USS Cross (DE-448) was a
''John C. Butler''-class destroyer escort in service with the
United States Navy from 1945 to 1946 and from 1951 to 1958. She was sold for scrapping in 1968.
Namesake
Frederick Gushing Cross, Jr. was born on 8 July 1917 in
Lunenburg, Massachusetts. He enlisted in the
United States Naval Reserve on 22 March 1941, and after aviation training was ordered to a bombing squadron at
Naval Air Station DeLand
Naval Air Station DeLand was a United States Naval Air Station located in DeLand, Florida from 1942 to 1946. After the war, the airfield and associated infrastructure was redeveloped into DeLand Municipal Airport.
History
The City of DeLand bega ...
,
Florida.
Lieutenant (junior grade) Cross was killed in action on 7 August 1943 during an engagement with an enemy submarine. Although he was mortally wounded and his plane had a shattered starboard engine, he continued to attack the submarine, then made a perfect water landing, thus saving the lives of his copilot and radio operator. He was posthumously awarded the
Navy Cross.
History
''Cross'' was launched 4 July 1944 by
Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock
The Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company was a United States shipyard, active from 1917 to 1948. It was founded during World War I to build ships for the United States Shipping Board. During World War II, it built ships as part of the U.S. Gov ...
Co.,
Kearny, New Jersey; sponsored by Mrs. D. F. Cross, mother of the late Lieutenant (junior grade) ''Cross'', USNR; and commissioned 8 January 1945.
Pacific War
Departing
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' ...
22 March 1945, ''Cross'' called at
San Diego, California, before arriving at
Pearl Harbor for additional training. She sailed on 8 May escorting a convoy for
Ulithi, and from 29 May to 11 September ''Cross'' continued to escort vital supply-laden
convoys from Ulithi to
Okinawa. After repairs at Okinawa, she called at San Diego and
Boston, Massachusetts, then put in at
Green Cove Springs, Florida, where she was placed out of commission in reserve 14 June 1946.
Training ship
Recommissioned 6 June 1951, ''Cross'' was assigned to the
1st Naval District to serve as a
training ship for
New England Naval Reservists. She remained in this employment until placed in reserve again 2 January 1958. She was struck from the
Navy list on 1 July 1966, and, on 5 March 1968, she was sold for scrapping.
Military awards
''Cross'' was awarded one
battle star for
World War II service.
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cross (DE-448)
John C. Butler-class destroyer escorts
World War II frigates and destroyer escorts of the United States
Ships built in Kearny, New Jersey
1944 ships