USS Pillsbury ( DE - 133 ) USS " Pillsbury " ( DE - 133 ) was an Edsall - class destroyer escort built for the U . S . Navy during World War II . She served in the Atlantic Ocean and provided destroyer escort protection against submarine and air attack for Navy vessels and convoys . She returned at war ' s end with five battle stars and a Presidential Unit Citation . She was named after Rear Admiral John E . Pillsbury , known as having been one of the world ’ s foremost geographers and as an authority of the Gulf Stream . Actively identified with the National Geographic Society for many years , he was president of the society at the time of his death , 30 December 1919 . " Pillsbury " ( DE – 133 ) was laid down by the Consolidated Steel Corp . , Orange , Texas , 18 July 1942 ; launched 10 January 1943 ; sponsored by Mrs . Elsie G . Richardson ; and commissioned 7 June 1943 , Lt . Comdr . W . Parker , USNR , in command . Parker would later be succeeded by Francis L . Dale ( later owner of the Cincinnati Reds , and a member of Richard M . Nixon ' s campaign staff . ) World War II North Atlantic operations . After shakedown " Pillsbury ’ s " first duty was as flagship for Escort Division 4 , escorting convoys into Casablanca and Gibraltar . " Pillsbury " then reported to Task Group 21 . 12 , consisting of and four destroyer escorts , on hunter killer patrol to seek out and destroy enemy submarines operating along or near convoy routes from the United States to Europe . Sinking the German Submarine U - 515 . On the night of 8 April 1944 , planes from " Guadalcanal " attacked a surfaced German U - boat . The U - boat immediately submerged for deep evasive tactics . " Pillsbury " and raced to the scene and " Pillsbury " made initial sound contact and attacked with hedgehogs . The depth charges forced the U - boat to the surface , but the German sailors were determined to fight to a finish with their torpedo es . " Flaherty " joined " Pillsbury " , and in a murderous crossfire made short work of U - 515 . Six officers , including the Captain , and fifty - seven of the crew were captured . After repair at Norfolk , Virginia , the hunter - killers sailed from Norfolk in May with a special mission to “ bring one back live . ” Capturing the German Submarine U - 505 . On 4 June 1944 , about 100 miles off the Cape Verde islands , sound contact was made on a U - boat trying to penetrate the destroyer screen for a shot at the " Guadalcanal " . Two pilots sighted the submarine running under the surface , and splashed the sea with gunfire to point out the contact to " Pillsbury " , , and rushing to the attack . Their depth charges blasted a hole in the outer hull of the submarine and her inexperienced captain , believing his boat was doomed , surfaced and ordered the crew to abandon ship , which they did while leaving her engines running . " Pillsbury " lowered a boarding party , led by Lt . Albert David . The party boarded the still - circling U – 505 , climbed its conning tower and stormed down the hatches , fully expecting to meet stiff resistance . Finding the boat deserted , the boarders set about collecting charts , code books , and papers , tearing out delayed - action demolition charges , closing valves , and plugging leaks . For this demonstration of conspicuous gallantry and achievement , " Pillsbury " was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation . Lt . David was awarded the Medal of Honor and two other members of the boarding party were awarded the Navy Cross . The U - boat ' s captain , five officers , and fifty - three of her crew were rescued , taken prisoner , then held incommunicado to keep the boat ' s capture secret . U - 505 was towed 2 , 500 miles to Bermuda and revealed some of the German Navy ’ s most guarded secrets . The U - 505 is now permanently displayed at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry . Sinking of German Submarine U - 546 . On 24 April 1945 " Pillsbury " , as a member of Task Unit 22 . 7 . 1 operating in the North Atlantic , depth charged and sank U - 546 . Escorting a German Submarine to Cape May . After hostilities with Germany ended , " Pillsbury " and USS Pope ( DE - 134 ) escorted the first surrendered Nazi U - boat , U – 858 , from mid - Atlantic to Cape May , New Jersey after placing a prize crew aboard . Post - War Decommissioning . In 1947 , " Pillsbury " was placed out of commission , in reserve , in the Florida Group , Atlantic Reserve Fleet . Redesignated Radar Picket Ship DER - 133 . In June 1954 the vessel was moved to the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard , fitted out with the latest equipment , redesignated a radar picket ship , DER – 133 , in August 1954 and recommissioned 15 March 1955 . After refresher training and shakedown " Pillsbury " sailed for Newport , Rhode Island , to assume her duties as a radar guardship acting as an element of the protective radar screens around the United States . During 1957 - 1960 " Pillsbury " made seven picket patrols on the Atlantic Barrier , five trips to Argentia , Newfoundland , a European visit to Portsmouth , England and La Havre , France and one trip to Summerside , Prince Edward Island . She decommissioned 20 June 1960 ; was struck from the Naval Vessel Register 1 July 1965 ; and was sold for scrapping to Boston Metals Co . , Baltimore , Maryland , in 1966 . Awards . " Pillsbury " received five battle stars for World War II service in addition to the Presidential Unit Citation .