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Allied Warships

USS Aaron Ward (iii) (DM 34)

Destroyer of the Sumner class

NavyThe US Navy
TypeDestroyer
ClassSumner 
PennantDM 34 
Built byBethlehem Steel Corp. (San Pedro, California, U.S.A.) 
Ordered 
Laid down12 Dec, 1943 
Launched5 May, 1944 
Commissioned28 Oct, 1944 
End service28 Sep, 1945 
Loss position
 
HistoryFormer DD 773, completed as Destroyer Minelayer DM-34.
Heavily damaged by Japanese kamikaze aircraft 3 May 1945 while off Okinawa, 27 of her crew were lost in this attack.
Decommissioned 28 September 1945.
Stricken 11 October 1945.
Scrapped in 1946. 

Noteable events involving Aaron Ward (iii) include:

9 Feb, 1945
USS Aaron Ward departs San Diego bound for Pearl Harbour.

15 Feb, 1945
USS Aaron Ward arrives at Pearl Harbour.

5 Mar, 1945
USS Aaron Ward departs Pearl Harbour bound for Ulithi.

16 Mar, 1945
USS Aaron Ward arrives at Ulithi.

19 Mar, 1945
USS Aaron Ward departs Ulithi to participate in the operations of Okinawa.

22 Mar, 1945
USS Aaron Ward arrives in the Okinawa area.

4 Apr, 1945
USS Aaron Ward departs the Okinawa area bound for Saipan.

10 Apr, 1945
USS Aaron Ward arrives at Saipan. She left Saipan for Guam the same day. She stayed at Guam for a few days before returning to the Okinawa area.

3 May, 1945
While operating of Okinawa USS Aaron Ward is hit by several kamikaze aircraft in position 26º24'N, 126º15'E resulting in massive damage. Through barely afloat Aaron Ward was towed to Kerama Retto where she arrived the following day for temporary repairs. (see map)

11 Jun, 1945
USS Aardon Ward departs Kerama Retto bound for the United States east coast.


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