page_title: USS Halsey Powell
section_title: 1945
hierarchical_section_title: USS Halsey Powell / Service history / United States Navy / World War II / 1945
caption_attribution_description: On 20 March 1945, the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Halsey Powell (DD-686) was alongside the aircraft carrier USS Hancock (CV-19) when Japanese aircraft attacked. As the destroyer was getting clear, an aircraft overshot the carrier and crashed on Halsey Powell. Her steering gear jammed, but alert action with the engines averted a collision. Fires were put out, and although 9 were killed and over 30 wounded in the attack the ship reached Ulithi on 25 March. Halsey Powell arrived at San Pedro, California (USA), for battle repairs on 8 May, and sailed again for Pearl Harbor on 19 July 1945.
context_page_description: USS Halsey Powell, a Fletcher-class destroyer, was a ship of the United States Navy to be named for Captain Halsey Powell, who served during World War I.
  Halsey Powell was launched by Bethlehem Steel Co., Staten Island, N.Y., on 30 June 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Halsey Powell, widow of Captain Powell; and commissioned on 25 October 1943, Commander W. T. McGarry in command.
context_section_description: The fleet sailed into the South China Sea on 9–15 January to support the Invasion of Lingayen Gulf, and the supporting ships fought off air attacks the carriers struck bases in China and Indochina. With Ticonderoga damaged by a kamikaze on 21 January, Halsey Powell was assigned to escort her to Ulithi, where they arrived on 24 January 1945.
  The carrier task force departed again in February to attack Japan itself. Halsey Powell screened the carriers during this attack, in covering attacks for the Iwo Jima invasion on 19 February, and later during more strikes on Japan. The destroyer shot down one attacking aircraft on 16 February and assisted with many others. The veteran carrier groups returned on 1 March to Ulithi, but were underway again on 14 March to soften up Okinawa for the coming assault, and to strike more blows at Japan. On 20 March, Halsey Powell was alongside Hancock when Japanese aircraft attacked. As the destroyer was getting clear, the aircraft overshot the carrier and crashed Halsey Powell. Her steering gear jammed, but alert action with the engines averted a collision. Fires were put out, and although 9 were killed and over 30 wounded in the attack the ship reached Ulithi on 25 March.
  Halsey Powell arrived San Pedro for battle repairs on 8 May, but with the Pacific war reaching its climax sailed again for Pearl Harbor on 19 July 1945. She arrived Eniwetok on 17 August, two days after the surrender of Japan, and was present in Tokyo Bay for the formal surrender ceremonies 2 September. The ship then supported the occupation forces until departing 31 October for Puget Sound. Halsey Powell decommissioned on 10 December 1946 at San Diego and was placed in the Pacific Reserve Fleet.
caption: Halsey Powell hit by a kamikaze alongside Hancock, 20 March 1945.
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