ARTHUR W RADFORD DD 968

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.

Spruance Class Destroyer Keel Laid January 31 1974 - Launched February 27 1975 USS ARTHUR W. RADFORD DD-968 Commissioned April 16 1977- Decommissioned March 20 2003 Struck from Naval Register April 6 2004 Loaned to Northrup Grumman Ship Systems Converted into trial ship for the DDX design The Navy announced Aug. 20 2009 it will transfer the hulk to the state of Delaware for use as an artificial reef

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    (1977-84)

 

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

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Post Office Established April 16 1977 - Disestablished March 20 2003

 

Locy Type FDC 2-1(n) Apr 16, 1977

1977-04-16

First Day in Commission

 

Locy Type 2-1(n) (A.W.RADFORD,no USS)

1977-06-10

Note: Postmarks are not supposed to abbreviate or truncate ship names.

 

Locy Type 2-1(n+) (USS, A. W. RADFORD)

1984-04-09

Note:

 

Locy Type 9-1(nu) (USS,A.W.RADFORD)

1982-05-31

Note:

 

Locy Type 9-1(n+u) (USS, A. W. RADFORD)

1984-04-09

Note:

 

Locy Type F FPO AE 08586-1206

2003-03-18

Deactivation
Stephen Decatur Chapter No. 4, USCS

 

Locy Type 2

2003-03-20

Decommissioning
Stephen Decatur Chapter No. 4, USCS

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USPS Pictorial "Decommissioning Station" Norfolk, VA

2003-03-20

Decommissioning
Stephen Decatur Chapter No. 4, USCS

 

Other Information

NAMESAKE - Admiral Arthur William Radford, USN (February 27 1896 – August 17 1973).
Adm. Radford also held the positions of Commander-in-Chief of the United States Pacific Command (1949-53) and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1953 to 1957.

 

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