Edminster was 18 years old when he gave his life for his country. The destroyer became famous for her actions in the battle off samar in october 1944, in which she sank. The wreckage of the destroyer, which sank in the battle off samar in 1944, has been identified on the ocean floor, more. Resting over 4 miles beneath the surface, its now the deepest shipwreck to ever be investigated. Uss johnston, worlds deepest known wreck, identified xray mag. Wreckage confirmed as heroic uss johnston dd 557 ponca. Wreck of uss johnston discovered 77 years after its. A team of ocean explorers has found the wreck of world war ii fletcherclass destroyer uss johnston dd 557 which played a critical role at. Apr 03, 2021 uss johnston underway in 1943 kob sends in word about the amazing rediscovery of the lost wwii destroyer uss johnston. Edminster to his mother is transcribed from a copy of the original and is posted below with the permission of his brothers harold and phil edminster. Uss bainbridge dd1 tin cans are still the greyhounds of the sea the first greyhound of the sea, also known as a tin can, was commissioned december 23, 1903.
The ships bow was discovered on the edge of an undersea cliff more than 20,000 feet. Evans, the captain of the uss johnston dd557, had a frontrow seat to a naval cataclysm. Hack stone on key witness in floyd trial will take the 5th. The 115mlong us navy destroyer is widely known for her bold action in the battle off samar, the. Uss johnston dd557, fletcherclass destroyer in world. A warriors destiny naval history magazine october 2009.
Add to cart in the lore of the us navy, the saga of fletcher class destroyer, uss johnston is legendary for its part in the battle off samar during the larger battle of. Oklahoma commander remembered as wreckage from wwii. Apr 02, 2021 the uss johnston dd557 was a us navy fletcherclass destroyer that sank in battle on 25th october 1944. He was johnston s commanding officer from then until she was sunk in the battle off samar, 25 october 1944, and was lost with the ship. I have read only through page 17 but glancing through the rest of the book at this point what a treasure of photos and drawing, paint schemes, etc. She was the first navy ship named after lieutenant john v.
The small tincan destroyer armed with nothing larger than 5 inch 127mm guns and torpedoes would lead the attack of a handful of light ships. Uss johnston, a fletcher class destroyer of the united states navy, is this weeks subject. Uss johnston dd557, deepest shipwreck recorded, found off. Nh 63495 uss johnston dd 557 uss johnston dd 557 off seattle or tacoma, washington, 27 october 1943. The most ably commanded destroyer of taffy iii, johnston was repeatedly referenced by the japanese as a heavy cruiser. Evans and his crew fought tenaciously for three hours against a larger enemy. The book actually opens not with uss johnst hes the curator, collecting stories from dozens of shipmates who sailed on uss johnston dd821 and organising them. Nhsparky on key witness in floyd trial will take the 5th. With its gun turrets and torpedo racks still intact, the uss johnston dd557a.
Uss johnston, sunk in wwii, is now the deepest explored wreck. A mission sponsored by undersea technology company caladan oceanic and led by entrepreneur, explorer and retired naval officer victor vescovo has announced they have found a section of wreckage belonging to the world war ii fletcherclass destroyer uss johnston dd 557 which was lost at the battle off samar, part of the battle of leyte gulf, on oct. Apr 03, 2021 kob on uss johnston dd557, lost in battle off samar in 1943, discovered 21k feet below the waves. The wreckage of the destroyer, which sank in the battle off. Uss johnston dd557 196 scale us navy destroyer brickmania. The uss johnston dd557 off seattle on october 27, 1943. The real story of the uss johnston dd821 by george a sites.
The editor, george sites, who served on her from 1968 to 1971, begins with the story of our uss johnston s predecessor, uss johnston dd557 as background. The uss johnston dd 557 off seattle on october 27, 1943. Uss johnston dd 557 off seattle or tacoma, washington, 27 october 1943. The uss bainbridge had a crew of four officers and 69 sailors and was armed with two 3inch guns, five 6pounders, and two 18inch torpedo tubes. Hagen, the 25yearold who spoke those words to commander ernest e. Uss johnston dd 557 was a fletcherclass destroyer in the service of the united states navy in world war ii, the first navy ship named after lieutenant john. Of the countless acts of valor in our navys history, the uss johnston s dd557 daylight torpedo attack during the battle off samar stands out as uniquely courageous. Following her shakedown and training cruise, the destroyer and her crew called at pearl harbor where they received the first of many combat operation orders and put to sea in. Uss johnston dd557 caladan oceanic announced this morning that they successfully relocated and surveyed the wreckage of the destroyer off samar found by rv petrel back in 2019. New book on awards of the german wwii luftwaffe, by antonio. A shaky voice on johnston s talk between ships radio reported a major portion of the japanese. Uss johnston dd557 196 scale us navy destroyer bkm vault. Wreck of uss johnston discovered 77 years after its sinking.
Uss johnston dd 557 on 25 october 1944 during the battle off samar. Wreckage confirmed as heroic uss johnston dd 557 military. She was credited as the first ship of taffy iii to attack centre force and charged the four ships of cruiser division seven at 30 knots. Uss johnston dd 557 was a fletcherclass destroyer in the service of the united states navy in world war ii, the first navy ship named after lieutenant john v. We dont know when or if this item will be back in stock. The ship was sunk during an intense battle against vastly superior japanese forces off the coast of samar island during the battle of leyte gulf, widely cited as the largest.
Dont miss the top navy stories, delivered each afternoon. The johnston measured 376 ft 115m long with a beam of 39ft. Uss johnston dd 557 the finest hour mark karvon art studios. Apr 01, 2021 a team of ocean explorers has found the wreck of world war ii fletcherclass destroyer uss johnston dd557 which played a critical role at the battle off samar, navy history and heritage command said on thursday. Uss johnston dd557, deepest shipwreck recorded, found. That ship and half a dozen other american destroyers were escorting half a dozen jeep carriers off samar. Evidence of battle damage can be seen on the wreck. A team of ocean explorers has found the wreck of world war ii fletcherclass destroyer uss johnston dd557 which played a critical role at the battle off samar, navy history and heritage command said on thursday. Wreckage confirmed as heroic uss johnston dd 557 a mission sponsored by undersea technology company caladan oceanic and led by entrepreneur, explorer and retired naval officer victor vescovo has announced they have found a section of wreckage belonging to the world war ii fletcherclass destroyer uss johnston dd 557 which was lost at the. Uss johnston, a 2100ton fletcher class destroyer built at seattle, washington, was commissioned in october 1943. Us crew has reaches the worlds deepest ever shipwreck uss.
Wreckage of a fletcherclass destroyer believed to be uss johnston dd 557. Johnston dd557 finescale modeler essential magazine for. Oct 25, 2010 at first light on 25 october 1944, huge geysers of water shot up near the destroyer johnston. Apr 01, 2021 uss johnston dd557 was a world war iiera fletcherclass destroyer in the service of the united states navy. The 2,100ton uss johnston dd 557 did not survive the battle of leyte. The ship was most famous for its bold action in the battle off samar. Uss johnston dd 557 was built by the seattletacoma shipbuilding corporation and commissioned in october 1943.
Site on the uss johnston dd 557 and uss hoel dd 533, two valiant ships also sunk at taffy iii. Evans, usn 19081944 at the commissioning ceremony for uss johnston dd557, seattle, washington, 27 october 1943. Each story is told by the shipmate in their own words, telling of their experience on the ship. The earlier uss johnston was lost at sea in a battle with the japanese just under a year after she was commissioned, and those who served on dd821 are proud of this history. Rob kraft and paul mayer discuss the likelihood that this ship is the uss johnston dd557. The uss johnston sank on october 25, 1944, during the battle of leyte gulf. Wreckage confirmed as heroic uss johnston dd 557 updated. The ship is widely known for her bold action in the battle off samar. Evans, usn, commanding officer the most ably commanded destroyer of taffy iii, johnston was repeatedly referenced by the japanese as a heavy cruiser. Uss johnston dd557 wikimili, the free encyclopedia. A mission sponsored by undersea technology company caladan oceanic and led by entrepreneur, explorer, and retired naval officer victor vescovo has announced they have found a section of wreckage belonging to the world war ii fletcherclass destroyer uss johnston dd 557 which was lost at the battle off samar, part of the battle. April 1, 2021 a mission sponsored by undersea technology company caladan oceanic and led by entrepreneur, explorer and retired naval officer victor vescovo has announced they have found a section of wreckage belonging to the world war ii fletcherclass destroyer uss johnston dd 557 which was lost at the battle off samar, part of the battle of leyte gulf, on oct.
Uss johnston dd 557 the finest hour mark karvon art. A sub successfully dives to deepestknown shipwreck uss. In a privatelyfunded expedition, they were able to go deeper than petrel using the submersible dsv limiting factor, and discovered the main wreck, confirming the. As told by the officers and sailors who served aboard her 9780979074622. Vescovo, who said the first book that he borrowed from a library at the age of six. The book actually opens not with uss johnston dd821 but with its predecessor uss johnston dd557, a ww2 destroyer that was sunk in the battle of leyte gulf. Evans on the day uss johnston dd 557 was commissioned, 27 october 1943, at seattle, washington. On 15 may, while operating in the solomons islands, johnston assisted in sinking. The uss johnston off the coast of washington, october 27, 1943. Caladan oceanic the main section of the uss johnston sunk 77 years ago during the battle of leyte gulfhas been discovered off the philippine coast. Naval history and heritage command sign up for the navy times daily news roundup. At first light on 25 october 1944, huge geysers of water shot up near the destroyer johnston.
Rv petrel found the remains of a us destroyer off samar and they are pretty sure its uss johnston dd557. The crew of the uss johnston dd557, led by a fighting captain, lieutenant commander ernest evans, demonstrated the best example of a courageous and battleminded crew during the battle off samar during the leyte gulf campaign. Apr 01, 2021 the uss johnston, a fletcherclass destroyer, was lost on oct. Wreckage confirmed as heroic uss johnston dd 557 seawaves. Named after a us navy civil war hero, the ship was sunk in combat in the battle off samar as part of the battle of leyte gulf.
Dont miss your chance to own one of brickmanias most exclusive kits, the uss johnston dd557 fletcherclass. Although in company with other ships, the johnston broke formation under the orders of her captain, lieutenant commander ernest evans. What was the most courageous independent action by a u. Uss johnston dd 557 off seattle or tacoma, washington, 27 october. Uss johnston dd557 discovery latest footage youtube. Laid down as the 74th member of the fletcher class of destroyers in may 1942 at the seattle tacoma shipbuilding yard, uss johnston commissioned into us navy service in october 1943 as a member of the us pacific fleet. The battle began at 06h45 and during the next three hours the uss johnston was hit 30 times. Wreck of famed wwii destroyer uss johnston may have been. Uss johnston dd557 196 scale us navy destroyer bkm vault brickmania.
In july 1943 commander evans was assigned as the prospective commanding officer of the new fletcher class destroyer uss johnston dd 557 which was built, launched and commissioned at seattletacoma shipbuilding company in seattle, washington on october 27, 1943. Famed wwii destroyer uss johnston discovered 4 miles. The wreckage of this heroic ship has recently been found. Lots of great information nicely put together by bill mercer. The first johnston dd 557 was laid down 6 may 1942 by the seattletacoma shipbuilding co. A submersible has reached the uss johnston, which lies 6. Uss johnston dd 557 was a world war iiera fletcherclass destroyer in the service of the united states navy. Wreckage of a fletcherclass destroyer believed to be uss johnston dd557. Uss johnston dd557 naval history and heritage command. Just three months later, johnston was bombarding the beaches of kwajalein and eniwetok providing direct support to invasion troops on the ground and conducting antisubmarine patrols off bougainville. Uss johnston was a fletcherclass destroyer in the service of the united states navy in world war ii, the first navy ship named after lieutenant john v. The small tincan destroyer armed with nothing larger than 5 inch 127mm guns and torpedoes. Painting by jack fellows, titled into harms way, courtesy of the us naval institute.
Uss johnston dd557, lost in battle off samar in 1943. Johnston dd557 finescale modeler essential magazine. Uss johnston dd557 us navy fletcherclass destroyer world war ii battle of samar deepest shipwreck recorded multimedia multimedia photos. Cdr evans, johnston s commander, fought the ship against overwhelming odds and was last seen, wounded, on the stern giving directions to the crew steering in the secondary steering compartment. Uss johnston dd557, fletcherclass destroyer in world war ii. She was very active in the pacific during 1944, participating in the marshalls, marianas, palaus and leyte campaigns. Oct 01, 2020 the awards of the luftwaffe, by antonio scapini, isbn. One of the most prolific destroyers of all time, the uss johnston earned her fame during the battle off samar. Navy 19081944, was posthumously awarded the medal of honor for giving his life as the commanding officer of the u. Oct 30, 2019 wreckage of a fletcherclass destroyer believed to be uss johnston dd557. Oklahoma commander remembered as wreckage from wwii destroyer. At 10h10 the uss johnston rolled over and began to sink.
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