< Bailey III DD- 492

Bailey III DD- 492

 

Bailey III

(DD-492: dp. 1620; 1. 347'10"; b. 36'1" dr 17'4",
37 k.; cpl. 270; a. 5 5", 10 21" TT.; cl. Benson) I

The third Bailey (DD - 92) was launched 19 December I 1941 by :Bethlehem Steel Co., Staten Island, N. Y.- sponsored by Mrs Mary de Peyster Charles, granddaughter I of Admiral Bailey; commissioned 11 May 1942, Lieutenant | Commander F D. Karns, Jr., in command; and reported to the Pacific Fleet. |

In the Pacific, Bailey joined TF 8 on patrol in the Aleutian Islands. On 12 January 1943 she supported the unopposed invasion off Amchitka Island and on, 26 March took part in the Battle of the Homandorski Islands. During a torpedo attack, in which she scored several gunfire hits on the Japanese heavy cruiser Nachi, Bailey received three direct hits from 8-inch shells which killed five and wounded six men, and caused major damage to the ship. For this action she was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation. Atter undergoing temporary repairs at Dutch Harbor, Alaska Bailey arrived at Mare Island Navy Yard 8 April 1943 for permanent repairs.

Repairs completed, she arrived at Pearl Harbor;-, October 1943. Between November 1943 and October 1944 Bailey acted as a fire-,support, picket, and patrol ship in the invasions of Tarawa (20 November-7 December 1943); Maloelap and KwaJalein, Marshall Islands (30 January-29 February 1944); Saipan and Tinian, Marianas Islands (16 June-28 July ); and Peleliu and Angaur, Palau Islands (15 September-2 October).

On the night of' 1 October 1944 she underwent two severe strafing attacks while on picket duty off the Palaus. Damage was extensive, 9 men were killed and 16 wounded. Following emergency repairs Bailey proceeded to Mare Island for permanent repairs, arriving 28 October.

Returning to Pearl Harbor 24 December 1944, she supported the landings on Mindanao (10 March-10 April 1945) and on Borneo (27 April-22 July). Between August and November 1945 she was engaged in training in Far Eastern waters.

On 11 December 1945 she arrived at Boston for inactivation and went out of commission in reserve at Charleston, S. C., 2 May 1948.

Bailey received nine battle stars, in addition to the Navy Unit Commendation, for her services in the Pacific.