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USS Incredible (AM-249)

Please see below for item level images and donated collections containing photographs of USS Incredible (AM-249)

USS Incredible (AM-249) was launched 21 November 1942 by Savannah Machine & Foundry Co., Savannah, Ga.; sponsored by Mrs. Herbert Hezlep; and commissioned 17 April 1944, Lt. R. N. Ekland, USNR, in command.

After shakedown along the East Coast and in the Caribbean, USS Incredible (AM-249) departed Norfolk 24 July, escorting a convoy to North Africa for the invasion of southern France, the Allies landing 15 August. She carried out her sweeping duties very effectively, sometimes without destroyer cover. On 10 September USS Incredible (AM-249) and her group gallantly repelled an attack of 12 human torpedoes, 2 of which she destroyed. She continued her minesweeping duties off southern France until 18 January 1945 when she sailed for a special mission to Russia and the Black Sea. USS Incredible (AM-249) performed sweeping duties out of Sevastopol, Russia, then served as air-sea rescue patrol ship in the Black Sea until returning to Palermo, Sicily, 20 February.

USS Incredible (AM-249) returned to Norfolk 5 May; and, after overhaul, departed 23 July for duty in the Pacific. She arrived Pearl Harbor 8 days after the fighting stopped via the Canal Zone and San Diego. The minesweeper sailed from Pearl Harbor 31 August for Operation "Skagway," clearing the minefields in the East China Sea-Ryukyus area. USS Incredible (AM-249) recommissioned 14 August 1950 at Yokosuka and departed 18 September for minesweeping and patrol duties in the Pusan area. While on patrol in mine-infested waters, on 12 October she rescued 27 survivors from USS Pirate which had struck a mine. Delivering her passengers to safety, she continued her operations in the battle zone, sweeping harbors and serving on patrol and escort duty. Returning to Yokosuka, USS Incredible (AM-249) sailed for Long Beach, arriving 4 August 1951.

The minesweeper operated along the West Coast and out of Pearl Harbor until 6 August 1953 when she sailed for the Far East. For the remainder of the year she operated out of Japan and on patrol along the coast of Korea. USS Incredible (AM-249) returned to Long Beach 11 March 1954 and decommissioned there 21 September, again joining the Reserve Fleet. Reclassified MSF-249, 7 February 1955, USS Incredible (AM-249) remained in the Long Beach Group, Pacific Reserve Fleet until she was struck from the Navy List 1 December 1959. She was sold 8 August 1960 to National Metal and Steel Corp.

For a complete history of USS Incredible (AM-249) pleae see its DANFS page.