USS Hugh W. Hadley (DD774) Memorial Web Page

The Champion Kamikaze Killer

Last Update, 07 September 2008


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  Hadley was commissioned on 25 November 1944, decommissioned
15 December 1945 and was sold for scrap in 1947. It lived for only 385 days.
The story of this ship and it's men is unique in naval history in that it applies
 to all those men whose names and pictures appear in the following pages. 

The Champion Kamikaze Killer

11 May 1945 0755 to 0935, at Radar Picket Station # 15, northwest of Okinawa.
All time Gunnery record of any ship in a surface engagement.  Fired 801
rounds 5"38 CAL, 8,950 rounds 40MM, & 5,990 rounds 20mm.  Destroyed
20 aircraft and hit by three (3) more Kamikazes,  one 500 pound bomb,
one smaller bomb. 

ATTENTION ATTENTION ATTENTION

FLASH NEWS:   2009 18th REUNION
The 18th Reunion of the crew, families  and friends of the Hadley will
meet in Branson, MO. at the LODGE OF THE OZARKS, checking in on
Wednesday, September 9th, 2009, (that is 2009) for 4 nights, checking
out on Sunday, September 13th,  2009.  Communique #1 with more details
will be in the mail to everyone by the end of August 2008.   MARK YOUR
CALENDARS NOW - - - IT IS A VERY POPULAR AND TERRIFIC PLACE!

<<<<<<< For Hadley Ship History see HISTORY SECTION <<<<<<<

We are proud to open a new VIDEO SECTION.
"The KAMIKAZE STORY"
It contains both Japanese and American WWII footage.
We recommend viewing all three parts. 
 

A new addition - Doug Aitken's Kamikaze Report
Read it in our HISTORY Section. It tells a real story.

CAPT Baron J. Mullaney's ''COMBAT ACTION REPORT", 11 May 1945.
It's here. See HISTORY/CAPT Mullaney Combat Report.
 
Open BIOS SECTION for latest entry.  J.E. McKim's biographical
sketch has been uploaded for your review.

Received word from Granddaughter Cynthia that Ernie Horton
Bronze Star recipient has passed on 21 Sept 2007.

Just added to our BIOS Section a new write-up on Harold Frost SF3/c
sent to us by his youngest son Brian. Harold left us 10 June 1983. 

Received notice from grandson of Thomas J, Whelan QM3/c, he
passed on 01/28/08 and is interned at Fort Smelling National Cemetery.

Using a little intelligence and adding two and two we have determined
that our Marine Corp operated F4U Corsairs flew from Yontan Air Field. 
This was the first captured Japanese base. See Index, Pictures/Enemy.

Open MEDALS SECTION. Go down to the last picture. It is replica of the
Certificate from the Governor of the State of Maryland, presented to the
   crew of Hadley for recognition of their achievements on 11 May 1945.  

See MISCELLANY Section for pictures of Frank & Stella Boffi, Doug,
& Jeanne  Aitken, upgrade to pix of Art & Rose Lowery and others. 
Reworked pix of Carmella and Bob Eaton.

SUPPORT OUR PRESIDENT AND OUR TROOPS.

Those 20th century Kamikazes remain with us today,
only with a new name.  Continue to be vigilant and be 
aware that they can be anyplace.

KEEP YOUR EYES AND EARS OPEN!
As of 20 May 2008, 24,000 folk have visited this site. 
It is our hope that we have supplied some of the facts that can
give you folks a feeling of what it was like to sail on a World War II
Destroyer.  We continue to seek out any new information about
Hadley or its shipmates. We wish you smooth sailing.

Now working on 25,000
Counter:

This page and all pages within www.usshadley.com, are copyright of Robert I. Eaton, 1996.

The Hyperlinks previously
located here are now in their
own dedicated LINKS SECTION.

Begin your voyage through the Hadley
story by selecting HISTORY from the menu at left.