USS Pillsbury (DD-227)

The first USS "Pillsbury" (DD-227) was a "Clemson"-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was named for John E. Pillsbury.

History

"Pillsbury" was laid down by William Cramp and Sons on 23 October 1919; launched 3 August 1920; sponsored by Miss Helen Langdon Richardson; and commissioned 15 December 1920, Lieutenant H. W. Barnes in command.

"Pillsbury" served for many years with the Asiatic Fleet. On 27 November 1941, by order of the Commander Asiatic Fleet, Admiral Thomas C. Hart, "Pillsbury" departed from Manila under the command of Lt. Commander Harold C. Pound, together with other units of the fleet. For some time she operated in the vicinity of Borneo, and was in that area when the Japanese struck at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941.

After the war commenced, "Pillsbury", together with United States, Dutch and Australian naval vessels, operated out of Balikpapan on reconnaissance sorties and on anti-submarine patrols. Later she moved to Surabaya, Java, and from there made night patrols with cruisers "Houston" and "Marblehead" and destroyers of Division 58, including the Battle of Badoeng Strait on 4 February 1942.

On 18 February the Japanese began moving ashore on Bali and the American-British-Dutch-Australian Command (ABDA) surface forces including "Pillsbury" set out to disrupt further landings from a Japanese convoy reported in the area.

While steaming through Badoeng Strait on the night of 19–20 February during the Battle of Badoeng Strait, "Pillsbury" fired three torpedoes at a Japanese ship without result. A searchlight was trained on "Pillsbury", and several shots were fired at her. She turned to starboard and make smoke to escape the light. The relatively small Allied forces at this time were forced to lightning strikes and rapid evasive retirement in the face of superior Japanese forces in the dim hope of disrupting the enemy advance.

At 02:10 "Pillsbury" sighted a ship dead ahead and opened up with her main battery and .50 calibre guns. The amidships gun crew of the Japanese ship was put out of action by the first burst of the .50 calibre machine guns. The target ship then received a direct hit with a shell from either "Pillsbury" or from the destroyer in the opposite column. This caused the Japanese destroyer to swing to starboard. The spotter then observed three sure hits from "Pillsbury": one on the bridge, one amidships and one on the fantail. As soon as the last shot hit, the Japanese ship erupted in flames, and her firing ceased.

At this time "Pillsbury" and "Parrott" (DD–218) were detached from the striking force and sent to Tjilatjap. After the action around Bali the ships had few torpedoes and were badly in need of overhaul.

Fate

A few days later "Pillsbury" met her end. There are no US logs or battle reports giving the details of the action in which "Pillsbury", "Asheville" (PG–21) and "Edsall" (DD–219) were sunk, and their fates were mysterious until after the war when Japanese logs could be examined. A powerful force of Japanese ships was operating to the south of Java to prevent the escape of Allied ships from that area. The Japanese force consisted of four battleships, five cruisers of Cruiser Division 4, the aircraft carrier "Sōryū" and the destroyers of Destroyer Squadron 4.

"Edsall" was sunk in the Battle of the Java Sea on 1 March 1942. At 18:24 she received a direct hit from the battleship "Hiei" and at 18:35 another from the cruiser "Tone". "Edsall" was also attacked by nine Aichi D3A dive bombers from "Sōryū" and eight from "Akagi", which hit her with several bombs, leaving her dead in the water by 18:50. She was destroyed by the cruiser "Chikuma" and sank at 19:00 with 5-8 survivors.

In a night surface action on 2 March 1942 "Pillsbury" was overtaken by two Japanese cruisers of Cruiser Division 4. She was engaged by "Takao" and "Atago", and at 21:02 sank with the loss of all hands.

"Asheville", slowed by engine troubles, was caught at 09:06 on 3 March by the destroyers "Arashi" and "Nowaki" and sunk after a 30-minute battle. One crew member was rescued from the water, but died later in a prisoner of war camp.

All three sinkings took place approximately 200 miles east of Christmas Island. After sinking the three U.S. ships, the Japanese forces retired from the scene.

"Pillsbury" received two battle stars for World War II service. See USS "Pillsbury" for other ships of this name.

References

*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/p7/pillsbury-i.htm

External links

*http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/227.htm
*Movement records for "Takao", "Atago" and "Tone" from [http://www.combinedfleet.com/ combinedfleet.com]