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USS Harry F. Bauer (DD-738/DM-26)

Please see below for item level images and donated collections containing photographs of USS Harry F. Bauer (DD-738/DM-26)

USS Harry F. Bauer was launched as DD-738 by Bath Iron Works Corp., Bath, Maine, 9 July 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Harry F. Bauer, wife of Lt. Comdr. Bauer; converted to minelayer DM-26 and commissioned 22 September 1944, Comdr. R. C. Williams, Jr., in command.

Following shakedown training out of Bermuda and minelayer training off Norfolk, USS Harry F. Bauer (DM-26) sailed 28 November 1944 via the Panama Canal arriving San Diego 12 December. After additional training both there and at Pearl Harbor she departed Hawaii 27 January 1945 as a unit of Transport Group Baker for the invasion of Iwo Jima, next stop in the island campaign toward Japan. 

USS Harry F. Bauer (DM-26) arrived Kerama Retto 25 March and helped screen minecraft during preliminary sweeps of the invasion area. Under intensive air attack during this period, she shot down several Japanese planes, three on the night of 28-29 March alone. After repairs at Leyte, USS Harry F. Bauer (DM-26) arrived Okinawa 15 August, the day of the Japanese surrender. With the prospect of massive minesweeping in Japanese waters incident to the occupation, she sailed 20 August for the East China Sea, where she engaged in minesweeping operations until arriving Sasebo 28 October. Sailing for the United States 1 December she arrived San Diego 22 December.

Sailing to Norfolk 8 January 1946, USS Harry F. Bauer (DM-26) began operations with the Atlantic Fleet.  During October-November 1948 she took part in 2d Fleet exercises in the Atlantic, and in June-July 1949 participated in a Naval Academy training cruise with giant battleship USS Missouri.

In 1950 USS Harry F. Bauer (DM-26) made her first cruise to the troubled Mediterranean, departing 9 September and returning to Charleston 1 February 1951. During the years that followed she continued with tactical operations, that took her to the Caribbean and Northern Europe. USS Harry F. Bauer (DM-26) ended active steaming in September 1955 and decommissioned 12 March 1956 at Charleston before entering the Atlantic Reserve Fleet at Philadelphia. Deemed surplus to the needs of the Navy and struck from the Navy list on 15 August 1971, the hulk was sold for scrap to Northern Metal Co. of Philadelphia on 12 June 1974.

For a complete history of USS Harry F. Bauer (DM-26) please see its DANFS page.