USS Mitscher (DDG-35)

• Namesake: USS Mitscher (DDG-35) was named after Admiral Marc A. Mitscher, a pioneering naval aviator and commander of U.S. fast carrier task forces during World War II. • Class Origins: Originally laid down as a Mitscher-class destroyer (DD-927), she was later converted and reclassified as a guided-missile destroyer (DDG-35). • Commissioning Date: USS Mitscher was commissioned on 10 May 1953, representing one of the Navy’s first post-WWII destroyer designs. • Conversion to Guided Missile Destroyer: Between 1958 and 1960, Mitscher underwent extensive modernization, including the installation of advanced missile systems, and was reclassified from DD-927 to DDG-35 on 30 June 1966. • Cold War Service: Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Mitscher took part in numerous NATO exercises and operated as part of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet, reflecting growing Cold War tensions. • Innovative Design: The Mitscher-class destroyers were notable for their large size, advanced engineering, and as testbeds for new technologies, influencing the design of later destroyer classes. • Flagship Duties: USS Mitscher often served as flagship of Destroyer Squadron 2, coordinating operations among several ships. • Space Program Support: Mitscher participated in space recovery operations, providing support for early space missions during the 1960s. • Decommissioning: The ship was decommissioned on 1 June 1978, after over 25 years of service, and struck from the Navy list on 16 June 1978. • Final Fate: After decommissioning, USS Mitscher was sold for scrap in 1980, but her legacy continues as a significant step in the evolution of U.S. guided-missile destroyers.