 {|    |} the first uss gridley (dd-92) was a wickes-class destroyer in the united states navy during the world war i. she was named in honor of charles vernon gridley. ==history== gridley was launched by the union iron works of san francisco, california, 4 july 1918; sponsored by mrs. francis p. thomas, daughter of captain gridley, and commissioned 8 march 1919, comdr. frank jack fletcher in command. after fitting out at the mare island navy yard, gridley departed san diego 24 march 1919, transited the panama canal, and joined the destroyer force for maneuvers in cuban waters. she then repaired briefly at norfolk, virginia, before putting into new york 26 april 1919. gridley's first assignment was with a group of destroyers posted along the route of the navy's transatlantic seaplane flight. gridley and her companions sent up smoke and flare signals to guide the intrepid flyers and with the help of the surface ships nc-4 was able to land in the dense fog at the azores 17 may 1919. subsequently gridley participated in the search for nc-1, forced down in the fog, and then acted as guard ship on the last leg of nc-4's historic flight, which was completed at plymouth, england, 31 may 1919. gridley arrived at brest, france, 31 may and spent the next 2 months in various ports of the mediterranean transporting passengers and making goodwill visits. she arrived back at new york 31 july. operating out of portsmouth, [[new h
1918_ships Ships_built_in_San_Francisco,_California Wickes-class_destroyers