On 22 September, she returned to Brisbane. Twenty-eight days later, S-47 departed Moreton Bay for her last war patrol as a unit of TF 42. Moving across the Coral Sea and into the Solomons, she sighted Shortland Island on the 28th, and, on the night of 30-31 October, commenced hunting on the Buin-Rabaul line. On 2 November, east of Bougainville, she damaged a second Japanese warship. Two days later, she began moving southeast. On the 8th, she passed San Cristobal Island and departed the Solomons, en route to the Fiji Islands and the Panama Canal. On 17 November, S-47 joined other units of SubDiv 53 and submarine tender GRIFFIN (AS-13) in Suva Harbor, whence the group proceeded to Coco Solo. There, during the first quarter of 1943, S-47 underwent overhaul and received a surface search radar. In March, she was ordered to Trinidad, B.W.I., to furnish training services for antisubmarine vessels stationed there. But she was soon recalled to the Canal Zone, then ordered to San Francisco for further yard work at the Bethlehem Steel Co. Arriving early in May, she remained in the shipyard through the summer; and, after training off the southern California coast in September, she headed north to the Aleutians. In October, S-47 arrived at Dutch Harbor, Unalaska, whence she conducted two war patrols to impede Japanese traffic in the Paramushiro area. On 3 January 1944, she completed the second of her two North Pacific patrols, and, a month later, she departed the Aleutians to return to the southwestern Pacific. Arriving at Milne Bay on 17 March, S-47 joined TF 72; and, for the next two months, conducted ASW training operations for 7th Fleet minesweepers. In June, however, she shifted to Seeadler Harbor in the Admiralties, whence she departed on another war patrol on 17 June. The patrol, conducted to support the Allied thrust along the New Guinea coast, was completed on 5 July. Availability at Brisbane followed and, at the end of August, she returned to Seeadler Harbor to resume ASW training operations. In November, she shifted to Mios Woendi; and, in February 1945, she headed for Brisbane, whence, on 8 March, she sailed for the United States. S-47 arrived at San Diego in mid-April and remained there until after the cessation of hostilities in the Pacific. In mid-September, she moved up to San Francisco; and, on 25 October 1945, she was decommissioned. Her name was struck from the Navy list on 13 November 1945, and she was sold for scrapping in May 1946. S-47 earned three battle stars during World War II.

Transcribed and edited by: Larry W. Jewell

Marion Vaughn (Ells) Hadley
Married: April 10, 1926 Bellingham, WA

"Family Story and personal pictures supplied by Hugh H. Birdwell, son of Jean Hadley Birdwell, and by Vaughn Hadley Shepard."

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Midshipman – 15 June 1918. Ensign – 3 June 1922. Lieutenant (junior grade) –

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