DD-293 - Tin Can Sailors

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Hull Number: DD-293

Launch Date: 12/10/1919

Commissioned Date: 03/01/1920

Decommissioned Date: 05/01/1930

Call Sign: NUPQ

Class: CLEMSON

CLEMSON Class

Namesake: WILLIAM DEVOTIE BILLINGSLEY

WILLIAM DEVOTIE BILLINGSLEY

Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, March 2016

Born in Hebron, Ill., 12 July 1920, Elmer Charles Bigelow enlisted in the Navy 21 September 1942. On 15 February 1945 while engaged with Japanese forces off Corregidor Island, Philippine Islands, Fletcher (DD-445) was struck by an enemy projectile which penetrated a magazine and set fire to several powder cases. Bigelow, Water Tender, Second Class, entered the burning compartment and extinguished the fire. He died the following day of injuries sustained and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

Disposition:

Sold 01/17/1931 to Boston Iron and Metal Co., Baltimore, MD. Scrapped.

Ship History

USS BILLINGSLEY DD-293 Ship History

Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, March 2016

Billingsley (DD-293) was launched 10 December 1919 by Bethlehem Steel Co., Squantum, Mass.; sponsored by Miss Irene Billingsley, sister of Ensign Billingsley; and commissioned 1 March 1920, Commander H. D. Cooke in command.

Billingsley joined Destroyer Force, Atlantic Fleet, in operations along the east coast and in the Caribbean until the summer of 1920 when she made Naval Reserve training cruises. In reserve until June 1922 she then joined Division 26, Squadron 9, Destoryer Force, at Philadelphia. She cruised along the Atlantic coast until June 1924 when Division 26 joined U. S. Naval Forces, Euorpe. Billingsley cruised in European and Mediterranean waters for the next year and assisted refugees in the Near East. In the spring of 1925 she acted as plane guard for the North Atlantic rosssing of the Army “Around-the-World Flight.” Later in the year she returned home and resumed her routine activities along the east coast until the summer of 1929 when she again made Naval Reserve cruises. Billingsley reported to Philadelphia Navy Yard in September 1929; was decommissioned 1 May 1930; and sold 17 January 1931.