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USS Halford (DD-480)

Please see below for item level images and donated collections containing photographs of USS Halford (DD-480)

USS Halford (DD-480) was launched 29 October 1942 by the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Wash.; sponsored by Miss Eunice Halford, daughter of Lieutenant Halford; and commissioned 10 April 1943, Lt. Oomdr. G. N. Johansen in command.

In 1943 when the struggle in Pacific was raging the Pacific Fleet prepared for its mighty sweep across Micronesia. In an effort to strengthen the "seeing eyes" of our fleet, USS Halford (DD-480) was one of six destroyers constructed with a cruiser catapult and scout observation plane. She departed San Diego 5 July en route Pearl Harbor arriving 5 days later. For the next 3 months USS Halford (DD-480) was to test the feasibility of carrying scout planes on small vessels. Because of tactical changes and our growing aircraft carrier strength USS Halford (DD-480) returned to Mare Island 27 October 1943 for alterations which replaced the catapult and scout plane.

USS Halford (DD-480) next became flagship for Admiral T. S. "Ping" Wilkinson's Green Islands Attack Force. Halford took up station off Green Island and began patrolling while unloading operations proceeded. At 0940 General Barrowclough, RNZA, and staff disembarked to land on Green Island. USS Halford (DD-480) next joined a destroyer squadron to make shipping sweeps off the west coast of New Ireland. On the night of 24-25 February 1944, USS Halford (DD-480) and USS Bennett sank two small coastal ships and severely damaged a patrol vessel. For the next 3 days USS Halford (DD-480) carried out her sweeps south of the strong Japanese naval base of Truk then returned to Purvis Bay for supplies.

USS Halford (DD-480) turned next to the campaign for the recapture of the Philippines. After the epochal Battle of Leyte Gulf, which broke the back of Japanese sea power, USS Halford (DD-480), departed Leyte Gulf 1 November 1944 and took up operations with the 3d Fleet out of Ulithi until 2 December when she returned to Leyte as part of the covering force for the landings. 27 May 1945 Halford departed San Diego on her way west again. She proceeded to the Marshall Islands via Pearl Harbor where she escorted transports from Eniwetok to Ulithi. 11 August USS Halford (DD-480) departed Eniwetok en route Adak, Alaska as a unit of the Northern Pacific Fleet. With a task force composed of light carriers, cruisers and destroyers, USS Halford (DD-480) departed Adak 31 August and steamed into Ominato, Northern Honshu, Japan 12 September. 

USS Halford (DD-480) departed Juneau, Alaska, 1 November 1945 and arrived Bremerton, Wash., 3 days later to begin inactivation overhaul. She departed Bremerton 23 January 1946. She joined the Pacific Reserve Fleet at San Diego 28 January and decommissioned there 15 May 1946. She remains berthed at San Diego.

For a compelete history of USS Halford (DD-480) please see its DANFS page.