Naval History and Heritage Command

USS Key West (PF-17) was launched 29 December 1943 by the American Shipbuilding Co., Lorain, Ohio; sponsored by Mrs. Vernon Lowe; sister of Lt. Harold Felton, the first resident of Key West reported missing in World War II; and commissioned at Houston 7 November 1944, Lt. Comdr. B. Papanek, USCGR, in command.

USS Key West (PF-17) stood out of Galveston Bay 17 November 1944 for training exercises and escort duty out of Bermuda. The frigate operated there until sailing for Norfolk 22 December. USS Key West (PF-17) departed Hampton Roads 18 January 1945 escorting a convoy to Oran, Algeria, and returned Boston 28 February.

During the next 4 months, USS Key West (PF-17) made two cruises out of Casco Bay, Maine. Upon her return New York 14 June, from her final cruise, USS Key West (PF-17) remained at Brooklyn until 5 July when she sailed for Boston for conversion to a weather ship.

USS Key West (PF-17) departed Boston 31 July and, after transiting the Canal, arrived Pearl Harbor 23 August. Key West was then assigned to duty of weather station patrol in the vicinity of Guam, arriving there 10 September. USS Key West (PF-17) operated out of Apra Harbor reporting meterological data and stood by to aid ships in distress until 14 March 1946 when she arrived San Francisco. USS Key West (PF-17) departed San Francisco 9 April and served for 3 weeks on plane-guard station off the North California Coast. The weather ship arrived Seattle, Wash., 1 May and decommissioned at Bremerton, Wash., 14 June 1946. She was sold 18 April 1947 to Cascade Enterprises, Oakland, Calif., and scrapped.

For a compete history of USS Key West (PF-17) please see its DANFS page.