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USS Kidd (DD-661)

Please see below for item level images and donated collections containing photographs of USS Kidd (DD-661)

USS Kidd (DD-661) was launched 28 February 1943 by Federal Shipbuilding & Drydock Co., Kearny, N.J.; sponsored by Mrs. Isaac C. Kidd, widow of Hear Admiral Kidd, and commissioned 23 April 1943, Comdr. Allan Roby in command.

After shakedown out of Casco, Maine, in June, USS Kidd (DD-661) cruised in the Atlantic and Caribbean escorting large combatant vessels until she departed for the Pacific in August 1943 in company with USS Alabama (BB-60) and USS South Dakota (BB-57). Arriving Pearl Harbor 17 September 1943, USS Kidd (DD-661) got underway 29 September escorting aircraft carriers toward Wake Island for the heavy air attacks 5 October and returned to Pearl Harbor 11 October 1943.

USS Kidd (DD-661) next screened carriers making air attacks on Tarawa during the Gilbert Island invasion from 19 to 23 November. On the 24th she spotted 15 low flying enemy bombers heading toward the heavy ships, gave warning, and shot down 2 "Vals." On 11 January 1944 USS Kidd (DD-661) sailed for the forward area, touched at Espiritu Santo, then sailed next day for Funafuti, arriving 19 January. During the invasion of the Marshall Islands 29 January to 8 February, USS Kidd (DD-661) screened heavy ships and bombarded Roi and Wotje, then anchored at Kwajalein 26 February.

USS Kidd (DD-661) sailed 19 February 1945 to join Task Force 58 for the invasion of Okinawa. Trained and battlewise. USS Kidd (DD-661) played a key role during the first days of the Okinawa campaign, screening battleships, bombarding key targets ashore, rescuing downed pilots, sinking floating mines, providing early warning of enemy air raids, guarding heavily damaged USS Franklin, and shooting down kamikazes. On 1 August 1945, USS Kidd (DD-661) sailed to Pearl Harbor and returned to San Diego 24 September 1945 for inactivation. USS Kidd (DD-661) decommissioned 10 December 1946 and entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet.

USS Kidd (DD-661) recommissioned 28 March 1951, Lt. Comdr. Robert E. Jeffery in command; sailed to the Western Pacific 18 June; and arrived Yokopuka 15 July. USS Kidd (DD-661) again got underway for Korea 8 September 1952; joined the screen of a hunter-killer group near Kojo; and, in November, was back on bombardment missions off North Korea. From late 1953 to late 1959 USS Kidd (DD-661) alternated Westpac cruises with operations on the West Coast making stops at Pearl Harbor and various ports in Japan, Okinawa, Hong Kong, and the Philippines. After a cruise to the Caribbean, on 1 July 1962 she resumed Naval Reserve training. USS Kidd (DD-661) decommissioned 19 June 1964, entered the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, and at present is berthed at Philadelphia.

For a complete history of USS Kidd (DD-661) please see its DANFS page.