USS Wilkes ( DD - 441 ) USS " Wilkes " ( DD - 441 ) , a , was the 3rd ship of the United States Navy to be named for Charles Wilkes , who was an American naval officer and explorer . " Wilkes " was laid down on 1 November 1939 by the Boston Navy Yard , launched on 31 May 1940 ; sponsored by Mrs . Bessie Wilkes Styer ; and commissioned on 22 April 1941 , Lieutenant Commander J . D . Kelsey in command . History . Initial operations . " Wilkes " was ready for sea on 1 June 1941 and then conducted shakedown training off the New England coast . The destroyer arrived in Bermuda on 24 August and helped to screen and on their shakedown cruises in the Caribbean . She departed Bermuda on 9 September and , two days later , arrived back in Boston for a brief availability , setting sail on 25 September for Guantanamo Bay , Cuba , and four days of training . " Wilkes " left Cuban waters and , on 2 October , arrived at Hampton Roads , Virginia , three days later . During the remainder of October , " Wilkes " visited Gravesend Bay , New York , Casco Bay , Maine ; and Provincetown , Massachusetts . On 2 November , the destroyer arrived at NS Argentia , Newfoundland , briefly escorted , and made rendezvous with , which had just survived two torpedo hits , and escorted the damaged oiler to Cape Sable , Nova Scotia . On 28 November , " Wilkes " departed Cape Sable escorting Convoy HX - 162 . During the destroyer ' s passage to Iceland , Japanese naval aircraft attacked the Pacific Fleet ' s base at Pearl Harbor , pushing the United States into full participation in World War II . The convoy reached its destination the next day , and " Wilkes " spent the rest of December escorting convoys from Argentia , Newfoundland , to Hvalfjörður and Reykjavík , Iceland . " Wilkes " returned to Boston where she refueled , took on provisions , and remained through the holiday season . 1942 . Escort missions . On 1 January 1942 , the destroyer got underway and the following day arrived at Casco Bay , Maine , where she conducted exercise runs . On 5 January , " Wilkes " departed Casco Bay in company with , , and , bound for Argentia , Newfoundland . She arrived two days later and , on the 10th , made rendezvous with Convoy HX - 169 , accompanying it for the next eight days . On 18 January , she was relieved as escort , and she set course for Ireland with " Madison " , " Roper " , and " Sturtevant " . Three days later , she moored at Derry . On 25 January , " Wilkes " got underway and soon made contact with Convoy ON - 59 , taking station and relieving the British escort vessels . She arrived at Boston on 8 February , requiring docking . On 12 February 1942 , " Wilkes " received orders to depart Boston on 15 February and to proceed to Casco Bay , Maine , on a routine " milk run " in company with and to join en route . " Truxtun " was delayed , so " Wilkes " went ahead and met " Pollux " according to schedule on 15 February ; " Truxtun " joined up the following day . While en route to Argentia , Newfoundland , at about 03 : 50 on 18 February 1942 , " Wilkes " ' s commanding officer was awakened by the navigator and informed that the ship was believed to be northward of the plotted track . Visibility was poor , and weather conditions prevented obtaining radio direction finder bearings . Continuous depthmeter soundings were taken , and all were in excess of 30 fathoms ( 55 m ) except one sounding of 15 fathoms ( 27 m ) which was obtained just prior to grounding . The signal , " Emergency stop " , to warn the other vessels was immediately given by searchlight , and the message . " " Wilkes " aground do not know which side " was broadcast on the TBS . The words , " " Wilkes " aground " , were also broadcast on the distress frequency . However , no message was received from " Pollux " or " Truxtun " until after these ships had also grounded . " Wilkes " found herself stranded to port of " Pollux " , " Truxtun " to starboard . About 07 : 00 , " Wilkes " succeeded in backing clear of the beach . After seeing that " Pollux " had received help from , she left the scene . However , " Pollux " and " Truxtun " were totally lost , along with the 205 men who went down with them . The casualty list from the two lost ships was the Atlantic Fleet ' s largest list of the war up to that time . No deaths occurred on " Wilkes " . She remained at Argentia for six days before beginning a voyage to Boston for repairs . On 1 April 1942 , " Wilkes " was assigned to Task Force 21 ( TF 21 ) at the Boston Navy Yard where she conducted post repair trials and underwent a three - day availability . On 6 April , " Wilkes " got underway for Casco Bay , Maine , escorting . On the 8th , the destroyer sighted the British oil tanker SS " Davila " . One minute later , the two ships collided — " Davila " ' s bow struck " Wilkes " on the port side abreast of her number one fireroom . After the two ships separated , the destroyer returned to Boston where she entered the navy yard for restricted availability which continued until 3 June . The next day , she conducted post - repair trials . Following gunnery and antiaircraft practice and antisubmarine exercises at Casco Bay , " Wilkes " made a short escort mission screening Convoy BX - 26 . Three days later , she got underway for New York in company with and arrived the following day , and anchored at the New York Navy Yard . On 1 July 1942 , the destroyer sailed for Little Placentia Harbor , Newfoundland , where she performed escort and patrol duty before returning to New York where she remained until the 12th . The next day , " Wilkes " got underway and joined Convoy AS - 4 , nine ships of American , British , Norwegian , and Dutch registry . On the 16th , the second ship of the first column of the convoy , SS " Fairport " was torpedo ed forward and aft and sank . Survivors got clear in four boats and several rafts . made depth charge attacks and rescued the survivors while " Wilkes " continued a sound search and released nine depth charges with no visible results . At 16 : 00 on 17 July , the destroyer made an underwater sound contact . Three minutes later , she delivered a modified " intermediate depth charge attack . " Large amounts of air were seen to emerge at the scene of the attack in the center of which appeared the bow of a submarine , which then rolled over and disappeared , apparently out of control . At 16 : 14 , " Wilkes " delivered a deep attack , including three 600 - pound charges at the scene of the air blows . More air broke the surface , and the whole area was covered with dark brown liquid and oil . Three days later , " Wilkes " was detached from the formation and proceeded to Trinidad , where she refueled before sailing for the Virginia capes and arrived at Norfolk on 25 July . The destroyer then made two coastal runs to New York before getting underway from that port on 19 August and steaming for Halifax harbor , Nova Scotia , where she arrived on 21 August . She remained moored off Greenoch until 5 September . At that time , she proceeded to sea to escort USAT " Siboney " to New York . She then spent the remainder of September conducting various exercises in Casco Bay , Maine . " Wilkes " sailed for Virginia on 30 September 1942 and , two days later , arrived at Hampton Roads . For the greater part of October , the destroyer conducted various drills and maneuvers , including amphibious operations with TF 33 . On 24 October , " Wilkes " got underway from Norfolk and took station in a convoy steaming for North Africa . Operation Torch . On 8 November 1942 , " Wilkes " participated in the assault on Fedhala , French Morocco , and the resulting Naval Battle of Casablanca . Operating with TF 34 , she was assigned duty as a control vessel during the first phase and as a fire support vessel during the second . The ship made radar contact on the surface , and a short while later her fire control party reported a dark object in the water . " Wilkes " dropped a standard nine - charge pattern . Thereafter , sound conditions were unfavorable due to the depth charge turbulence which was extreme in the shallow water 40 fathoms ( 73 m ) . After 16 minutes , the search was abandoned . No casualties or hits resulted from enemy action . The next day , while steaming off Fedhala Point , " Wilkes " sighted a French destroyer emerging from Casablanca . She left her patrol station and proceeded toward the enemy ship . However , the shore battery on Pointe d ' Oukach opened fire , and " Wilkes " was forced to discontinue her chase as the destroyer retreated back to Casablanca . On 11 November , " Wilkes " received news that Casablanca had capitulated ; and the destroyer then resumed patrolling the area around the convoy anchorage . At 19 : 58 , a rocket burst near the convoy area ; and , one minute later , reported being torpedoed . At 20 : 00 , reported the same fate and sank in less than one hour . illuminated to open fire on a surfaced submarine and also made a depth charge attack with negative results . The next day , " Wilkes " escorted " Augusta " into Casablanca . She then returned toward the patrol area and resumed patrolling her assigned station . " Wilkes " picked up a submarine contact at 2 , 300 yards and made a shallow depth charge attack , expending four 300 - pound and two 600 - pound charges without success . " Wilkes " then abandoned her search and continued her patrol . Little more than an hour later , two ships in the convoy anchorage area were torpedoed . A U - boat hit a third ship after 26 more minutes had passed . The convoy was ordered to weigh anchor and proceed to sea . " Wilkes " got underway and took station in the convoy ' s antisubmarine screen off its starboard bow . The convoy changed base course 20 degrees every 15 minutes for almost two hours to avoid detection . On 15 November 1942 , , a cargo ship in another convoy , was torpedoed . " Wilkes " made a submarine contact at 1800 yards and made a depth charge attack with negative results . The destroyer then screened the damaged ship as she was being towed into Casablanca . Two days later " Wilkes " rejoined the convoy as it steamed homeward and , on 30 November 1942 , arrived at Norfolk . She spent the month of December conducting short escort and patrol missions in waters in New York and Casco Bay , Maine . 1943 . " Wilkes " began the new year 1943 with two voyages from New York to Casablanca and back , taking place between 14 January and 14 February and between 6 March and 5 April . The destroyer then made runs between New York and Norfolk through 14 May 1943 . The next day , she got underway escorting a convoy to the Panama Canal and arrived on 21 May at Cristóbal , Canal Zone . Four days later , " Wilkes " returned to Hampton Roads . From 29 May through 9 June , the destroyer visited ports along the northeast coast of the United States and then devoted the remainder of 1943 escorting convoys to North Africa , making three round trips from 10 June until Christmas Day when she returned to New York . 1944 . On 7 January 1944 , " Wilkes " got underway for the Canal Zone along with and transited the canal and arrived at Balboa on 12 January . A week later , " Wilkes " escorted troop - laden SS " Mormacdove " , via the Galápagos , Bora Bora , and Nouméa to Milne Bay , New Guinea , where they arrived on 20 February 1944 . Five days later , the destroyer got underway for Cape Gloucester , New Britain , made rendezvous with an LST convoy en route , and escorted them to Borgen Bay , Cape Gloucester , Megin Island , Cape Cretin , and the Tami Islands . On 1 March 1944 , " Wilkes " was anchored in Oro Bay , Buna , New Guinea . Two days later , she embarked American Army troops , complete with equipment , and got underway with eight other destroyers and three high - speed transports and sailed for Los Negros Island of the Admiralty group in order to reinforce elements of the 1st Cavalry Division who were then holding the beachhead . On 4 March , " Wilkes " arrived off Hayne Harbor , Los Negros Island , and disembarked all troops and equipment without incident . The destroyer remained there to operate as a fire support ship and received on board casualties evacuated from the combat areas . The next day , " Wilkes " bombarded Lemondrol Creek , just south of Momote air strip , and targets on the western end of Hayne Harbor . She continued performing such duty through 7 March when " Wilkes " proceeded to Seeadler Harbor , at Manus Island , Admiralty Group , to assist in the landings there . After a two - day round trip to Cape Sudest and a brief patrol in Seeadler Harbor , " Wilkes " returned to Cape Sudest on 24 March for availability . On 9 April , she steamed back to Seeadler Harbor to escort a convoy from Los Negros Island to LanFemak Bay , New Guinea . On the 11th , the destroyer anchored in Oro Bay and underwent availability . " Wilkes " arrived at Cape Cretin on 17 April and took on board Lieutenant General Walter Krueger , Commander , Sixth Army , and his staff for transportation to combat areas to observe the landings in the Wakde – Sarmi area of New Guinea . Three days later , " Wilkes " made rendezvous with TF 77 and took station as a radar picket . On 22 April 1944 , the destroyer participated in the landings at Tanahmerah Bay , New Guinea , and , after the troops had gone ashore , continued operations in that area . D day for the landings at Wakde Island was 17 May 1944 . " Wilkes " contributed fire support and served in the antisubmarine screen . On 26 May , after refueling and repair , the destroyer proceeded toward Biak Island and participated in the landings there . On 5 June , " Wilkes " helped to escort a convoy consisting of nine LSTs , three LCIs , four LCTs and escorts through the dangerous waters between the Schouten Islands . The destroyer then continued operations in the $ 3 area and spent the latter part of June bombarding targets ashore on Aitape and Toem , New Guinea . During July , " Wilkes " participated in the landings at Noemfoor Island on the 1st and at Cape Sansapor on the 30th . On 19 August , " Wilkes " departed the New Guinea area and set a course for the Marshall Islands , arriving at Eniwetok on 25 August . Three days later , she joined TF 38 and acted as a screen while the mighty flattops launched air strikes on Iwo Jima , Chichi Jima , Saipan , Yap , Ulithi , Peleliu , and Formosa . On 14 October , " Wilkes " accompanied the task force to the Philippines and that day made strikes against Luzon . She also screened them during a raid on Leyte on the 17th and during an attack against Samar Island on the 24th . The next day , the destroyer as part of Task Group 38 . 4 ( TG 38 . 4 ) acted as a communication link between two task groups en route to intercept the Japanese Northern Force off Cape Engaño . On the 26th , " Wilkes " and were detached and proceeded to Ulithi Atoll for upkeep and repairs . On 3 November , " Wilkes " got underway with for Apra Harbor , Guam , and arrived there the next day . After a brief round trip to Manus , Admiralty Islands , " Wilkes " and " Nicholson " escorted Convoy GE - 29 to Eniwetok , arriving on 26 November . " Wilkes " set sail for Pearl Harbor on 1 December and arrived seven days later . On the 15th , the destroyer arrived at the Puget Sound Navy Yard . Two days later , she entered Todd ' s Pacific Shipbuilding Co . yard at Seattle for an overhaul . 1945 . On 28 January 1945 after completing her availability and post - repair trials " Wilkes " made rendezvous with and proceeded to San Francisco . Three days later , she was underway again with " Franklin " for Pearl Harbor where she arrived on 13 February . She then conducted routine operations and participated in various exercises and drills with . On 9 March , " Wilkes " got underway in company with and " Nicholson " for Ulithi , Caroline Islands . After a brief refueling at Eniwetok , the destroyer arrived on 19 March at Ulithi . Three days later , she formed in the van of and proceeded to Guam . While en route , " Wilkes " rescued four survivors of a PBM " Mariner " which had run out of fuel . On 26 March , she entered Apra Harbor , Guam , and was drydocked for repairs to the underwater sound equipment . On 1 April , " Wilkes " proceeded singly to Saipan . This was the first of two consecutive trips which lasted until 27 April . At that time , " Wilkes " received orders to escort a six - ship convoy to Okinawa and arrived at Hagushi anchorage on 1 May . Three days later , she sighted a red flare fired from a downed PBM . " Wilkes " took PBM 93 V464 under tow to Kerama Retto and resumed patrol duty . On 6 May , the destroyer was ordered to return to Kerama Retto for limited availability and logistics . Four days later , she got underway and patrolled off the southern entrance to Kerama Retto . Between 12 and 22 May , " Wilkes " covered carriers for routine flight operations and strikes on Nansei Shoto . On 22 May 1945 , " Wilkes " escorted to Kerama Retto for provisions and ammunition replenishment . They departed the following day and , after making mail deliveries , " Wilkes " returned to her patrol station covering the carrier strikes on Nansei Shoto . On 24 June , " Wilkes " and her task unit set course for Leyte and arrived at San Pedro Bay three days later . That day , she sailed for Ulithi , and she arrived there on 30 June for limited availability . " Wilkes " sortied from Ulithi on 9 July 1945 and spent more than a month supporting TF 38 . On 15 August , " Wilkes " received an official notice telling her that Japan had capitulated . Five days later , " Wilkes " was anchored at Ulithi Atoll , Caroline Islands , undergoing voyage repairs and routine upkeep . On 24 August , " Wilkes " got underway as part of the autisubmarine screen with Task Unit 30 . 8 . 9 ( TU 30 . 8 . 9 ) patrolling off the Mariana and Bonin Islands . Post war . " Wilkes " proceeded to Okinawa , arriving on 3 September . She then made rendezvous with TG 70 . 6 on the 7th in the Yellow Sea . On the 10th , the destroyer set her course for the outer transport anchorage at Jinsen ( now Inchon ) , Korea , and arrived the next day . Three days later , she conducted fueling exercises , then spent the remainder of September and October , through the 20th , in the Ito - Jinsen area , delivering passengers and undergoing availability . On 21 October 1945 , " Wilkes " got underway from Jinsen , bound for the Marianas , and arrived at Saipan on the 27th . That same day , she pushed on toward Hawaii and reached Pearl Harbor on 4 November . Three days later , she headed for the west coast of the United States and arrived at San Diego on the 13th . " Wilkes " departed the west coast on 16 November transited the Panama Canal , and reached Charleston , South Carolina , on 2 December . The destroyer reported for duty in the Inactive Fleet , Atlantic , on 3 December . She was moored in the navy yard from 4 to 31 December undergoing preservation . " Wilkes " was placed out of commission , in reserve , on 4 March 1946 . Her name was struck from the Navy List on 16 September 1968 , and she was sold to the Southern Scrap Material Co . , Ltd . , New Orleans , on 29 June 1972 . Awards . " Wilkes " received ten battle star s for her World War II service .