PRESTON DD 379

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.

Mahan Class Destroyer
Keel Laid October 27 1934 - Launched April 22 1936
 
1. USS PRESTON DD 379
   Commissioned October 27 1936
   SUNK by gun fire from Japanese cruiser Nagara off Guadalcanal November 15 1942
   116 of her crew were lost with the ship and remain on duty

 

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    (1934-41)

 

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

 

USPO Slogan Machine Cancel "Mare Island Station" Vallejo, CA

1934-10-27

N/A

Keel Laid, joint keel laying with USS Smith DD 378. Navy Day.

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Locy Type FDC F "FIRST DAY IN / COMMISSION" USCS Postmark Catalog Illus. CD-1a

1936-10-27

Navy Day cachet sponsored by J. P. Clark and Eric L. Wardman
Cover also bears a postmark from USS Bridge AF-1 to commemorate the Keel Laying of USS Sturgeon SS-187. On the back is a USPO Machine postmark from "Mare Island Station", Vallejo CA dated the same day.
Note: The vast majority of FDC postmarks for PRESTON are in this condition.

 

Locy Type FDC F "FIRST DAY IN / COMMISSION" USCS Postmark Catalog Illus. CD-1a

1936-10-27

Note: The vast majority of FDC postmarks for PRESTON are in this condition. Cachet by Walter G. Crosby

 

Locy Type FDC F "FIRST DAY IN / COMMISSION" USCS Postmark Catalog Illus. CD-1a

1936-10-27

Note: The vast majority of FDC postmarks for PRESTON are in this condition.

 

Locy Type 3 (AC-TBB) "SYDNEY / AUSTRALIA"

1937-03-10

Shakedown Cruise

 

Locy Type 3r (A-BBT)

1941-10-20

Note:

 

Other Information

PRESTON earned 2 Battle Stars (WWII)

NAMESAKE - Samuel W. Preston USN (April 6 1840 - January 13 1865)
Preston was appointed Midshipman from the state of Illinois October 4 1858. Graduating first in his class, May 9 1861, he was appointed Acting Master, October 4 1861 and Lieutenant August 1 1862. From 1861 to 1863 he served on various vessels attached to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. Captured by Confederate forces during an attack on Fort Sumter September 8 1863, he was taken to Libby Prison and exchanged in the fall of 1864. Ordered to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron as Flag-Lieutenant to Rear Admiral D. D. Porter, he participated in the attacks on Fort Fisher December 24–25 1864 and January 13 1865. He was killed while leading his men against the fort on the latter date

 

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