USS Bailey file photo [32484]

Bailey

CountryUnited States
Ship ClassBenson-class Destroyer
Hull NumberDD-492
BuilderBethlehem Steel Corporation, Staten Island, New York, United States
Laid Down29 Jan 1941
Launched19 Dec 1941
Commissioned11 May 1942
Decommissioned2 May 1946
Sunk4 Nov 1969
Displacement1,620 tons standard; 2,395 tons full
Length348 feet
Beam36 feet
Draft17 feet
MachineryTwo Westinghouse geared turbines with two screws
Power Output50,000 shaft horsepower
Speed37 knots
Range6,500nm at 12 knots, 5,000nm at 15 knots
Crew276
Armament4x5in/38 anti-aircraft guns, 6x0.5" machine guns, 1x21in torpedo tubes

Contributor:

ww2dbaseThe keel for the Benson-class destroyer Bailey was laid down at the Bethlehem Steel Corporation shipyard, Staten Island, New York, United States on 29 Jan 1941. On 19 Dec 1941, the ship was christened by the granddaughter of Civil War Admiral Theodorus Bailey, the ship's namesake, and sent down the ways. Bailey was placed in commission at the New York Navy Yard in Brooklyn, New York on 11 May 1942 with Lieutenant Commander Franklin Karns, Jr. in command. Bailey then shifted to Maine for shakedown exercises.

ww2dbaseAfter returning to the harbor at Portland, Maine on 6 Jun 1942, Bailey became grounded on Cow Island Ledge, a bar in the outer harbor. The ship cleared herself almost immediately but her starboard shaft and propeller were badly damaged. On one propeller, Bailey went the Boston Navy Yard for repairs. While undergoing repairs, Lieutenant Commander Karns was relieved of command and Lieutenant Commander John C. Atkeson assumed command. After repairs, Bailey returned to Maine to complete her shakedown training. Bailey's shakedown was interrupted again when the ship spent two nights searching unsuccessfully for an enemy submarine reported to be prowling the islands of Maine's Penobscot Bay. [The threat of German U-Boats in these waters was real. Nine days earlier, the U-89 sunk the Canadian motor fishing vessel Lucille M. just 200 miles southeast of these islands. U-458 was also operating in the northwestern Atlantic but there are no postwar records that indicate either was near Penobscot Bay at this time.]

ww2dbaseAt the conclusion of Bailey's shakedown period, she returned to New York. On 18 Aug 1942, Commander Ralph Riggs came aboard as commander of Destroyer Squadron 14 (DesRon14) making Bailey the destroyer squadron's flagship. Bailey would retain flagship status of one task unit or another for much of the remainder of her service. The added leadership and experience on Bailey's bridge served her well on more than one occasion.

ww2dbaseOn 3 Sep 1942, Bailey departed New York bound for the Panama Canal. She transited the canal on 9 Sep 1942 and steamed toward San Diego, California. On 12 Sep 1942 as Bailey was 140 miles southwest of Acapulco, Mexico, she made a suspicious sonar contact and deployed four depth charges. Upon further consideration, Bailey's own assessment was that an actual submarine contact was doubtful, but these four depth charges amounted to Bailey's first shots of the war.

ww2dbaseBailey arrived at San Diego, then San Francisco, and then she was off to Kodiak, Alaska. In Kodiak, Captain Herman Spanagel boarded the ship. Bailey was assigned to deliver Captain Spanagel to the cruiser USS Nashville patrolling in the Aleutians where he was to assume command. After two days, Captain Spanagel was transferred to the Nashville and Bailey assumed her station as one of Nashville's escorts. Nashville joined USS Indianapolis and USS St. Louis who, along with their escort destroyers, were responsible for patrols and convoy escorts throughout the Aleutian chain. The cruisers in this task group were later replaced by USS Detroit, USS Salt Lake City, and USS Richmond but the duties remained the same. Depth charge attacks on suspicious sound contacts became more frequent, but they did no apparent harm to the Japanese.

ww2dbaseOn 5 Jan 1943, while Bailey was fueling in Sand Bay, Great Sitkin Island, Alaska, the destroyer USS Bancroft came alongside Bailey for her own fueling. In the rolling swells of Sand Bay, Bancroft's anchor came against Bailey's starboard side tearing a hole in Bailey's hull like a can opener. This kept Bailey in port for two days making temporary repairs.

ww2dbaseOn 8 Feb 1942, the cruiser USS Detroit left the task group for an extensive engine overhaul at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington. This left the group with only two cruisers but the Aleutian patrols continued.

ww2dbaseIn late Mar 1943, US intelligence learned that on or about 26 Mar 1943 the Japanese were planning to reinforce their garrisons on Attu and Kiska islands at the western tip of the Aleutian chain. Salt Lake City and Richmond with four destroyers (including Bailey) set out to intercept these ships between the end of the Aleutian chain and Russia's Komandorski Islands. What the intelligence had missed, however, was that the Japanese had recently doubled their naval strength in the region. Bailey was sailing with a force of one heavy cruiser, one light cruiser, and four destroyers to meet an opposing force of two heavy cruisers, two light cruisers, five destroyers, and three transports. The Japanese cruiser Nachi fired the first shots that closely bracketed Salt Lake City from 21,000 yards (12 miles). Salt Lake City responded with an equally impressive gunnery display, hitting Nachi with a shell very near the bridge. Several signalmen were killed but, on the bridge itself, Japanese commander Vice Admiral Boshiro Hosogaya was spared. Some speculate that this close-call caused Hosogaya's nerve to weaken.

ww2dbaseFor the next four hours, guns pounded, ships maneuvered, and destroyers laid smoke. The Japanese fired 42 Type 93 Long Lance torpedoes at the American ships with no hits, although two passed directly under Richmond's bridge. The reports of torpedo tracks from American lookouts were written off as panicked schools of fish. US commanders found it incomprehensible that Japanese torpedoes could travel twice as far as their own. Salt Lake City took several hits from large caliber guns and went dead in the water. Destroyers Bailey and Coghlan laid smoke around Salt Lake City as the cruiser worked to get underway again. Commander Riggs aboard Bailey ordered his destroyers make a torpedo attack on the Japanese cruisers. Bailey burst out of the smoke at flank speed with Coghlan and Monaghan behind. Coghlan and Monaghan were partially concealed in Bailey's smoke but nothing was hiding Bailey. The Japanese knew exactly what the destroyers were doing and every gun within range concentrated fire on the lead destroyer. Hundreds of shells narrowly missed Bailey, creating a deluge of exploding water. Yet, as Bailey sprinted forward, the shells were predominately falling just behind her. At 10,000 yards, Bailey's shells began landing on Nachi. Enemy fire also began finding its mark, however, with one Japanese shell penetrating deep into Bailey before exploding in the galley passageway, almost dead-center in the ship by any measure. This passageway was also the staging point for Bailey's two damage-control parties. Five were killed and seven were wounding. At about the same time, another major caliber shell skipped off Bailey's afterdeck, glanced off the No. 4 gun turret, and tumbled out to sea.

ww2dbaseMoments after Bailey received four shell hits in rapid succession, she launched all five of her torpedoes at maximum range. Coghlan and Monaghan followed suit. Bailey turned away as she also began losing speed. Bailey's forward engine room was completely out of commission and she was also having difficulty steering. Coghlan stood by to tow Bailey if needed but Bailey managed to make way again within minutes.

ww2dbaseMeanwhile, the Japanese formation was being surrounded by many large shell splashes. The American cruisers had run out of armor piercing shells and had switched to general purpose shells normally used in shore bombardments. The change in shells made for changes in the bursts around the Japanese ships. Based on the newer, darker shell bursts, Vice Admiral Hosogaya believed his ships had come under a high-altitude bombing attack from aircraft flying above the overcast. With a decisive victory within his grasp, Hosogaya began his withdrawal.

ww2dbaseThe Battle of Komandorski Islands inflicted more damage on American ships than on Japanese ships but the Japanese were denied the opportunity to land their reinforcements on Attu and Kiska, so the engagement is largely seen as a strategic victory for the Americans. This was also the largest daylight long-range purely surface battle of the Pacific war. Neither force included any submarines and the only aircraft involved was a single scout plane launched by the Japanese as a gunnery spotter. This action, along with the later Battle of Surigao Strait, largely closed the history books on naval gunnery battles.

ww2dbaseThe American ships withdrew to Dutch Harbor, Alaska with Bailey straggling slightly behind due to having only one working propeller and some lingering steering difficulties. Rear Admiral Charles McMorris on Richmond as well as the others on the bridges of both cruisers were very impressed with the courage displayed in the destroyers' torpedo attack. The attack by Bailey, Coghlan, and Monaghan became known as the Charge of the Irish Destroyers. Almost miraculously, only seven sailors were killed on the American side and an estimated 27 on the Japanese side. Five of the American casualties were men in Bailey's forward engine room with the other two aboard Salt Lake City. Commander Riggs and Lieutenant Commander Atkeson aboard Bailey were each awarded the Navy Cross for their actions. Bailey's gunnery officer, Lieutenant Danforth Huntington, and Bailey's engineering officer, Lieutenant Ralph Moureau, were each awarded the Silver Star.

ww2dbaseBailey spent three days undergoing emergency repairs alongside destroyer tender USS Black Hawk in Dutch Harbor before she and Salt Lake City departed on 2 Apr 1943 for Mare Island Naval Shipyard in California for more thorough overhauls. While at Mare Island, Bailey had a routine change of command with Lieutenant Commander Malcolm Munger relieving Lieutenant Commander Atkeson.

ww2dbaseAs Bailey's shipyard repairs proceeded, it was clear that her starboard reduction gears had been damaged but assessing the extent of the damage was difficult. Once all of Bailey's repairs were completed, or so it was thought, Bailey exited the Golden Gate for some speed trials and returned immediately to Mare Island with severe vibrations. After more repairs and more tests, the captain still rated the repairs as unacceptable. Never far from Mare Island, Bailey circuited between San Francisco and San Diego until Sep 1943 when she put into Mare Island one more time for a complete replacement of the starboard reduction gear, which took ten days.

ww2dbaseBailey shifted from San Francisco to San Pedro, California where she was assigned to escort the battleship USS Tennessee in her movement to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. After a brief layover in Hawaii, Bailey was sent to New Zealand. Bailey crossed the equator on 19 Oct 1943 and three days later, the International Date Line. Bailey was only in New Zealand for two days before pressing on to Efate Island in the New Hebrides. There, Bailey joined the force preparing to invade Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands. Bailey covered those landings over the last two weeks of Nov 1943.

ww2dbaseAfter a month in Hawaiian waters, Bailey sailed for the invasions of Kwajalein and Majuro in the Marshall Islands. After a few convoy escorts between Pearl Harbor and the Marshall Islands, Bailey spent two weeks with an anti-submarine hunter-killer group centered around escort carrier USS Kalinin Bay operating between Mili and Maloelap Atolls in the Marshall Islands.

ww2dbaseBailey returned to Pearl Harbor as the fleet regrouped for the assault on the Mariana Islands. On 25 May 1944, Bailey sailed with the Operation Forager attack force. Bailey covered the landings on Saipan before shifting to be part of the pre-invasion bombardment of Tinian. Once the fighting settled down, Bailey escorted resupply convoys coming from Eniwetok.

ww2dbaseBailey spent most of the month of Aug 1944 undergoing tender repairs in Purvis Bay, Florida Island, Solomon Islands. From there, Bailey sailed as part of the task force bound for the invasion of the southern Palau Islands. On 17 Sep 1944, Bailey covered the landings on Angaur Island, Palau. On 1 Oct 1944 five miles northwest of Peleliu, Bailey came under a withering nighttime strafing attack that left nine dead, 16 wounded, and damage to many systems throughout the ship. In his action report, Commander Munger stated the damage to critical ship systems could not have been more precise had the Japanese planned the attack using the ship's blueprints. Both electrical switchboards were shot up, both engine rooms lost their ventilation pumps, and key personnel responsible for directing the guns and launching the torpedoes were killed.

ww2dbaseBailey made emergency repairs that allowed her to travel to Seeadler Harbor at Manus Island in the Admiralty Islands where she spent a week alongside destroyer tender USS Sierra. From there, Bailey made her way to (where else?) Mare Island.

ww2dbaseBailey's repairs lasted six weeks. The day her repairs were completed and Bailey was preparing to leave Mare Island, she experienced another routine change of command. Lieutenant Commander Arthur Johnson relieved Commander Munger as Bailey's captain. Bailey then entered a period of refresher training back-and-forth between San Francisco and San Diego.

ww2dbaseOn 18 Dec 1944, Bailey departed San Francisco as an escort for the new battleship USS Missouri on her first trip into the combat area. Bailey stayed with Missouri to Pearl Harbor and then to Ulithi in the Caroline Islands. Bailey spent the next six weeks escorting convoys between Eniwetok, Guam, and the Philippines. During her first transit on 17 Jan 1945, Bailey was diverted to a report of a downed airman. Guided by two aircraft circling the life raft, Bailey was able to rescue USAAF pilot Second Lieutenant Joseph DeVona of the 73rd Fighter Squadron who had been forced to bail out earlier that same day after his P-38L Lightning lost power to both engines. During a stop at Guam two weeks later, Bailey was again directed to search for downed airmen and picked two Navy airman whose airplane had run out of fuel on their trip to Guam.

ww2dbaseIn Mar 1945, Bailey covered the invasion forces landing at Zamboanga, Mindanao, Philippines. In Apr 1945, Bailey covered the invasion forces landing at Legaspi, Albay Gulf, Luzon, Philippines. In May 1945, Bailey covered the Australian invasion forces landing at Tarakan Island, Borneo, Dutch East Indies. For the next two months, Bailey escorted resupply convoys supporting the Borneo operations. Around Borneo, the hazards to Bailey changed slightly. No submarines were detected and very few Japanese aircraft were seen but the waters of Makassar Strait separating Borneo and Sulawesi had been heavily mined by both sides throughout the war. Bailey was not affected by the mines, however, except for having to double the lookouts on watch. On 26 Jul 1945, Bailey was again directed to search for downed airmen 130 miles west of Morotai. Rescue aircraft directed Bailey to rafts containing five of the ten-member flight crew of a B-24 bomber from the 868th Bombardment Squadron based on Leyte. These were the last airmen Bailey would pluck from the sea during the war, bringing her total of rescued airmen to sixteen.

ww2dbaseBailey was engaged in gunnery training at Subic Bay, Luzon, Philippines when the war ended. Bailey escorted convoys between the Philippines and Okinawa before receiving orders to return to the United States. Bailey departed Manila Bay, Philippines on 3 Nov 1945 and made brief stops at Eniwetok, Pearl Harbor, and San Diego. Bailey transited the Panama Canal for the second and final time before arriving at Boston Navy Yard for a deactivation overhaul. On 2 May 1946, Bailey was taken out of commission at Charleston, South Carolina and placed in the reserve fleet. Bailey spent 22 years in mothballs before her name was stricken from the Navy List on 1 Jun 1968. On 4 Nov 1969, Bailey was used as a target ship and sunk off the Florida coast.

ww2dbaseUSS Bailey earned eight battle stars in World War II.

ww2dbaseSources:
United States Navy
USSBaileyDD492.org
NavSource Naval History
Military Times; Hall of Valor Military Medals Database
Ships of the U.S. Navy in WWII "Dazzle" Camouflage
US Navy Warship Camouflage
UBoat.net
HMSCavalier.org.uk
Wikipedia

Last Major Revision: May 2023

Destroyer Bailey (DD-492) Interactive Map

Photographs

LtCdr Franklin Karns preparing to take command of the destroyer USS Bailey upon commissioning at the New York Navy Yard, 11 May 1942. Yard commandant RAdm Edward Marquart is at the microphone.Destroyer USS Bailey underway in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, 12 Dec 1942. Note the ship’s early modified Measure 12 paint scheme.Photo highlighting battle damage to USS Bailey’s midships from the Battle of Komandorski Islands taken at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California, United States, 9 Apr 1943.Post-overhaul photo of USS Bailey departing Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California, United States, 4 Jul 1943. Note the new Measure 21 paint scheme. Photo 1 of 2.
See all 11 photographs of Destroyer Bailey (DD-492)

Bailey Operational Timeline

29 Jan 1941 The keel of the Benson-class destroyer Bailey was laid down at the Bethlehem Steel Corporation shipyard, Staten Island, New York, United States.
19 Dec 1941 The Benson-class destroyer Bailey was christened by the granddaughter of Civil War Admiral Theodorus Bailey, the ship’s namesake, and launched from the ways at the Bethlehem Steel Corporation shipyard, Staten Island, New York, United States.
11 May 1942 The Benson-class destroyer USS Bailey was commissioned at the New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York, United States with Lieutenant Commander Franklin Karns, Jr. in command.
2 Jun 1942 USS Bailey departed New York bound for Maine for her shakedown cruise.
6 Jun 1942 After returning to port from the day’s shakedown exercises, destroyer USS Bailey became grounded on Cow Island Ledge, a bar in the outer harbor of Portland, Maine, United States. The ship cleared herself almost immediately but her starboard propeller and shaft had sustained substantial damage. Bailey was ordered to the Boston Navy Yard for repairs.
7 Jun 1942 USS Bailey arrived at the Boston Naval Yard, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States.
9 Jun 1942 USS Bailey entered drydock at the Boston Naval Yard, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States. Inspection found that the starboard shaft was bent, the starboard screw was twisted and chipped and the starboard after strut had been torn from the hull.
27 Jun 1942 Destroyer USS Bailey was floated out of drydock at the Boston Naval Yard, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States.
4 Jul 1942 Lieutenant Commander John C. Atkeson relieved Lieutenant Commander Franklin Karns as USS Bailey’s Commanding Officer. The belief at the time was that LtCdr Karns was relieved due to the grounding incident one month earlier.
12 Jul 1942 USS Bailey re-entered drydock at the Boston Naval Yard, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States.
17 Jul 1942 USS Bailey was floated out of drydock at the Boston Naval Yard, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States.
18 Jul 1942 USS Bailey departed Boston Harbor, conducted post-repair trails at sea, and returned to Boston Navy Yard.
19 Jul 1942 USS Bailey departed Boston Harbor and returned to Casco Bay, Maine to resume her shakedown cruise.
3 Aug 1942 USS Bailey was ordered to join USS Quick and Beatty in a search for a reported enemy submarine near Matinicus Island, Maine, 60 miles northeast of Bailey’s exercise area. The destroyers, assisted by one PBY Catalina patrol aircraft, searched the area all night without locating the submarine. Bailey returned to her exercise area.
4 Aug 1942 USS Bailey was ordered to join USS Leary in a search for a reported enemy submarine near Matinicus Rock, Maine, 60 miles northeast of Bailey’s exercise area. The destroyers searched the area all night without locating the submarine. Bailey returned to her exercise area.
11 Aug 1942 USS Bailey departed the area of Casco Bay, Maine bound for New London, Connecticut.
12 Aug 1942 USS Bailey arrived at New London, Connecticut for three days of submarine tracking exercises.
15 Aug 1942 USS Bailey completed submarine tracking exercises around New London, Connecticut and departed for New York Navy Yard, arriving later that day.
18 Aug 1942 USS Bailey was designated as flagship for Destroyer Squadron 14 (DesRon14), Commander Ralph Riggs commanding.
3 Sep 1942 USS Bailey departed New York bound for the Panama Canal.
7 Sep 1942 USS Bailey arrived at Cristobal, Canal Zone.
8 Sep 1942 USS Bailey detached from the Atlantic Fleet, transited the Panama Canal, and moored at Balboa, Canal Zone.
9 Sep 1942 USS Bailey reported to the Pacific Fleet at Balboa, Canal Zone for duty and departed for San Diego, California later that day.
12 Sep 1942 140 miles southwest of Acapulco, Mexico, USS Bailey made sonar contact with a submerged target and deployed four depth charges with no results. Upon further consideration, Bailey’s own assessment was that an actual submarine contact seemed doubtful, but Bailey had fired her first shots of the war.
16 Sep 1942 USS Bailey arrived at San Diego, California.
18 Sep 1942 USS Bailey departed San Diego bound for San Francisco, California.
19 Sep 1942 USS Bailey arrived at San Francisco, California.
22 Sep 1942 USS Bailey departed San Francisco bound for Kodiak, Alaska escorting stores ship USS Bridge.
28 Sep 1942 USS Bailey and USS Bridge arrived at Kodiak, Alaska. Captain Herman Spanagel boarded Bailey for further transportation to the cruiser USS Nashville in the Aleutians where Capt Spanagel was to assume command.
29 Sep 1942 USS Bailey departed Kodiak bound for the Bering Sea via the Unimak Pass in the Aleutians.
30 Sep 1942 USS Bailey rendezvoused with USS Nashville and transferred Captain Spanagel to Nashville. Captain Herman A. Spanagel relieved Captain Francis S. Craven as the commanding officer of the cruiser USS Nashville.
1 Oct 1942 USS Nashville and USS Bailey joined with destroyers USS Dent, USS King and transport ships Branch and Thompson. Together, they steamed westward bound for Adak Island.
3 Oct 1942 USS Nashville and USS Bailey delivered destroyers USS Dent, USS King and transport ships Branch and Thompson to Adak Island. Nashville and Bailey retired for refueling.
4 Oct 1942 USS Nashville and USS Bailey joined with USS Indianapolis, USS St. Louis, USS Case, and USS Bancroft 125 miles northeast of Adak Island.
16 Oct 1942 USS Nashville, USS St. Louis, USS Bailey, USS Long, and USS Bancroft sailed around the western end of the Japanese-held Attu Island at the western end of the Aleutian Island chain and shifted from their patrol area north of the Aleutians to a patrol area south of the Aleutians.
24 Oct 1942 USS Nashville and USS Bailey arrived at Dutch Harbor, Alaska.
26 Oct 1942 USS Nashville and USS Bailey departed Dutch Harbor, Alaska.
4 Nov 1942 USS Nashville and USS Bailey arrived at Dutch Harbor, Alaska.
12 Nov 1942 USS Nashville and USS Bailey departed Dutch Harbor, Alaska.
17 Nov 1942 USS Bailey arrived at Dutch Harbor, Alaska.
21 Nov 1942 USS Bailey departed Dutch Harbor, Alaska.
23 Nov 1942 USS Raleigh rendezvoused with USS Bailey as escort to Dutch Harbor, Alaska.
24 Nov 1942 USS Raleigh and USS Bailey arrived at Dutch Harbor, Alaska.
25 Nov 1942 USS Raleigh and USS Bailey departed Dutch Harbor bound for Adak, Alaska.
26 Nov 1942 USS Raleigh and USS Bailey arrived Adak, Alaska. Bailey put back to sea almost immediately.
30 Nov 1942 USS Bailey entered Kuluk Bay, Adak, Alaska.
1 Dec 1942 USS Bailey Departed Adak, Alaska.
17 Dec 1942 USS Bailey arrived at Dutch Harbor, Alaska.
27 Dec 1942 USS Bailey departed Dutch Harbor, Alaska.
28 Dec 1942 USS Bailey arrived at Dutch Harbor, Alaska.
29 Dec 1942 USS Bailey departed Dutch Harbor, Alaska.
4 Jan 1943 USS Bailey arrived at Sand Bay, Great Sitkin Island, Alaska
5 Jan 1943 While USS Bailey was moored in Sand Bay, Great Sitkin Island, Alaska alongside USS Cuyama for fuel, USS Bancroft came alongside and collided with Bailey. Bancroft’s anchor tore a hole in Bailey’s starboard side causing Bailey to stay in port for two days to make repairs. Commander of Destroyer Squadron 14 shifted his flag to Bancroft.
24 Jan 1943 While covering the landings on Amchitka Island, Alaska, destroyers USS Bailey and Bancroft made a depth charge attack on a submerged sonar contact with no results.
26 Mar 1943 During the Battle of the Komandorski Islands, Japanese cruisers Nachi, Maya, Tama, and Abukuma with destroyers Wakaba, Hatsushimo, Ikazuchi, Inazuma, and Usugumo plus three transport ships engaged United States Navy cruisers Salt Lake City and Richmond escorted by destroyers Coghlan, Bailey, Dale, and Monaghan in one of the very few pure naval surface battles of World War II involving long-range guns. Nachi was forced to push one of her floatplanes overboard (concussion damage from her own guns), fired several Type 93 "Long Lance" torpedoes at the US forces (none of which hit), and received five hits (killing 14). Salt Lake City sustained moderate damage and was dead in the water for a short time. Bailey, Coghlan, and Monaghan made a bold torpedo attack that became known as the Charge of the Irish Destroyers.
30 Mar 1943 USS Bailey moored alongside destroyer tender USS Black Hawk in Dutch Harbor, Alaska for three days of temporary repairs of battle damage.
2 Apr 1943 After temporary repairs to her battle damage, USS Salt Lake City and USS Bailey departed Dutch Harbor, Alaska bound for Mare Island Naval Shipyard in California.
6 Apr 1943 USS Salt Lake City and USS Bailey arrived at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California.
5 May 1943 USS Bailey entered drydock at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California.
11 May 1943 USS Bailey was floated out of drydock at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California as repairs continued dockside.
3 Jun 1943 While undergoing repairs at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, USS Bailey received a new commanding officer. LtCdr Malcolm Munger relieved LtCdr John Atkeson.
19 Jun 1943 USS Bailey entered drydock at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California.
20 Jun 1943 USS Bailey was floated out of drydock at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California as repairs continued dockside.
4 Jul 1943 USS Bailey shifted from Mare Island to San Francisco, California.
6 Jul 1943 After four hours of sea trials off the Golden Gate, USS Bailey returned to Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California.
8 Jul 1943 USS Bailey departed Mare Island Naval Shipyard bound for San Diego but after an hour and a half, Bailey’s starboard reduction gears were stripped by a broken tooth. Bailey returned to Mare Island Naval Shipyard.
14 Jul 1943 USS Bailey performed sea trials off the Golden Gate resulting in more broken gear teeth in the starboard reduction gears. Bailey returned to Mare Island.
16 Jul 1943 USS Bailey departed the San Francisco area bound for San Diego, California.
17 Jul 1943 USS Bailey arrived at San Diego, California.
26 Jul 1943 USS Bailey departed San Diego bound for San Francisco, California.
28 Jul 1943 USS Bailey arrived at San Francisco Bay and moored at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California.
3 Aug 1943 USS Bailey shifted from Mare Island to San Francisco, California.
6 Aug 1943 USS Bailey departed San Francisco for sea exercises.
10 Aug 1943 USS Bailey arrived at San Francisco, California.
12 Aug 1943 USS Bailey departed San Francisco bound for San Diego, California.
14 Aug 1943 USS Bailey arrived at San Diego, California.
15 Aug 1943 USS Bailey departed San Diego bound for San Francisco, California.
17 Aug 1943 USS Bailey arrived at San Francisco, California.
18 Aug 1943 USS Bailey departed San Francisco bound for San Diego, California.
20 Aug 1943 USS Bailey arrived at San Diego, California.
21 Aug 1943 USS Bailey departed San Diego bound for San Francisco, California.
23 Aug 1943 USS Bailey arrived at San Francisco, California.
24 Aug 1943 USS Bailey departed San Francisco bound for San Diego, California.
26 Aug 1943 USS Bailey arrived at San Diego, California.
27 Aug 1943 USS Bailey departed San Diego bound for San Francisco, California.
29 Aug 1943 USS Bailey arrived at San Francisco, California.
7 Sep 1943 USS Bailey departed San Francisco bound for San Diego, California.
8 Sep 1943 USS Bailey made a sound contact off the California coast and dropped six patterns consisting of 39 depth charges with no observable results.
9 Sep 1943 USS Bailey regained sound contact and upon further analysis the contact was found to be cause by contours of the sea floor.
10 Sep 1943 USS Bailey arrived at San Diego, California.
11 Sep 1943 USS Bailey departed San Diego bound for San Francisco, California.
13 Sep 1943 USS Bailey arrived at San Francisco, California.
15 Sep 1943 USS Bailey departed San Francisco bound for San Diego, California.
17 Sep 1943 USS Bailey arrived at San Diego, California.
18 Sep 1943 USS Bailey departed San Diego bound for San Francisco, California.
20 Sep 1943 USS Bailey arrived at San Francisco, California.
28 Sep 1943 USS Bailey put into Mare Island Naval Shipyard.
8 Oct 1943 After a complete replacement of the starboard reduction gear assembly, USS Bailey cleared Mare Island and departed San Francisco Bay bound for San Pedro, California.
9 Oct 1943 USS Bailey arrived at San Pedro, California and later that same day, Bailey departed San Pedro bound for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii escorting battleship USS Tennessee.
15 Oct 1943 USS Tennessee and USS Bailey arrived at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
16 Oct 1943 USS Bailey departed Pearl Harbor bound for Suva, Fiji.
19 Oct 1943 USS Bailey crossed the equator for the first time while en route from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii to Suva, Fiji.
22 Oct 1943 USS Bailey crossed the 180th meridian while en route from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii to Suva, Fiji.
24 Oct 1943 USS Bailey arrived at Suva, Fiji. Bailey refueled and departed the same day bound for Wellington, New Zealand.
29 Oct 1943 USS Bailey arrived at Wellington, New Zealand.
1 Nov 1943 USS Bailey departed Wellington, New Zealand bound for Efate, New Hebrides.
7 Nov 1943 USS Bailey arrived at Efate, New Hebrides.
8 Nov 1943 USS Bailey put to sea for two days for landing exercises on another part of Efate Island.
13 Nov 1943 USS Bailey departed Efate, New Hebrides bound for Tarawa, Gilbert Islands.
19 Nov 1943 USS Bailey with Task Force 53 arrived off Tarawa, Gilbert Islands and screened the attacking force over the next several days during the Battle of Tarawa.
7 Dec 1943 USS Maryland, USS Pensacola, USS Salt Lake City, and USS Portland, with USS Bailey as one their escorts, departed the Gilbert Islands bound for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
14 Dec 1943 USS Maryland, USS Pensacola, USS Salt Lake City, and USS Portland, with USS Bailey as one their escorts, arrived at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
22 Jan 1944 USS Bailey departed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii bound for the Marshall Islands.
30 Jan 1944 USS Bailey screened the bombardment group during the landings on Kwajalein, Marshall Islands.
8 Feb 1944 Cruisers USS Minneapolis, USS San Francisco, and USS New Orleans escorted by USS Bailey departed the Kwajalein area bound for Majuro Lagoon, Marshall Islands.
9 Feb 1944 USS Minneapolis, San Francisco, New Orleans, and Bailey arrived at Majuro Lagoon, Marshall Islands.
10 Feb 1944 Cruiser USS Indianapolis and escort USS Bailey departed Majuro bound for Kwajalein.
11 Feb 1944 Cruiser USS Indianapolis and escort USS Bailey arrived at Kwajalein.
24 Feb 1944 Carriers USS Coral Sea and USS Manila Bay escorted by USS Bailey departed Kwajalein bound for Eniwetok, Marshall Islands.
26 Feb 1944 Carriers USS Coral Sea and USS Manila Bay escorted by USS Bailey arrived at Eniwetok, Marshall Islands.
29 Feb 1944 USS Bailey departed Eniwetok Lagoon as an escort for a convoy bound for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
8 Mar 1944 USS Bailey arrived at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
17 Apr 1944 USS Bailey departed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii as an escort for a convoy bound for Majuro Lagoon, Marshall Islands.
23 Apr 1944 USS Bailey arrived at Majuro, Marshall Islands.
25 Apr 1944 USS Bailey joined an anti-submarine hunter-killer group centered around escort carrier USS Kalinin Bay. The group departed Majuro for anti-submarine patrols around Maloelap Atoll, Marshall Islands.
2 May 1944 USS Bailey arrived at Majuro.
7 May 1944 USS Bailey departed Majuro bound for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
11 May 1944 USS Bailey arrived at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
25 May 1944 USS Bailey departed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii as part of Operation Forager to capture the Mariana Islands.
7 Jun 1944 USS Bailey arrived at Eniwetok for a lay-over on the way to Saipan.
9 Jun 1944 USS Bailey departed Eniwetok and resumed her course toward the invasion of Saipan.
15 Jun 1944 Transports being escorted by USS Shaw and USS Bailey made landings on Saipan in the Mariana Islands
24 Jun 1944 USS Bailey spent most of the early morning providing star-shell illumination of southern Saipan’s Nafutan Point in support of the US Army's 105th Infantry Regiment before shifting to a pre-invasion bombardment of Tinian. In the evening, Bailey departed the Saipan area as an escort of the convoy bound for Eniwetok.
30 Jun 1944 USS Bailey arrived at Eniwetok, Marshall Islands.
12 Jul 1944 USS Bailey departed Eniwetok escorting a convoy bound for Saipan, Mariana Islands.
17 Jul 1944 USS Bailey arrived at Saipan, Marianas Islands.
22 Jul 1944 USS Bailey shelled concealed and hardened Japanese positions on Tinian.
28 Jul 1944 USS Bailey departed the Saipan area as an escort of the convoy bound for Eniwetok.
3 Aug 1944 USS Bailey arrived at Eniwetok, Marshall Islands.
4 Aug 1944 USS Bailey departed Eniwetok bound for Purvis Bay, Florida Island, Solomon Islands.
11 Aug 1944 USS Bailey arrived at Purvis Bay, Florida Island, Solomon Islands. Bailey began a repair period alongside the tender USS Dixie the included repainting Bailey in Dazzle paint scheme Measure 31, Design 6D.
5 Sep 1944 USS Bailey departed the Solomon Islands as part of a convoy bound for the landings on the southern Palau islands.
17 Sep 1944 USS Bailey covered the landings on Angaur Island, Palau.
26 Sep 1944 In the waters off Peleliu, USS Bailey narrowly avoided being struck by falling anti-aircraft shells fired by USS Indianapolis.
1 Oct 1944 Five miles northwest of Peleliu, USS Bailey came under a nighttime strafing attack that left 9 dead, 16 wounded, and damage to many systems aboard the ship.
2 Oct 1944 After emergency repairs to battle damage, USS Bailey departed Peleliu bound for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii by way of Manus in the Admiralty Islands.
5 Oct 1944 USS Bailey arrived at Seeadler Harbor, Manus, Admiralty Islands and came alongside destroyer tender USS Sierra.
11 Oct 1944 USS Bailey departed Seeadler Harbor bound for Majuro.
15 Oct 1944 USS Bailey arrived at Majuro, Marshall Islands where she refueled and departed bound for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
19 Oct 1944 USS Bailey arrived at Pearl Harbor where she refueled and departed bound for Mare Island Naval Shipyard, California.
25 Oct 1944 USS Bailey arrived at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California where she unloaded all ammunition and fuel oil before commencing repairs.
6 Dec 1944 USS Bailey concluded her shipyard repairs at Mare Island Naval Shipyard and began loading fuel and ammunition. LtCdr Arthur Johnson relieved Cdr Malcolm Munger as Bailey’s commanding officer. Bailey shifted to San Francisco Bay for further preparations for sea.
12 Dec 1944 USS Bailey departed San Francisco bound for San Diego, California for a period of refresher training.
13 Dec 1944 USS Bailey arrived at San Diego, California.
15 Dec 1944 USS Bailey conducted training exercises with 4 other destroyers off San Diego before departing northward for San Francisco, California.
17 Dec 1944 USS Bailey arrived at San Francisco, California.
18 Dec 1944 USS Missouri with USS Bailey and Terry as escort departed San Francisco bound for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
24 Dec 1944 USS Missouri with USS Bailey and Terry as escort arrived at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
2 Jan 1945 USS Missouri and USS Tuscaloosa with USS Bailey, Bancroft and Wadsworth as escorts departed US Territory of Hawaii for Ulithi, Caroline Islands.
13 Jan 1945 USS Missouri and USS Tuscaloosa with USS Bailey, Bancroft and Wadsworth as escorts arrived at Ulithi, Caroline Islands.
16 Jan 1945 USS Bailey departed Ulithi bound for Eniwetok.
17 Jan 1945 While en route to Eniwetok, USS Bailey was diverted to a reported downed pilot. Bailey recovered USAAF 2Lt Joseph DeVona of the 73rd Fighter Squadron who had been forced to bail out when his P-38L Lightning lost power to both engines.
22 Jan 1945 USS Bailey departed Eniwetok to escort a convoy to Guam.
27 Jan 1945 USS Bailey arrived at Guam, Mariana Islands.
31 Jan 1945 While on patrol duty outside Apra Harbor, Guam, USS Bailey was detailed to search for downed airmen. With direction from rescue aircraft, Bailey recovered two Navy airman whose airplane had run out of fuel.
19 Feb 1945 USS Bailey arrived at San Pedro Bay, Leyte, Philippines.
20 Feb 1945 USS Bailey arrived at Eniwetok, Marshall Islands.
27 Feb 1945 USS Bailey departed San Pedro Bay as an escort for a convoy bound for Mindoro, Philippines.
2 Mar 1945 USS Bailey arrived at Mindoro, Philippines.
8 Mar 1945 USS Bailey departed Mindoro as a screening vessel for the landing force bound for Zamboanga on Mindanao, Philippines.
10 Mar 1945 USS Bailey supported operations landing Army troops at Zamboanga, Mindanao, Philippines.
11 Mar 1945 USS Bailey departed the Mindanao area bound for Mindoro, Philippines.
13 Mar 1945 USS Bailey arrived at Mindoro.
15 Mar 1945 USS Bailey departed Mindoro escorting a resupply convoy to Zamboanga, Mindanao, Philippines.
17 Mar 1945 USS Bailey arrived off Zamboanga, Mindanao, Philippines. Bailey was loaded with a captured Japanese suicide boat for transportation to Leyte Gulf. Bailey departed for Leyte Gulf immediately.
18 Mar 1945 USS Bailey arrived at Leyte Gulf and went alongside tender USS Whitney for installation of new equipment.
25 Mar 1945 USS Bailey departed Leyte Gulf bound for Subic Bay, Luzon, Philippines.
27 Mar 1945 USS Bailey arrived at Subic Bay, Luzon, Philippines.
28 Mar 1945 USS Bailey was designated flagship for the Attack Group Commander for the upcoming assault at Legaspi, Albay Gulf, southeast Luzon, Philippines. Bailey and task group put to sea bound for staging area at Balayan Bay, Luzon.
29 Mar 1945 USS Bailey arrived at Balayan Bay, Luzon where task group transports began loading Army personnel. Bailey embarked Army Brigadier General Hanford MacNider, commanding general of the 158th Regimental Combat Team, his staff, and two press correspondents.
30 Mar 1945 USS Bailey and the Albay Gulf attack group departed Balayan Bay bound for Legaspi, Albay Gulf, Luzon.
1 Apr 1945 USS Bailey covered the morning Army landings at Legaspi, Albay Gulf, Luzon. Bailey departed during the evening bound for Subic Bay, Luzon, Philippines.
3 Apr 1945 USS Bailey arrived at Subic Bay, Luzon, Philippines.
4 Apr 1945 USS Bailey departed Subic Bay escorting a Legaspi resupply convoy by way of Balayan Bay.
8 Apr 1945 USS Bailey arrived in Albay Gulf, provided fire support for Army ground operations, and retired toward Mindoro, Philippines.
10 Apr 1945 USS Bailey arrived in Mangarin Bay, Mindoro, Philippines. The Legaspi Attack Group Commander left the ship relieving Bailey as force flagship.
14 Apr 1945 USS Bailey departed Mindoro as escort to repair ship USS Culebra Island bound for Morotai, Dutch East Indies.
19 Apr 1945 USS Bailey arrived at Morotai, Dutch East Indies.
27 Apr 1945 USS Bailey departed Morotai escorting a convoy of transport ships carrying the 26th Australian Infantry Brigade to Tarakan, Borneo, Dutch East Indies.
1 May 1945 USS Bailey arrived at Tarakan Roads, Borneo, Dutch East Indies.
9 May 1945 USS Bailey departed Tarakan Roads bound for Morotai, Dutch East Indies.
12 May 1945 USS Bailey arrived at Morotai, refueled, and departed the same day as a convoy escort returning to Tarakan Roads, Borneo, Dutch East Indies.
16 May 1945 USS Bailey arrived at Tarakan Roads, Borneo, Dutch East Indies.
19 May 1945 USS Bailey departed Tarakan Roads bound for Morotai, Dutch East Indies.
22 May 1945 USS Bailey arrived at Morotai.
5 Jun 1945 USS Bailey departed Morotai escorting a resupply convoy bound for Brunei Bay, Borneo, Dutch East Indies.
11 Jun 1945 USS Bailey arrived at Brunei Bay, Borneo, refueled, and departed the same day escorting a convoy of Australian troop ships and tankers bound for Morotai, Dutch East Indies.
14 Jun 1945 USS Bailey arrived at Morotai, Dutch East Indies.
28 Jun 1945 USS Bailey departed Morotai escorting a convoy bound for Balikpapan, Borneo, Dutch East Indies.
3 Jul 1945 USS Bailey arrived off Balikpapan, Borneo, Dutch East Indies.
5 Jul 1945 USS Bailey departed Balikpapan escorting a convoy bound for Morotai, Dutch East Indies.
9 Jul 1945 USS Bailey arrived at Morotai, Dutch East Indies.
12 Jul 1945 USS Bailey departed Morotai escorting a convoy bound for Balikpapan, Borneo, Dutch East Indies.
16 Jul 1945 USS Bailey arrived at Balikpapan, Borneo, Dutch East Indies.
22 Jul 1945 USS Bailey departed Balikpapan escorting a convoy bound for Morotai, Dutch East Indies.
26 Jul 1945 USS Bailey responded to a report of downed airmen 130 miles west of Morotai. With the assistance of search aircraft, Bailey rescued five crew members of a downed USAAF B-24 Liberator bomber of the 868th Bombardment Squadron. The men were transferred to another ship in the convoy before Bailey was detached and redirected to Subic Bay, Philippines.
29 Jul 1945 USS Bailey arrived at Subic Bay, Luzon, Philippines.
17 Aug 1945 After two weeks of gunnery training, USS Bailey departed Subic Bay escorting USS Teton bound for Okinawa, Japan.
20 Aug 1945 USS Bailey arrived at Okinawa, Japan.
24 Aug 1945 USS Bailey departed Okinawa bound for Subic Bay, Luzon, Philippines.
27 Aug 1945 USS Bailey arrived at Subic Bay, Luzon, Philippines.
1 Sep 1945 USS Bailey shifted to Manila Bay, Luzon, Philippines.
4 Sep 1945 USS Bailey departed Manila Bay escorting a convoy bound for Okinawa, Japan.
9 Sep 1945 USS Bailey arrived at Okinawa, Japan.
11 Sep 1945 USS Bailey departed Okinawa escorting USS Vireo bound for Manila Bay, Luzon, Philippines.
15 Sep 1945 USS Bailey arrived at Manila Bay and then shifted to Subic Bay, Luzon, Philippines.
20 Sep 1945 USS Bailey entered drydock at Subic Bay, Luzon, Philippines.
22 Sep 1945 USS Bailey was floated out of drydock and anchored in Subic Bay, Luzon, Philippines.
5 Oct 1945 USS Bailey departed Subic Bay on orders to investigate reports of floating wreckage 150 miles north of Luzon in the Luzon Strait.
6 Oct 1945 With the assistance of a search plane, USS Bailey recovered a floating cargo loading platform from the Luzon Strait as a hazard to navigation.
7 Oct 1945 USS Bailey discontinued searching for more floating debris and began patrolling the convoy lanes through and across the Luzon Strait.
10 Oct 1945 USS Bailey discontinued patrols and made for Manila Bay, Luzon, Philippines.
11 Oct 1945 USS Bailey arrived at Manila Bay, Luzon, Philippines.
12 Oct 1945 USS Bailey shifted from Manila Bay to Subic Bay.
31 Oct 1945 USS Bailey shifted from Subic Bay to Manila Bay.
3 Nov 1945 Along with five other destroyers, USS Bailey departed Manila Bay bound for San Diego, California.
10 Nov 1945 USS Bailey made a refueling stop at Eniwetok before resuming her voyage to San Diego.
15 Nov 1945 USS Bailey arrived at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
17 Nov 1945 USS Bailey departed Pearl Harbor bound for San Diego, California.
23 Nov 1945 USS Bailey arrived at San Diego, California.
26 Nov 1945 USS Bailey departed San Diego bound for the Panama Canal Zone.
11 Dec 1945 USS Bailey began her deactivation overhaul at Boston, Massachusetts.
2 May 1946 Bailey was decommissioned from service.
2 May 1946 USS Bailey was taken out of commission at Charleston, South Carolina and placed in the reserve fleet.
1 Jun 1968 Benson-class destroyer Bailey was struck from the Navy List.
4 Nov 1969 Benson-class destroyer Bailey was sunk as a target ship off the Florida coast during Navy exercises.




Did you enjoy this article or find this article helpful? If so, please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 per month will go a long way! Thank you.

Share this article with your friends:

 Facebook
 Reddit
 Twitter

Stay updated with WW2DB:

 RSS Feeds




Visitor Submitted Comments

1. Will says:
3 May 2023 06:29:06 AM

This was a great read
2. Commenter identity confirmed David Stubblebine says:
12 Jun 2023 10:32:11 AM

This article originally concluded by saying USS Bailey had earned 7 battle stars in World War II. Since the original posting, I have come to learn that some sources credit Bailey with 9 WWII battle stars, including the very authoritative Destroyer History Foundation. This caused me to look deeper into the question of Bailey’s battle stars. I must correct my own error on one point and, humbly, differ with the Destroyer History Foundation on another. The Destroyer History Foundation correctly states Bailey earned one star for the capture and occupation of Tinian (star P038), which I had left off my list, but incorrectly credits Bailey with one star for the Leyte Operation (star P031). Bailey was undergoing repairs from her 1 Oct 1944 strafing off Peleliu at Mare Island, California during the entire Leyte operation. I now believe the correct number of Bailey WWII battle stars is 8, as described below, and the narrative has been adjusted to reflect this. Any readers who wish to offer support for a 9th star are welcome to submit it and the question may get further reconsideration.

World War II Battle Stars for USS Bailey:
1. P020-1 Aleutians operation; Battle of the Komandorski Islands
2. P025 Gilbert Islands operation
3. P026 Marshall Islands operation; Kwajalein, Majuro, & Eniwetok
4. P029-2 Marianas; Saipan
5. P038 Tinian capture and occupation
6. P030-2 Western Caroline Islands; Southern Palau Islands
7. P039-3 Consolidation of Southern Philippines; Zamboanga
8. P037-1 Borneo; Tarakan

All visitor submitted comments are opinions of those making the submissions and do not reflect views of WW2DB.

Posting Your Comments on this Topic

Your Name
Your Email
 Your email will not be published
Comment Type
Your Comments
 

Notes:

1. We hope that visitor conversations at WW2DB will be constructive and thought-provoking. Please refrain from using strong language. HTML tags are not allowed. Your IP address will be tracked even if you remain anonymous. WW2DB site administrators reserve the right to moderate, censor, and/or remove any comment. All comment submissions will become the property of WW2DB.

2. For inquiries about military records for members of the World War II armed forces, please see our FAQ.

Search WW2DB
More on Bailey
Event(s) Participated:
» Aleutian Islands Campaign
» Gilbert Islands Campaign
» Marshall Islands Campaign
» Mariana Islands Campaign and the Great Turkey Shoot
» Palau Islands and Ulithi Islands Campaigns
» Philippines Campaign, Phase 2
» Borneo Campaign

Destroyer Bailey (DD-492) Photo Gallery
LtCdr Franklin Karns preparing to take command of the destroyer USS Bailey upon commissioning at the New York Navy Yard, 11 May 1942. Yard commandant RAdm Edward Marquart is at the microphone.
See all 11 photographs of Destroyer Bailey (DD-492)


Famous WW2 Quote
"Since peace is now beyond hope, we can but fight to the end."

Chiang Kaishek, 31 Jul 1937


Support Us

Please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 a month will go a long way. Thank you!

Or, please support us by purchasing some WW2DB merchandise at TeeSpring, Thank you!