Destroyer Squadron 45 was the last squadron of 2100-ton Fletcher-class destroyers to join the Pacific war before the end of the Solomon Islands campaign. Initially it consisted of nine ships, commissioned between Decemb

Visit Bob Ross’ DesRon 45 home page, long-time primary source of information from and for shipmates and reunion organizations.

er 1942 and May 1943 ... Guest (DD 472),

Destroyer Squadron 45 November 1943 Destroyer Division 89 USS Guest, DD 472 USS Bennett, DD 473 USS Fullam, DD 474, flagship USS Hudson, DD 475 USS Halford, DD 480 Destroyer Division 90 USS Terry, DD 513 USS Anthony, DD 515 USS Wadsworth, DD 516 USS Braine, DD 630

Bennett (DD 473), Fullam (flagship, DD 474) and Hudson (DD 475) the first four Fletchers built at Boston Navy Yard, Halford (DD 480); built at Puget Sound Navy Yard and initially fitted with a seaplane catapult; and Terry (DD 513), Anthony (DD 515), Wadsworth (DD 516) and Braine (DD 630) from Bath Iron Works.

Destroyer Squadron 45 World War II Operations

   They formed the escort for the invasion of Bougainville, 1 November 1943, then earned stars for operations in the Pacific war including the cosolidation of the northern Solomon Islands, the Bismarck Archipelago operation and the invasions of the Mariana Islands and Palau. While Halford continued operating in the Philippines and Braine was detached to join DesRon 23, the remainder returned to the West Coast for overhaul and then were joined in December 1944 by Howorth (DD 591) for the Iwo Jima and Okinawa invasions. While the five ships of DesDiv 89 ended the war in Alaskan waters, too late to see action there, DesDiv 90 remained with the Third Fleet during its closing operations against Japan.

DECORATIONS
   For action at Okinawa, Wadsworth was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation while Bennett, Hudson and Anthony each received the Navy Unit Commendation.