Fredericksburg in Gillespie County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

U.S.S. Halford (DD-480)

Photographed By James Hulse, August 18, 2023

1. U.S.S. Halford (DD-480) Marker

Inscription. Dedicated to All Shipmates Who Served in the Pacific Theater Aboard

U.S.S. Halford (DD-480)

Shown as Commissioned with Catapult and Kingfisher Scout Plane
One of only Three Destroyers Built with this Configuration

Commissioned: 10 April 1943 - Decommissioned: 15 May 1946
Alterations Completed 6 December 1943 to Remove Catapult
and Reconfigure as Standard Fletcher Type Destroyer

Awarded 13 Battle Stars

Launched Torpedoes at Japanese Battleship in Battle of Surigao Strait

Erected 2003 by Shipmate James L. and wife Berta L. Hackney.

Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, World II.

Location. 30° 16.346′ N, 98° 52.032′ W. Marker is in Fredericksburg, Texas, in Gillespie County. Memorial is at the intersection of East Main Street and North Washington Street on East Main Street. The marker is located in the central section of the WWII Veterans Memorial Courtyard which is a part of the National Museum of the Pacific War. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 340 E Main St, Fredericksburg TX 78624, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. U.S.S. Fletcher (here, next to this marker); Americal Division (here, next to this

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marker); Three Feindt Boys (here, next to this marker); U.S.S. Trenton (CL-11) (here, next to this marker); U.S.S. Pondera (APA-191) (here, next to this marker); U.S.S. Bisbee (PF46) (here, next to this marker); U.S.S. Wm. P. Biddle (APA-8) (here, next to this marker); U.S.S. Centaurus (AKA17) (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fredericksburg.

Also see . . . USS Halford. Wikipedia

Halford was one of the three Fletcher-class destroyers to be completed (out of six planned) with a catapult for a float plane, the others being Pringle and Stevens. The catapult and an aircraft crane were located just aft of the number 2 smokestack, in place of the after torpedo tube mount, 5 inch mount number 3, and the 2nd deck of the after deck house which normally carried a twin 40 mm anti-aircraft gun on most ships of the class. (The twin 40 mm mount was moved to the fantail, just forward of the depth charge racks, where most ships of the class carried 20 mm mounts.) It was intended that the float plane be used for scouting for
Photographed By James Hulse, August 18, 2023

2. The U.S.S. Halford (DD-480) Marker is the first large marker on the right side
the destroyer flotilla which the ship was attached to. It would be launched by the catapult, land on the water next to the ship, and be recovered by the aircraft crane. It turned out to be not operationally suitable for the intended purpose, and the three ships were ultimately converted to the standard Fletcher-class configuration.

(Submitted on February 15, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

U.S.S. Halford (DD-480) image. Click for full size.

Public Domain - US Navy, July 14, 1943

3. U.S.S. Halford (DD-480)

Front view of A & B-turrets of USS Halford (DD-480) image. Click for full size.

Public Domain - US Navy, circa 1943/1945

4. Front view of A & B-turrets of USS Halford (DD-480)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 15, 2024. It was originally submitted on February 14, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 60 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 15, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.