RADFORD DD 446

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.

Fletcher Class Destroyer Keel Laid October 2 1941 - Launched May 3 1942 USS RADFORD DD-446 Commissioned July 22 1942 - Decommissioned January 17 1946 Reclassified Escort Destroyer (DDE) March 26 1949, While in reserve USS RADFORD DDE-446 Recommissioned October 17 1949 USS RADFORD DD-446 Reverted to Destroyer (DD) June 30 1962 Decommissioned November 10 1969 Struck from Naval Register November 10 1969 Sold October 1970 and broken up for scrap

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 name of the ship (for example, Bushnell AG-32 / Sumner AGS-5 are different names for the same ship so there should be one set of pages for Bushnell and one set for Sumner). 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. Radford Covers Page 1     (1943-67)

 

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	Date From to Date To	Thumbnail Link To Postmark Image	Thumbnail Link To Cover Image

 

USPO Machine Kearny, New Jersey

1942-05-03

Neumann Launching Cachet

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1st Commissioning July 22 1942 to January 17 1946

 

Locy Type 2(n) (466)

1945-12-28

The ship's hull number is incorrectly given as DD-466 in the cancel.

 

Locy Type 2# (Br. #16174)

1945-11-30

As DD-446

 

Locy Type 3z

1943-09-04

As DD-446

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2nd Commissioning October 17 1949 to November 10 1969

 

Locy Type FDPS 2(n) (DDE)

1949-12-20

As DDE-446
First Day Postal Service

 

Locy Type 2(n) (B,DDE)

1950-03-23

As DDE-446

 

Locy Type 2n+ (DD,USS)

1967-07-22

As DD-446
USCS Postmark Catalog shows Type 2(n+), clearly there are no parenthesis

 

Locy Type 2r

1959-03-29

As DDE-446

 

Locy Type 9ef(n+u) (DD,USS)

1967-06-12

As DD-446

 

Other Information

RADFORD earned 12 battle stars for World War II service, 5 battle stars for Korean War service, and 4 for Vietnam service

NAMESAKE - Rear Adm. William Radford (March 1 1808 - January 8 1890)
Radford entered the U.S. Navy during 1825. He commanded the landing party from WARREN which captured the Mexican warship MALEK ADHEL at Mazatlan and took part in other Pacific coast operations of the Mexican War. During the Civil War, he commanded the ill-fated CUMBERLAND but was on board the Frigate ROANOKE as a member of a Court of inquiry when his ship was attacked by the Confederate Casemate Ram VIRGINIA. Captain Radford subsequently commanded the Armored Ship NEW IRONSIDES during Union attacks on Fort Fisher in December 1864 and in January 1865. Promoted Rear Admiral in 1866, he commanded the European squadron during 1869 and 1870. Rear Adm. Radford died at Washington, D.C., January 8 1890

 

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