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History of USS Beale (DD:DDE-471)

USS Beale (DD-471), a Fletcher-class destroyer, was commissioned into the United States Navy in May 1942. She saw extensive service during World War II in the Pacific Theater, participating in major operations including the Solomon Islands campaign, the Battle of Leyte Gulf, and providing escort and fire support during amphibious landings. After the war, Beale was modernized and reclassified as DDE-471, serving in anti-submarine roles during the early Cold War period. She was decommissioned in 1968, having earned nine battle stars for her distinguished wartime service.

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ABOUT USS Beale (DD:DDE-471)

  • Namesake: USS Beale (DD/DDE-471) was named after Edward Fitzgerald Beale, a 19th-century naval officer, explorer, and frontiersman.
  • Class and Commission: She was a Fletcher-class destroyer, commissioned on 23 December 1942.
  • World War II Service: Beale served extensively in the Pacific Theater, participating in campaigns such as the Aleutian Islands, Gilbert and Marshall Islands, and the invasions of Leyte, Luzon, and Okinawa.
  • Kamikaze Attack: On 1 January 1945, Beale was struck by a Japanese kamikaze off Luzon, suffering casualties and damage but remaining operational.
  • Battle Stars: For her World War II service, USS Beale earned seven battle stars.
  • Korean War and Cold War Duties: After World War II, Beale was converted to a destroyer escort (DDE-471) and served in the Korean War and Cold War anti-submarine operations.
  • Cuban Missile Crisis: Beale participated in the Cuban Missile Crisis quarantine operations in October 1962 as part of the US naval blockade.
  • Presidential Escort: In 1963, Beale served as an escort to the yacht of President John F. Kennedy during the America’s Cup races off Newport, Rhode Island.
  • Decommissioning: USS Beale was decommissioned on 30 September 1968 after more than 25 years of service.
  • Fate: The ship was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register and sold for scrap in 1972, ending her long and decorated career.

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