Lovering (DE-272)
(DE‑272: dp. 1,150; l. 289'5"; b. 35'; dr. 8'3"; s. 21 k.; cpl. 156; a. 3 3", 9 20mm., 4 dcp., 1 ft. (h.h.), 2 dct.; cl. Evarts)
Born 3 August 1913 at Nahant, Mass., William Bacon Lovering graduated from Harvard and on 2 August 1940 enlisted in the Naval Reserve. Appointed a midshipman 22 November, in Illinois- Naval Reserve Midshipmen-s School, he was commissioned an ensign 28 February 1941 and assigned to the destroyer Hammann (DD‑412). Ensign Lovering died during the Battle of Midway when Hammann was torpedoed and sunk 6 June 1942 while aiding in the salvage of Yorktown (CV‑5).
Lovering (DE‑272) was laid down 23 April 1942 by the Boston Navy Yard; launched 4 June 1943 and sponsored by Mrs. Joseph S. Lovering, sister‑in‑law of Ens. W. B. Lovering. Shortly after the launching of Lovering, It was decided to lease her to Great Britain, so on 14 June 1943 her name was canceled. Leased to Great Britain 18 Sep.. tember 1943, the ship was commissioned on the same day as HMS Gould (K‑476), Lt. Comdr. Henry Rowle, RNR, in command. She spent her short life by escorting convoys to and from Great Britain and it was during one of these voyages that she was sunk by a torpedo from U‑358 on 1 March 1944.
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(DE‑39: dp. 1,140; l. 28915"; b. 35'2"; dr. 8'3"; s. 21 k.; cpl: 156; a. 3 5", 4 1.1", 8 dcp., 1 dcp. (h.h.), 2 dct.; cl. Evarts)
Lovering (DE‑39), originally scheduled for transfer to Great Britain, was laid down as BDE‑39 7 September 1942 by Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Wash. Ordered retained for use by the Navy, she was named 14 June 1943 and reclassified DF‑39 on 16 June. Launched 18 June 1943 by Miss J. Shannon, she commissioned 11 September 1943, Lt. Comdr. A. H. Donaldson, USNR In command.
Lovering began her 25 months of naval service with a coastal shakedown cruise and an intense training period operating with carriers, destroyers, and submarines. Departing San Francisco 4 December 1943, she arrived Pearl Harbor 16 December. She departed 4 days later on an escort voyage to the Gilbert Islands. Arriving 28 December she operated out of the Gilberts for the next 6 months. Sailing mainly from Tarawa, she performed numerous escort assignments to Kwajalein and Majuro in the nearby Marshall Islands after they were declared secure 7 February 1944. Eniwetok became a terminus after its seizure on the 22d.
Returning to Pearl Harbor 27 July, Lovering underwent a period in drydock and then served as a target and training vessel for submarines. She continued this duty after returning to the Marshall Islands 19 September. Late in October she commenced a series of escort missions to Saipan and Guam in the Marianas. These concluded on 10 March 1945 when, having steamed to Ulithi, she began her final assignment as a screening and escort vessel for logistic support groups of the variously designated 3d and 5th Fleets. The Iwo Jima and Ryukyus invasion areas were her main theaters of action before departing for home 9 July. Lovering arrived San Pedro, Calif., 28 July. Her overhaul was prematurely halted on 17 August. Towed to Terminal Island 6 September, she decommissioned 16 October. Struck from the Navy Register 1 November 1945, she was sold to Hugo Neu of New York City on the last day of 1946.
Lovering (DE‑39) received three battle stars for World War II service.
