USS Hugh W. Hadley (DD-774)

The USS Hugh W. Hadley (DD-774) served in the U.S. Navy for two years during World War II. She was named for Hugh William Hadley, a U.S. Navy officer killed in action early in World War II. Hugh W. Hadley was built as an Allen M. Sumner-class ship.

Construction

Hugh W. Hadley was laid down in San Pedro, California by Bethlehem Steel in February 1944. She was launched in July 1944 and commissioned in November 1944, with Commander L.C. Chamberlin at the helm. Hugh W. Hadley carried a crew of 336 and had a cruising speed of 36.5 knots. She was armed with six five-inch anti-aircraft guns, twelve 40-millimeter anti-aircraft guns, eleven 20-millimeter anti-aircraft guns, and ten 21-inch torpedo tubes.

Naval History

Hugh W. Hadley began her service in the Pacific Ocean in February 1945. Upon her arrival at Pearl Harbor, she was dispatched to Okinawa to support the impending invasion. During the early days of the operation, the destroyer patrolled for submarines, escorted soldiers to the beach, and transported equipment.

After a short trip to Saipan, Hugh W. Hadley returned to Okinawa in late April. In the days that followed, she patrolled for submarines, provided fighter direction, and rescued a downed pilot. On May 10, the vessel was assigned to radar picket duty along with several other American ships. The following morning, Hugh W. Hadley and her companion, the USS Evans, were attacked by a fleet of 150 kamikaze planes. Evans was rendered dead in the water first, and Hugh W. Hadley soon neared the other ship’s fate when she was attacked by ten planes simultaneously. While all ten enemy planes were destroyed by the ship’s crew, the destroyer suffered two bomb blasts and two kamikaze collisions. The majority of her men were evacuated in life rafts, and Hugh W. Hadley limped back to Ie Shima with a skeleton crew.

Hugh W. Hadley eventually received the Presidential Unit Citation for her actions during the battle, during which she was responsible for downing 23 enemy planes and splashing many others. After temporary repairs in the Pacific region, Hugh W. Hadley returned to the US in September 1945 and was swiftly decommissioned. She was later broken up and sold for scrap.

Asbestos Risk on the USS Hugh W. Hadley (DD-774)

Asbestos insulation was present in almost all sections of Hugh W. Hadley, both installed inside ship’s equipment and as an insulator and fireproofing material in various compartments. The highest concentration of asbestos materials was in engineering sections, where it was found in boilers, turbines, engines, and pumps.

Protracted exposure to asbestos, particularly airborne fibers, is linked to the development mesothelioma and other diseases. Combat damage causes the disruption of installed asbestos materials, making them friable. Such products easily release great clouds of harmful asbestos fibers. The severe damage suffered by Hadley from attacks by Japanese pilots greatly increased the asbestos risk to her crew.

Sources

Haze Gray & Underway. Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. DD-774. (http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/destroy/dd774txt.htm) Retrieved 20 February 2011.

NavSource Naval History, USS Hugh W. Hadley (DD-774).
(http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/774.htm) Retrieved 20 February 2011.