Bull DE-52

Bull

Born in New York City, 14 July 1914, Richard Bull enlisted in the Naval Reserve in 1938 and was designated a Naval Aviator in 1939. Lieutenant (junior grade) Bull was lost 5 February 1942 during action in the Netherlands East Indies. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

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Bull (DE-52) was built by Bethleheiii-Hingham Shipyard, Inc., Hingham, Mass.; commissioned 19 May 1943; and transferred under Lend- Lease to the United Kingdom as HMS Bentinck the same day. She was returned to United States' custody 5 January 1946 and sold 26 May 1946.

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(DE-693: dp. 1400; 1. 306'; b. 36'10" ; dr. 13'6 s. 24 k.
cpl. 186; a. 3 3", 3 21" TT.; cl. Buckley)

Bull (DE-693) was launched 25 March 1943 by Defoe Shipbuilding Co., Bay City, Mich.; sponsored by Mrs. Ruth P. Bull, widow of Lieutenant (junior grade) Bull; and commissioned 12 August 1943, Lieutenant D. W. Farnham, USNR, in command.

Between 29 October 1943 and 27 July 1944 Bull made six round trip voyages as a convoy escort between New
York, Boston, and Londonderry, Ireland. Late in July 1944 she entered Todd Shipyards Corp., Brooklyn, and underwent conversion to a high speed transport (reclassified APD-78, 31 July 1944). ~Conversion was completed 26 October 1944 and Bull, after a short period of refresher training, departed for the Pacific. Arriving at Pearl Harbor 2 December, she embarked an underwater demolition team and proceeded to the Palaus which served as the staging area for the invasion of Luzon.

During 1945 Bull carried underwater demolition teams and furnished fire support and screening during the Lingayen Gulf landings (2-19 January 1945) ; invasion of Iwo Jima (14 February-5 March) ; and seizure of Okinawa (21 March-22 April, 2-8 May, and 29 MayI July).

On 1 July Bull departed Okinawa and sailed to San Pedro, Calif., where she arrived on the 26th. After repairs, she returned to the Western Pacific, arriving at Manila, Philippine Islands, 19 October 1945. Bull reinained on occupation duty in the Far East until 9 March 1946 when she departed for the west coast. Upon arrival, she conducted local operations for a short period and then reported to the San Diego Group, Pacific Reserve Fleet, for inactivation. Bull went out of commission in reserve 5 June 1947.

Bull received three battle stars for her World War 11 service.