McCALLA DD 253

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.

Clemson Class Destroyer
Keel Laid September 25 1918 - Launched March 28 1919


1. USS McCALLA Destroyer No. 253
   Commissioned May 19 1919
   Placed "In Reserve" November 26 1919
   
   
2. USS McCALLA DD-253
   Designated (DD) July 17 1920
   Decommissioned June 30 1922
   Recommissioned December 18 1939 - Decommissioned October 23 1940
   
   Stricken January 8 1941
   
   
3. HMS STANLEY I-73 (British Naval Service)
   Transferred to Great Britain October 23 1940 (Famous Fifty)
   SUNK by German U-574 December 19 1941

 

Naval Covers

This section lists active links to the pages displaying covers associated with the ship. There should be a separate set of pages for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Covers should be presented in chronological order (or as best as can be determined).

Since a ship may have many covers, they may be split among many pages so it doesn't take forever for the pages to load. Each page link should be accompanied by a date range for covers on that page.

1. Covers Page 1    (1939-40)

 

Postmarks

This section lists examples of the postmarks used by the ship. There should be a separate set of postmarks for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). 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	Date From to Date To	Thumbnail Link To Postmark Image	Thumbnail Link To Cover Image

 

Locy Type FDR RECD USCS Postmark Catalog Illus. CD-R2

1939-12-18

First Day Recommissioning

 

Locy Type FDPS 3

1940-02-05

First Day of Postal Service, Second Commissioning
Cachet from Dr. S. E. Hutnick, RCD #70

 

Other Information

NAMESAKE - Bowman H. McCalla (June 19 1844 - May 6 1910)
McCalla was appointed Midshipman November 30 1861 . McCalla’s courage and leadership during his career often earned him great, and due, respect among his fellow officers. In the spring of 1885 he led an expeditionary force of 750 seamen and marines which landed at Panama to protect American treaty rights as a revolution there threatened to block transit across the isthmus. As commanding officer of USS MARBLEHEAD C-11, he took part in the blockade of Cuba and was responsible for the cutting of submarine cables linking Cienfuegos with the outside world, thus isolating the Spanish garrison there in May 1898. While in command of USS NEWARK C-1, during the Boxer Rebellion 2 years later, he was cited for conspicuous gallantry in battle as he led a force of bluejackets from Tientsin to Peking. McCalla’s force of 112 men spearheaded an international column, under British Admiral Seymour, which was attempting to fight its way to the aid of foreign legations under seige at Peking. In the course of the battle at Hsiku Arsenal, McCalla, along with 25 of his force, was wounded; five were killed. Commissioned Rear Admiral October 11 1903, he served as the Commandant of Mare Island Naval Shipyard. He entered on the retired list June 19 1906, McCalla died May 6 1910 at Santa Barbara, Calif., and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

 

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