DOWNES DD 375

Ship Name and Designation History

This section lists the names and designations that the ship had during its lifetime. The list is in chronological order.

Mahan Class Destroyer Keel Laid 15 August 1934 - Launched 22 April 1936 USS DOWNES DD-375 Commissioned 15 January 1937 Severely damaged in Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and Decommissioned 20 June 1942 Salvaged equipment from her hulk was taken to Mare Island where DOWNES was completely rebuilt in a new hull 1942-1943 Recommissioned 15 November 1943 - Decommissioned 17 December 1945 Stricken 28 January 1947 Sold 18 November 1947 and broken up for scrap

Commodore John Downes, USN

 

Naval Covers

This section lists active links to the pages displaying covers associated with the ship. There should be a separate set of pages for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Covers should be presented in chronological order (or as best as can be determined).

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1. USS Downes DD-375 Covers Page 1    (1936-1945)

 

Postmarks

This section lists examples of the postmarks used by the ship. There should be a separate set of postmarks for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Within each set, the postmarks should be listed in order of their classification type. If more than one postmark has the same classification, then they should be further sorted by date of earliest known usage.

A postmark should not be included unless accompanied by a close-up image and/or an image of a cover showing that postmark. Date ranges MUST be based ONLY ON COVERS IN THE MUSEUM and are expected to change as more covers are added.
 
>>> If you have a better example for any of the postmarks, please feel free to replace the existing example.

 

Postmark Type --- Killer Bar Text	Postmark Date	Thumbnail Link To Postmark Image	Thumbnail Link To Cover Image

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1st Commissioning 15 January 1937 to 20 June 1942

 

Locy Type FDC 3r (AC-BBT) "NORFOLK / NAVY YARD"

1937-01-15

Cachet by Donald A. Yontz, sponsored by the M. T. Woolsey Chapter No. 40, USCS. Contributed by Louis Kurzmiller.

 

Locy Type 3r (AC-BBT) (1937)

1938-01-15

Note:

 

Locy Type 3r (A-BTT) (1939)

1939-10-12

Columbus Day. Cachet by Walter J. Dybas

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2nd Commissioning 15 November 1943 to 17 December 1945

 

Locy Type 2z

1945-08-07

Official Business

 

Other Information

USS DOWNES earned the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ 4 Battle Stars and the WWII Victory Medal during her Naval service.

USS DOWNES was at Pearl Harbor 7 December 1941 at The Pearl Harbor Navy Yard

NAMESAKE - Commodore John Downes, USN (1786 – August 11 1854)
John Downes born in 1786 in Canton, Mass., served as acting midshipman from 9 September 1800 and was appointed midshipman 1 June 1802. He rendered distinguished service during the War with Tripoli in 1804 in frigate Congress and was executive officer for Captain David Porter in Essex during the War of 1812. He commanded Epervier, Guerriere, Ontario and Independence, and the Boston Navy Yard, and was Commodore of the Pacific and Mediterranean Squadrons. Captain Downes died at Charlestown, Mass., 11 August 1854.

The ships sponsor was Miss Sarah Carlyle Downes, great, great granddaughter of Captain Downes.

Three ships of the US Navy have borne the name DOWNES - USS Downes DD-45, USS Downes DD-375 and USS Downes FF-1070

 

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