WILSON DD 408
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.
- Benham Class Destroyer
- USS WILSON DD-408
Commissioned July 5 1939 - Decommissioned August 28 1946
Damaged in Atom Bomb Test at Bikini Atoll July 1946
Scuttled off Kwajalein March 8 1948
Struck from Naval Register April 5 1948
Keel Laid March 22 1937 - Launched April 12 1939
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.
- USS Wilson DD-408 Covers Page 1 (1939-46)
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 |
Postmark Date |
Thumbnail Link To Postmark Image |
Thumbnail Link To Cover Image |
|---|
|
Locy Type |
1939-07-05 |
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Commissioning
|
Locy Type |
1945-08-06 |
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Censored wartime (WWII) use
|
Locy Type |
1946-06-22 |
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Post office discontinued January 9 1946
|
Locy Type |
1939-10-26 |
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Note:
|
Locy Type |
1942-04-23 |
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Note:
|
Locy Type |
1939-09-04 |
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Note:
Other Information
WILSON received 11 battle stars for her service during World War II
NAMESAKE - Charles Wilson USN (1836 - ?)
Wilson enlisted in the U.S. Navy on October 15 1861, at Chicago, Illinois. Assigned to Gunboat CARONDELET, commanded by Cmdr. Henry Walke. Seaman Wilson served in that gunboat during the operations which captured Forts Henry and Donaldson in February 1862. He exhibited conspicuous courage under fire on the night of April 4 1862 during the flotilla's passage down the Mississippi River past Island No. 10 to New Madrid. During the passage, Wilson, knee deep in water and exposed to Confederate gunfire stood on the bow as he took soundings and called out the depths of the river, enabling CARONDELET to make the passage safely. His soundings were the only significant guide for the gunboat as it threaded its way through the tortuous channel. Walke's running the gauntlet turned out to be a crucial factor in the Union's capture of Island No. 10 and its later operations to the southward. Later that year, the gallant sailor also served during the capture of rebel batteries opposite Point Pleasant on April 6 and Confederate positions below Madrid on the 7th. He took part in the naval engagement above Fort Pillow on the 10th, in the Battle of Memphis on June 6, and in the action with the Confederate Ram CSS ARKANSAS on July 15. On January 24 1863 Walke officially commended Wilson "for the distinguished service." Wilson eventually attained the rank of Boatswain
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