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By Ed Zajkowski
Trying to write the history of the USS CONWAY DD-507
to fit into the confines of a Tin Can Sailors newsletter is like trying
to condense a Bible. But condense it, we must. Phil Taylor and Jack Noll
from the CONWAY sent enough material to write a book.
CONWAY started out like any other destroyer--she was
built, launched and commissioned. The builder was Bath Iron Works in
Maine. She was launched in November 1941 and commissioned 9 October
1942. The sponsor was Mrs. F. E. Beatty and her first Commanding Officer
was Commander N. S. Prime.
CONWAY left Norfolk 5 Dec. 1942 for the Pacific War
Theatre. She arrived at Noumea 13 Jan. 1943. CONWAY wasted no time
getting into the thick of things. On 29- 30 Jan. 1943, she flew her
first battle flag in the Battle of Rennell Island. She was in Task Force
18 under the command of Adm. Giffen. DD-507 shot at many planes, downed
one and rescued survivors from the USS CHICAGO (CA-29).
Feb. 1943 saw CONWAY engaged in the bombardment of
Villa Stanmore and anti shipping sweeps of Kula Gulf. This action pitted
3 DD’s and 3 light cruisers against 2 Jap DD’s. Both were sunk by
gunfire. During March, April and May 1943, CONWAY had patrol duty and
training out of Efate.
It might be noted here that Captain Arleigh Burke took
command of DesDiv 44 and had his flag in CONWAY. The story goes that he
was bored with division command and fell asleep on the bridge wing and
was just about blown overboard by a close miss of a Jap bomb. No wonder,
later in the war, that he was so aggressive with the "Little
Beavers".
CONWAY next supported the Rendova landings and the New
Georgia landings. In between she conducted bombardment of Kolombangara
and Munda.
Escorting and runs up the slot occupied CONWAY’s
time from 26 July to 12 August 1943. This operation was immediately
followed by the Vella Lavelia operation in mid August. The ship was
overhauled in the Fiji Islands and at Sydney, Australia.
She returned to action in late October by
participating in the Treasury and Choiseul Island operations of 27-28
Oct.
On 16 October 1943, Cdr. Harold C. Bowen, Jr. took
command. CONWAY took part in the initial landing at Cape Torokina. The
beach was landed at 0726 on 1 November 1943, and during the day, many
planes were chased and splashed. CONWAY splashed one Betty on 17 Nov. In
early December, she went to New Hebrides for repairs alongside USS
MEDUSA.
January and February 1944 found 507 escorting LST’s
at Bougainville. The next major offensive for CONWAY was Green Islands
on 15-19 Feb. 1944. Patrol and bombardment was next in the area of
Rabaul, New Britain and New Ireland Islands.
The first of March saw the CONWAY receive 26 shrapnel
holes after being straddled by shore batteries.
Routine war action followed for the next few months.
She arrived in Pearl Harbor in May 1944 and command was taken over by
LCDR, John M. Besson, Jr. Summer of 44 saw 507 off Guam, Tinian and
Saipan. During this time she provided screen, fire support, night
illumination and harassing fire. On 12 Aug. 1944 CONWAY received orders
to proceed to the USA by way of Eniwetok and Pearl.
Twenty-one months of war duty ended when the Golden
Gate bridge was sighted 30 Aug. 1944. She received overhaul at the
United Engineering Company.
During Oct. CONWAY was at sea for refresher training
off San Clemente Island. On 26 Oct. 507 left for Pearl and another war
cruise. Upon arrival at Leyte Gulf, she joined TG 77.2. CONWAY was
attacked by 15 planes on 27 Nov. 1944, while refueling. No damage
resulted. She left Palau in Dec. with TG 77.12 for the landings on
Mindoro. She survived another bombing near miss on 15 Dec. 1944.
Christmas gave the CONWAY a much-deserved break-- she had an
availability and upkeep period in Manus.
Jan. 1945 and the CONWAY participates in the Lingayen
Gulf landings. She continued war duty in the Philippine area until June.
At wars end the ship supported minesweeping ops in the Yellow Sea.
CONWAY visited Korea for four days in late Sept. 1945.
On 29 Dec., she left Shanghai for Charleston, S.C. by way of San Diego
on New York arriving there 13 March. She was decommissioned 25 June
1946.
CONWAY received 11 Battle Stars for WWII service.
On 8 Nov. 1950, she was recommissioned under Cdr. W.
Carey. CONWAY was now an escort destroyer (DDE). She sailed with
division 21 for Japan and arrived there in June. Then to Oct. was
routine escort duty. In mid October she conducted shore bombardment. On
28 Oct., 507 proceeded to Japan and then West to the USA arriving at
Norfolk 20 Dec. 1951. In Feb. 52, Cdr. J. D. Reese became CO. East Coast
operations lasted until June 52, then an overhaul at Norfolk. On 2 Nov.
1953 Cdr. D. L. Byrd took command. She made a Med cruise and returned to
Norfolk in Feb. 1954. 1955 was routine destroyer duty. On 22 Dec. 1955,
Cdr. F. J. Berry became CO. 1956 was routine. 1957 found CONWAY in the
Med again. On 9 July 1957, Cdr. Carl S. Baker took command. 1958 was
routine with an overhaul in Norfolk. 17 Oct. 1958 Cdr. G. R. Bryan
became CO. The next two years were typical of a DD-cruise, training and
upkeep. In Jan. 1961 Cdr. R. M. Keller assumed command. In 1962 CONWAY
was one of the ships assigned to rescue Gus Grissom and the Mercury
capsule.
507 was reclassified DD-507 on 1 July 1962. 1963 saw
Cdr. E. J. Myers become CO in March. In June another Med cruise started.
She then headed for the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. In Oct. she
arrived home in Norfolk. June of 1964 started yet another Med cruise,
this one only for three months for midshipmen. The following three years
were routine and in Nov. 1967 she left again for the Med.
On 6 Sept. 1968, CONWAY arrived at Philadelphia to
begin a new life as a Naval Reserve Training ship. On 15 Sept. 1969, it
was decided that CONWAY was "unfit for further service" and
would be stricken from the Naval Register on 15 Nov. 1969. She was
decommissioned the same day.
In March of 1970, CINCLANTFLT decided CONWAY would be
a target ship. She was sunk 6-26-70.
CONWAY received 2 Korean Stars, the Philippine PUC
Badge; China, Korea, and UN Service Medals and the Navy Occupation
Medal.
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