USS Dickerson US Navy uncut matchcover sheet 1940s

Uncut sheet of four covers. Three small stamp hinge pieces on otherwise blank back. The gold ink is even, though the scan does not show it so.

After escort duty in New Guinea, she sailed 27 December 1944 for the invasion of Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, on 9 January 1945, again supporting the operations of an underwater demolition team. She reported to Ulithi at the end of January for repairs, then joined the screen of a logistics support force for the invasion of Iwo Jima 19 February. She returned to Leyte with 50 prisoners of war, then departed again 24 March with an LST-LSM convoy which was assigned to capture the island of Keise Shima, on which heavy artillery would be placed for the bombardment of Okinawa. Her mission complete, Dickerson was with the transports southwest of Okinawa on the night of 2 April when the Japanese attacked in strength. One of the suicide-bent planes approached the destroyer in a long, low glide, and slashed off the tops of her two stacks before smashing into the base of her bridge, toppling her mast and starting intense gasoline fires. Almost simultaneously another plane scored a direct hit on the center of her forecastle. The explosion tore a hole in the deck almost the complete width of the ship. Despite immediate fire and damage control measures, Dickerson's crew was forced to abandon ship when the raging fires threatened her forward magazine. Fifty-four officers and men, including the commanding officer, were lost. Bunch (APD-79) and Herbert (APD22) stood by to rescue survivors, and Bunch succeeded in putting out the fires which had virtually demolished Dickerson. The smouldering hulk was towed to Kerama Retto, then was towed out to sea and sunk on 4 April 1945. -- Navy Archive

Item complete. VG or better condition. Defects beyond ordinary wear noted: none noted none present.

Product Info

Type: Used

Binding: Softcover

Seller Info

TheJumpingFrog

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