USS Calcaterraa (DE-390)

• Namesake: USS Calcaterra (DE-390) was named in honor of Ensign Kenneth D. Calcaterra, a U.S. Naval Reserve aviator who was killed in action during the Battle of Midway in 1942. • Buckley-class Destroyer Escort: The ship was a Buckley-class destroyer escort, known for versatility in anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and convoy escort duties during World War II. • World War II Service: Commissioned on 17 November 1943, USS Calcaterra played a crucial role in escorting trans-Atlantic convoys, protecting them from German U-boat attacks. • Convoy Battles: During her escort missions, she successfully defended her convoys without any losses to enemy submarines, contributing to the Allies’ strategic logistics. • Hunter-Killer Operations: USS Calcaterra participated in hunter-killer groups, actively hunting German submarines and providing valuable ASW support in the Atlantic. • Conversion to Radar Picket Ship: In 1951, Calcaterra was converted into a radar picket ship (DER-390) to help extend the early warning radar coverage for the U.S. continental air defense during the Cold War. • Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line: As a radar picket, she operated as part of the Atlantic Barrier, a sea-based extension of the DEW Line, scanning for potential Soviet bombers and missiles. • Cuban Missile Crisis: The ship was active during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, providing critical radar surveillance and patrol duties during the tense standoff. • Vietnam War: Later in her career, Calcaterra served as a radar picket and support vessel in the Pacific, including deployments off the coast of Vietnam during the war. • Decommissioning and Fate: USS Calcaterra was finally decommissioned in 1973 and struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1974. She was sold for scrap in 1974, ending a distinguished career that spanned three decades and two major conflicts.