ROBERT F KELLER DE 419

Ship Name and Designation History

This section lists the names and designations that the ship had during its lifetime. The list is in chronological order.

John C. Butler Class Type WGT Destroyer Escort Keel Laid January 12 1944 - Launched February 19 1944 USS ROBERT F. KELLER DE-419 Commissioned June 17 1944 - Decommissioned April 24 1946 ROBERT F. KELLER DE-419 Placed In Service September 1946 USS ROBERT F. KELLER DE-419 Recommissioned March 15 1962 - Decommissioned August 1 1962 ROBERT F. KELLER DE-419 Placed In Service 1962 - Out of Service January 1965 Struck from Naval Register July 1 1972 Sold February 5 1974 for scrap

Naval Covers

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1. USS Robert F. Keller DE-419 Covers Page 1     (1945-62)

 

Postmarks

This section lists examples of the postmarks used by the ship. There should be a separate set of postmarks for each name and/or commissioning period. Within each set, the postmarks should be listed in order of their classification type. If more than one postmark has the same classification, then they should be further sorted by date of earliest known usage.

A postmark should not be included unless accompanied by a close-up image and/or an image of a cover showing that postmark. Date ranges MUST be based ONLY ON COVERS IN THE MUSEUM and are expected to change as more covers are added.
 
>>> If you have a better example for any of the postmarks, please feel free to replace the existing example.

 

Postmark Type --- Killer Bar Text	Postmark Date	Thumbnail Link To Postmark Image	Thumbnail Link To Cover Image

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1st Commissioning June 17 1944 to April 24 1946

 

Locy Type 9# (Br. #15469)

1945-08-30

Note:

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2nd Commissioning March 15 1962 to August 1 1962

 

Locy Type FDPS 2(n)(USS)

1962-03-15

First Day Postal Service, add-on cachet by Michael Hebert

 

Locy Type 2(n)(USS)

1962-06-24

Add-on cachet by Michael Hebert

 

Other Information

USS ROBERT F. KELLER earned the Combat Action Ribbon, the Navy Expeditionary Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ 5 battle stars, the World War II Victory Medal, the National Defense Service Medal w/ 1 star and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon w/ 1 star during her Naval career.

NAMESAKE - Robert Franklin Keller USNR (January 16 1918 - June 14 1942)
Keller enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve as Seaman second class at Kansas City, Kans., February 14 1941, and was appointed Aviation Cadet May 15 1941. He was commissioned Ensign, USNR, October 10 1941. Following training in Kansas, Florida, Texas, and California, he reported February 15 1942 to Patrol Squadron 43. He earned the Air Medal as second pilot of a patrol plane in action against enemy Japanese forces during the Aleutian Islands Campaign June 10-20 1942. "Braving severe Alaskan weather and with a low ceiling forcing his plane to fly through clouds to carry out its attack mission against Japanese ships in Kiska Harbor, Ensign Keller skillfully assisted in determined dive-bombing and strafing attacks. Pulling out in the clear at a very low altitude, his plane was subjected to withering antiaircraft fire from enemy ship and shore batteries and pierced by shrapnel and lighter caliber projectiles" on June 14 1942, and failed to return from the mission.

The ships sponsor was Mrs. Peter S. Keller.

 

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