-- President John F. Kennedy 1963, Annapolis, MD
This contains the History of the three USS Benham Destroyers named for Rear Admiral Andrew Elliot Kennedy Benham. Data taken from the DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN NAVAL FIGHTING SHIPS is quoted for all three vessels. In addition, other information will be given as it is written in the Benham newsletter and other confirmed sources.
Immediately below is Benham I DD49, or you may go directly to one of the others
Born on Staten Island, N. Y., 10 April 1832, Andrew Ellicot Kennedy Benham was appointed a Midshipman in 1847. He took part in the Paraguay Expedition (1854-55) and served with both the South Atlantic and West Gulf Blockading Squadrons during the Civil War. He commanded the North Atlantic Station 1892-93, and retired the following year. Rear Admiral Benham died at Lake Mahopac, N. Y., 11 August 1905.
I (DD-49: dp. 1036; l. 305'3"; b. 31'2"; dr. 10'6"; s. 29 k.; cpl. 133; a. 4 4", 8 18" TT.; cl. Aylwin)
The first Benham (DD-49) was launched 22 March 1913 by William Cramp and Sons Ship and Engine Building Co., Philadelphia, Pa.; sponsored by Miss Edith Wallace Benham, daughter of Rear Admiral Benham; and commissioned 20 January 1914, Lieutenant Commander C. R. Train in command.
Following a shakedown cruise to the Caribbean, Benham went into reserve 24 July 1914. Recommissioned 21 December 1914, she joined the Torpedo Flotilla, Atlantic Fleet, for training and patrol along the east coast. She rescued the crew of the Dutch steamship Blommersdijk 8 October 1916, after the steamer had been sunk by a German submarine off New England. Departing Tompkinsville, N. Y., 15 May 1917 Benham patrolled out of Queenstown, Ireland, until shifted to Brest, France, 10 June 1918. Benham patrolled out of Brest until the end of World War I, departing for the United States 21 December 1918.
Rejoining the Atlantic Fleet early in 1919 Benham took part in maneuvers before going into commission in ordinary at Norfolk 28 June 1919. During 1921 she cruised along the Atlantic coast until assigned to Air Squadrons, Atlantic Fleet, as a plane guard and tender. Released from that duty in May 1922, she proceeded to Philadelphia where she remained until decommissioned 7 July 1922. She was broken up during 1935 and the material sold 23 April 1935.
Born on Staten Island, N. Y., 10 April 1832, Andrew Ellicot Kennedy Benham was appointed a Midshipman in 1847. He took part in the Paraguay Expedition (1854-55) and served with both the South Atlantic and West Gulf Blockading Squadrons during the Civil War. He commanded the North Atlantic Station 1892-93, and retired the following year. Rear Admiral Benham died at Lake Mahopac, N. Y., 11 August 1905.
II (DD-397; dp. 1500; l. 341'4"; b. 35'; dr. 17'2"; s. 36.5 k.; cpl. 251; a. 4 5", 16 21" TT.; cl. Benham)
The second Benham (DD-397) was launched 16 April 1938 by Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Kearny, N. J.; sponsored by Mrs. A. I. Dorr, grandniece of Rear Admiral Benham; and commissioned 2 February 1939, Lieutenant Commander T. F. Darden in command.
Assigned to the Atlantic Fleet Benham patrolled off Newfoundland during most of 1939 and then shifted to the Gulf of Mexico. Ordered to the Pacific, she arrived at Pearl Harbor 14 April 1940. After alternating between Californian and Hawaiian waters, the destroyer served as an escort for Enterprise (CV-6) during the delivery of Marine planes to Midway (28 November-8 December 1941), thus missing the attack on Pearl Harbor. Benham served with the Enterprise and Saratoga (CV-3) task forces off Hawaii and with TF 16 during the Doolittle raid on Tokyo (8-25 April 1942). She continued operating with TF 16 through the Battle of Midway (3-6 June), during which she rescued 720 survivors from Yorktown (CV-5) and 188 from Hammann (DD-412), landings on Guadalcanal and Tulagi (7-9 August), and the Battle of the Eastern Solomons (23-25 August). Benham joined TF 64 on 15 October as part of the naval covering force off Guadalcanal. During 14-15 November she took part in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. At 0038, 15 November she took a torpedo forward, lost her bow, and had to withdraw from the battle. Benham doggedly stayed afloat, making slow headway towards Guadalcanal during the 15th but, by 1637, further progress was impossible and her valiant crew had to abandon. Gwin (DD-433) picked up the survivors and sank the hulk at 1938 by shellfire.
Benham (DD-397) received five battle stars for her 11 months service in World War II.
06/02/42 Tue. Two carrier task forces (Rear Adm. F. J. Fletcher and Rear Adm. R. A. Spruance) rendezvous about 350 miles northeast of Midway Island. [Composition of United States naval forces at the Battle of Midway was as follows: Rear Adm. F. J. Fletcher (Task Force 17) - carrier YORKTOWN (CV-5), heavy cruiser PORTLAND (CA-33) and ASTORIA (CA-34), and destroyers HUGHES (DD-410), ANDERSON (DD-411), HAMMANN (DD-412), RUSSELL (DD- 414), MORRIS (DD-417), and GWIN (DD-433); Rear Adm. R. A. Spruance (Task Force 16) - carriers ENTERPRISE (CV-6) and HORNET (CV-8), heavy cruiser PENSACOLA (CA-24), NORTHAMPTON (CA-26), NEW ORLEANS (CA-32), MINNEAPOLIS (CA-36), and VINCENNES (CA-44), light cruiser ATLANTA (CL-51), destroyers DEWEY (DD-349), WORDEN (DD-352), MONAGHAN (DD-354), AYLWIN (DD-355), PHELPS (DD-360) BALCH (DD-363), CONYNGHAM (DD-371), BENHAM (DD-397), ELLET (DD-398), MAURY (DD-401), and MONSSEN (DD-436), oilers CIMARRON (AO-22), and PLATTE (AO-24); and submarines on patrol and scouting duty NARWHAL (SS-167), NAUTILUS (SS-168), DOLPHIN (SS-169), CACHALOT (SS-170), CUTTLEFISH (SS-171), PIKE (SS-173), TARPON (SS-175), PLUNGER (SS-179), TAMBOR (SS-198), TROUT (SS-202), GRAYLING (SS-209), GRENADIER (SS-210), GUDGEON (SS-211), GATO (SS-212), GROUPER (SS-214), GROWLER (SS-215), FLYING FISH (SS-229), FINBACK (SS-230), and TRIGGER (SS-237).]
11/15/42 Sun. Naval Battle of Guadalcanal ends. [Although the United States
suffered greater loss in warships, the Japanese withdrew and
never again sent large naval forces into the waters around
Guadalcanal; the ultimate outcome of the struggle for the
island was decided.]
United States naval vessel sunk:
Destroyer BENHAM (DD-397), damaged by torpedo from surface
vessel and sunk by United States forces, off Guadalcanal,
Solomon Islands.
United States naval vessels damaged:
Battleship SOUTH DAKOTA (BB-57), by naval gunfire,
Battle of Guadalcanal.
Destroyer GWIN (DD-433), by naval gunfire,
Battle of Guadalcanal.
Cargo ship ELECTRA (AK-21), by submarine torpedo,
off North Africa,
33 d. 45' N., 07 d. 52 W.
Cargo ship ALMAACK (AK-27), by submarine torpedo,
off North Africa,
36 d. 19' N., 07 d. 52 W.
Japanese naval vessels sunk, Battle of Guadalcanal:
Battleship KIRISHIMA, by naval gunfire.
Destroyer AYANAMI, by naval gunfire.
Orders of Battle for the Doolittle Raid and the Battle of Midway
Compiled by Matthew Rodriguez Jr.
United States Naval Forces/
The Doolittle Raid: April 18, 1942
Aircraft Carriers:
CV-6 USS Enterprise CV-8 USS Hornet (Carried B-25 bombers)
Heavy Cruisers:
CA-25 USS Salt Lake City CA-26 USS Northampton
CA-44 USS Vincennes
Light Cruiser:
CL-43 US Nashville
Destroyers:
DD-363 USS Balch DD-385 USS Fanning
DD-397 USS Benham DD-398 USS Ellet
DD-433 USS Gwin DD-434 USS Merideth
DD-435 USS Grayson DD-436 USS Monssen
United States Naval Forces:
The Battle of Midway: June 1-3, 1942
Aircraft Carriers (3):
CV-5 USS Yorktown CV-6 USS Enterprise CV-8 USS Hornet
Heavy Cruisers (7):
CA-24 USS Pensacola CA-26 USS Northampton
CA-32 USS New Orleans CA-33 USS Portland CA-34 USS Astoria
CA-36 USS Minneapolis CA-44 USS Vincennes
Light Cruisers (1):
CL-51 USS Atlanta
Destroyers (14):
DD-352 USS Worden DD-354 USS Monaghan DD-355 USS Alywin
DD-360 USS Phelphs DD-363 USS Balch
DD-371 USS Conygham DD-397 USS Benham DD-398 USS Ellet
DD-401 USS Maury DD-410 USS Hughes
DD-411 USS Anderson DD-412 USS Hammann DD-414 USS Russell
DD-417 USS Morris
Submarines (25):
SS-167 USS Narwhal SS-168 USS Nautilus SS-169 USS Dolphin
SS-170 USS Cacholt SS-171 USS Cuttlefish
SS-172 USS Porpoise SS-173 USS Pike SS-175 USS Tarpon
SS-179 USS Plunger SS-180 USS Pollack SS-181 USS Pompano
SS-198 USS Tambor SS-202 USS Trout SS-203 USS Tuna
SS-209 USS Grayling SS-210 USS Grenadier SS-211 USS Gudgeon
SS-212 USS Gato SS-213 USS Greenling SS-214 USS Grouper
SS-215 USS Growling SS-228 USS Drum
SS-229 USS Flying Fish SS-230 USS Finback SS-237 USS Trigger
- DD-796 Benham (Fletcher Class) Laid down by Bethlehem Steel , Staten Is. April 3 1943. Launched August 30 1943 and commissioned December 20 1943. Decommissioned October 18 1946, Recommissioned March 24 1951. Decommissioned December 15 1960, Stricken January 15 1974. To Peru December 15 1960. Renamed Villar, Stricken and broken up for scrap in 1980.
12/18/44 Mon. Typhoon east of the Philippine Islands heavily
damages ships of the Third Fleet.
United States naval vessels sunk:
Destroyers HULL (DD-350), MONAGHAN (DD-354), and
SPENCE (DD-512), by typhoon, east of Philippine Islands.
PT-300, by suicide plane, Mindoro area, P. I.,
12 degrees 19'North., 121 degrees 05'E.
United States naval vessels damaged by typhoon, east of Philippine Islands:
Light carriers COWPENS (CVL-25), MONTEREY (CVL-26),
CABOT (CVL-28), and SAN JACINTO (CVL-30);
Escort carrier ALTAMAHA (CVE-18), NEHENTA BAY (CVE-74),
CAPE ESPERANCE (CVE-88), and KWAJAlEIN (CVE-98);
Light cruiser MIAMI (CL-89);
Destroyers DEWEY (DD-349), AYLWIN (DD-355), BUCHANAN (DD-484),
DYSON (DD-572), HICKOX (DD-673, MADDOX (DD-731), and
BENHAM (DD-796);
Destroyer escorts MELVIN R.NAWMAN (DE-416),
TABBERER (DE-418), and WATERMAN (DE-740);
Oiler NANTAHALA (AO-60);
Fleet tug JICARILLA (ATF-104).
04/17/45 Tue. Army forces are landed near Malabang, Parang, and Cotabato
on Mindanao, P. I., by naval attack group (Rear Adm. A. G
Noble); landings arc supported by cruiser and destroyer
gunfire and air attack.
United States naval vessel damaged:
Destroyer BENHAM (DD-796), by suicide plane and
accidentally by United States naval gunfire, Okinawa area,
24 d. 01'N., 132 d. 32'E.
During what was to be her shakedown period she was directed to the waters off Bermuda to search for an enemy submarine. No sub was found and 28 days later she escorted a tanker bound for Norfolk to its destination and then returned to New York for post shakedown repairs. On Feb 28, 1944 she left for Pearl Harbor in company with the destroyer tender USS Piedmont. Passing through the Panama Canal, they reach Pearl on March 27. The Benham took part in training exercises around the Hawaiian Islands in preparation for the comming Marianas Campaign. During night carrier operations on April 24 she collided with the destroyer USS Uhlmann. Extensive bow damage required the Benham to go into dry dock and on May 12 Commander Fredrick S. Keeler was appointed the Benham's new Commanding Officer. Leaving Pearl at the end of May with a CVE group the Benham made contact with and attacked a submarine. After an all night vigil found no visible damage she rejoined the carrier group.
The Benham's first air action with the enemy occurred on the 17th of June when 10-15 VALS and JUDYS attacked the escort carriers. The Benham was instrumental in repelling the attack by downing two Judys. Again on the 18th and 19th the formation was under attack by FRANS and ZEKES.
Untill 2 July the ship operated with the CVE group and recovered valuable intelligence data on 27 June from the bodies of four Jap airmen floating near the wreckage of their plane.
Joining the screening and fire support group on 2nd July the Benham spent the remainder of the Marianas Campaign with this unit. Throughout July and untill 6 August many night illumination assignments were carried out on Marpi Point and Northern Tinian. Troop concentrations were blasted, as well as equipment, depots and gun emplacements; interdiction fire was directed at intersections to deny the enemy use of the roads. When the Benham departed for Guam on 6 August, the Japanese had felt the weight of her armament. Subsequent to this the Commanding Officer received the Bronze Star Medal for His ship's contribution during this phase of the war as stated in the citation;
"For distinguishing himself by meritorous achievement as the Commanding Officer of a United States ship during June and July 1944, during the assault and capture of enemy held islands. By cool and capable direction, and in an outstanding manner, he caused his ship to deliver accurate and effective gunfire. He contributed materially to the destruction of enemy troops and installations, and to the success of the landing operations. His conduct throughout distinguished him among those performing duties of the same character."
After four days spent at Guam in support of landings there, the Benham departed for Eniwetok to make ready for the Palau and Philippine Operations, arriving 13 August.
After tender repair at Eniwetok the Benham was assigned to the Fast Carrier Task Forces and sortied with them on 29 August. As screening vessel for Task Group 38.2 the ship participated in the Palau strikes of 6 and 7 September and the initial strikes on Mindanao and the Central Philippines commencing on the 9th and continuing through the 15th. Returning to support the Palau landings for several days the Benham again found herself participating in the strikes on Luzon and the Central Philippines from 21 to 24 September, then enroute with the Task Group to Saipan where she arrived on the 28th, leaving the next day for Ulithi.
Replenishing and making routine repairs at Ulithi, the ship again sortied with the Fast Carriers on 6 October, enroute to Okinawa. Participating in the Okinawa strikes of the next three days, the Benham again underwent several air attacks. On the nights of 12-13 October while acting as a western picket, the ship fired on nine enemy planes making attacks on the main body, chalking up one "probable". The period untill the 23rd was spent in support of the Leyte Invasion, making strikes on Mindanao, Leyte, and Luzon. Detached from the main body on the 24th, the Benham proceeded in company with The USS Bunker Hill and Stephen Potter to Manus, remaining there until 1 November undergoing needed tender repairs, and departing the next day to rejoin the fast carriers at Saipan.
November 7 found the Benham again at sea, enroute with the Task Force for strikes upon the Philippines and participating in their operations untill the 22nd, when the Fast Carriers returned to Ulithi.
The 10th of December found the ship again at sea with Task Force 38, enroute to strike the Philippines and support the landings upon Mindoro. Operations proceeded normally with the exception that heavy weather was encountered, culminating in the typhoon of 18 December. During the morning of the 18th, fueling exercises were scheduled but cancelled due to the rise in the wind and the sea. By 0900 it was evident that a typhoon of unprecedented proportions was upon us. Having previously set material condition Afirm and ballasting, the Benham made preparations to ride out the storm. At 0925 the ship received orders to leave the formation and screen the USS Cowpens which was in trouble. Visibility had closed to 1000 yards at the time, and in attempting to find the Cowpens, the Benham at 1120 found herself in the center of the storm unable to turn more than 15-20 degrees either way and barely able to make steerage. The seas were stack high, the wind blowing an estimated 100 knots, and the ship rolling consistently 40 degrees with several of 63 degrees experienced. Abandoning attempts to find the Cowpens, the ship and her crew concentrated on riding out the storm. The next five hours were memorable for all hands. It was next to impossible for personnel to make their way forward from aft, one crew member being lost over the side in an attempt. Water flooding through the ventilators shorted out the switchboards in the engine rooms, all radars were out for the largest part of the time, and personnel in all parts of the ship had to bail out free water and at the same time combat the extreme heat caused by loss of power to the vent fans. By 1800 the worst was over, and in company with the USS Hickox and Taberer, the ship made for the rendezvous with the rest of the Task Force. It is felt that only by the splendid cooperation of all hands, and a few timely prayers, that disaster similiar to that suffered by three capsized destroyers was avoided.
That evening the Benham passed through the vicinity of the disaster of the Hull and spent several hours searching for survivors. Due to the damage to the engineering plant further search was deemed inadvisable, and was turned over to the Taberer who had been first on the scene.
Arriving at Ulithi on 22 December, emergency repairs were rushed and the ship was again ready for sea on the 30th, when sortie with the Fast Carriers was made.
The year 1945 was ushered in by the Benham's participation in the Formosa strike of the 3rd and 4th, followed by the Luzon strike of the 6th. The evening of the 9th, the Fast Carrier Forces proceeded through Bashi channel enroute to the South China Sea with the Benham on Picket station ahead. The ship participated in the strikes on Camrahn Bay, Saigon, Hong Kong, Canton and Hainan during the middle of January, and when the group left the South China Sea, the Benham was the last ship to leave, being on picket station astern.
On the 23rd the Benham accompanied the Fast Carriers on photographic missions to Okinawa Jima and thence back to Ulithi where preparations were made for the Iwo Jima invasion.
Sortie was made with Task Force 58 on 10 February enroute to strike Tokyo. During the Tokyo strikes of the 16th and 17th, the Benham formed part of Task Group 58.8 whose purpose was to provide a radar and scouting line ahead of the main body, and has been included in that organization on each subsequent operation. Supporting the Iwo Jima operation for the next few days, then participating in the second Tokyo strike of 25 and 26 February, the Benham returned to Ulithi at the beginning of March to prepare for the Okinawa Jima operation.
Ready for sea on March 13 the Benham left Ulithi the next morning with Task Force 58 enroute to Kyushu and participted in the strikes of the 18th and 19th, again as part of Task Group 58.8. During these two days the Benham again experienced air action while on the picket line and with the main body, firing at numerous enemy planes. At 0200 the morning of the 19th, the Benham in company with the USS Halsey Powell DD686 made contact with and attacked a submarine. Remaining with the contact untill both ships had exhausted their depth charges, the Benham was rewarded on her last attack by six underwater explosions. Tactical considerations made it advisable to leave the vicinity shortly before dawn so no conclusive evidence of damage was obtained, but it is felt at the very least that the sub was damaged. On the evening of 21-22 March while acting as screening vessel for the Task Group, the Benham fired at an enemy plane making an attack and secured a probable kill.
The remainder of March was spent in operations with the Task Force in preparation for the invasion of April 1. On the 24th of March the Benham was in the screen of the fast battleships during their bombardment of Southern Okinawa Jima. March 29 again found the Benham with Task Group 58.8 in support of strikes upon Kyushu. All subsequent operations of the fast carrier forces included the Benham.
During the aforementioned period the Benham was fortunate in not sustaining any damage due to enemy action. Her only casualty was the man lost over the side during the 18 December Typhoon
One of the most interesting non-combat assignments was on March 18 and 19 when survivors of the Franklin disaster were collected from the ships that had rescued them. Among those who were aboard were two flag officers, Rear Admirals Bogan and Davidson and their staffs, a total of about 90 officers and men. For a short time on the 19th the Benham was apart of the group escorting the Franklin toward the rear areas. Later the same day the Benham returned to the main force.
April was spent almost entirely on the Radar Picket Line, 20 to 50 miles ahead of the carrier task forces on the target bearing. During this time air strikes on their way to Okinawa and to the Sakiahima Gunto to the south and the Amami Gunto to the north passed over the Benham. One strike against Kyushu was made on 15 April. As a picket ship the Benham's job was to aid in homing returning strikes, check them for possible trailing Japs, pick up the pilots of crippled planes after water landings and intercept enemy raids. Our Combat Air Patrol was very busy and numerous anti-aircraft actions took place.
On April 17 during one such engagement two divisions of our fighters broke up an estimated 20 plane raid, following which 4 to 6 planes reached the picket line. One attempted a suicide dive at the Benham, that due to accurate gunfire and skillful maneuvering, exploded in our wake fifty feet from the fantail. This encounter caused the Benham her first and last casualties. One man was killed and two officers and six men wounded. Of the four planes shot down by antiaircraft fire, the Benham was credited with two, with assists on the others.
The rest of April and early May was spent in continued support of the Okinawa Operation, most of it for the Benham on the radar picket line. On May 14 after exactly two months at sea, the Benham stood in to Ulithi with Task Group 58.8.
During this reconditioning period in Ulithi, Captain Keeler, Commander USN, Commanding Officer was awarded a second Bronze Star for his distinguished service in command of the Benham during the Paulau Campaign. Shortly before leaving Ulithi our new Commanding Officer, Lt Cmdr W.L. Poindexter, USN, reported on board. Captain Keeler was relieved at sea on 3 June and on 5 June Captain Poindexter brought his new command through the typhoon of that date unscathed. After more radar picket duty during the strikes against Kyushu and Nansei Shoto, in support of Okinawa, we retired to Leyte Gulf for replenishment on 13 June.
The rest of June was spent in port, and after only a few days at sea with the Task Force, we were forced to put into Guam by engineering difficulties on July 5.
On 21 July we rejoined the Fast Carriers. The next day we transferred from the Wisconsin to the Missouri and later back again, a party consisting of Mr H. Struve Hensel, Asst Secretary of the Navy; Vice Admiral Ross T. McIntyre, Surgeon General; Rear Admiral W.R. Purnell, Asst CNO for Material; Rear Admiral Louis Denfield, ComBatRon-9; Rear Admiral H.D. Nuber, AsstChief BuSandA, and others for a meeting with Admiral Halsey.
On the night of 24-25 July our squadron of destroyers, along with Cruiser Division 17 (the Pasadena, Springfield, Wilkes-Barre and Astoria), carried out an anti-shipping and shore bombardment mission which took us along the southeastern coast of Kii Suido, the entrance to the Inland Sea, and along the coast of Honshu to Shinomisaki. There all the ships bombarded this southernmost tip of Honshu Island, the Benhams assignment being a radio station. The results were unobserved. No enemy shipping was encountered.
These days of phenomenally successful strikes against the remainder of the Japanese fleet in the Inland Sea were uneventful for the Benham. On 4 August however, we carried the British Liason Officers to the British Fast Carrier Task Force, and remained with that force overnight. Upon leaving the British Force to to return the Liason Officers to the America Flagships, the Benham received from the Vice Admiral, Sir Bernard Railings, one of the most cordial messages in the Benham files: "Very sorry to release the first American Man-of War I have had under my command".
The Benham participated in the 9-10 August strikes against the Northern Empire, and on the 10th when news of the first public surrender offer spread among units of the Third Fleet, all felt the dazed elation of hearing incredible good tidings. On 11 August we carried fifteen war correspondents and eight Public Relations Officers of various ships of the fleet to the Missouri for a press conference. But on their return, none could give the news all hoped to hear. The strikes against the Tokyo area followed on the 13th. The news of the surrender reached the Benham while on radar picket station on the morning of the 15th.
Shortly thereafter the Benham was sent to Iwo Jima by Commander Third Fleet and had the honor of bringing Vice Admiral Sherman and his staff back to the Task Force.
On 21 August 13 men were transfered to a fleet oiler for return to the U.S. and eventual discharge, concrete evidence of the return of peace. From 23 to 27 August the Benham and the USS Uhlmann served with a British Support and Flagship group consisting of H.M.S. King George V, two cruisers and two destroyers, a very enjoyable and interesting interlude. It was on the memoriable last day of this period, 27 August, the Benham was privileged to take part in the long procession of warships entering Sagami Wan to receive the surrender of the Takosuka Naval Base and commence the occupation of Japan.
During her operations with the Fast Carrier Task Forces the Benham rescued a total of 23 pilots and air crewmen who were forced to make water landings.
On 28 August the Benham again departed for Iwo and returned on 1 September loaded with millions of Yen in military currency. On 2 September, anchored in Tokyo Bay just off the port bow of the USS Missouri, the Benham had a close up view of perhaps the most historic ceremonies of modern times: the formal surrender of Japan to the Allied Powers and the official termination of World War II.
A few days after 2 September, 1945, the formal surrender of the Japanese, it was the sad mission of the Benham to bury at sea the remains of an Army Flier who had been taken prisoner during the Doolittle Raid, and had died on board one of our hospital ships after his delivery from a prison camp. Except for this our duties since 1 September had been only to "stand by" in Tokyo Bay as part of the naval occupation force. The crew had thoroughly explored Yokosuka, Yokohama and Tokyo, and unanamously decided to leave Japan to the Japanese.
On the night of 26 October, while at sea off the coast of Japan on Squadron training manauvers, the orders came sending us back to the U.S. and on 31 October, with the homeward-bound pennant streamed and "Anchors Aweigh" playing on all speakers, the Benham stood out of Tokyo Bay with her squadron and headed for home. This completed over 19 months overseas duty. The last 17 had been spent in almost continuous high-speed operations against the enemy in the Western Pacific.
On 9 November she arrived in Pearl Harbor. After 3 days liberty the Benham got underway on 13 November for the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Wa., and underwent a Navy Yard overhaul. On 21-24 May, 1946 Benham was underway to Long Beach, California for inactivation overhaul. She was decommissioned on 18 October 1946 and "mothballed", first in San Diego and then in Long Beach for four and one half years.
The Benham was recommissioned at Long Beach, Ca. 24 March 1951. She transited the Panama Canal on 5 July and arrived at Boston Naval Shipyard on 11 July for modernization overhaul. This work was completed 17 November and she reported to her new home port of Newport, R.I. for a rigororus schedule of battle practice, fleet maneuvers and convoy exercises which took her along the eastern seaboard to waters off Cuba and the Panama Canal Zone. She got underway from Newport on 22 April 1952 for a northern cruise by way of Newfoundland, and Reykjavik, Iceland to Londonderry, North Ireland. She arrived at this last port on 9 May and after tactical, tracking and sonar exercises in the operation area off Plymouth, paid goodwill visits to Newcastle England, Karskrona, Sweden, and the German Ports of Keil, Hamburg and Bremerhavan. She arrived in Eastbourne, England on 2 July, then steamed to Londonderry for convoy exercises with British ships before sailing for Gibraltar on 30 July for maneuvers in the Mediterranean with the Sixth Fleet, after visiting Plymouth for the second time. The Mediterranean service included visits to Tripoli and Taranto, Italy and flight exercises with aircraft carriers Wasp and Coral Sea. The Benham returned early due to a reduction gear breakdown. She cleared Gibraltar an 5 September and arrived at the Boston Naval Shipyard on 16 September 1952 for needed repairs.
The Benham resumed operations at Newport on 28 October and after exercises with The Coral Sea off the Virginia Capes, conducted hunter-killer tactics in waters extending from Fall River, Mass. to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Continuing her anti-submarine practice with British ships off Plymouth, England, She reached Golfe, France on 27 May for manuevers with the Sixth Fleet. This duty was intervened by visits to the principle ports of Italy, Turkey, Sicily and Greece. She returned to Newport from this cruise on 3 September 1953 and entered the Philadelphia Naval Shipyards on 7 October, clearing there on 14 January 1954 for training out of Guantanomo Bay, Cuba.
The Benham returned to Newport on 16 March 1954 for local operations until 1 June 1954 when she put to sea on the first leg of a world cruise. A unit of Destroyer Division 242, she transited the Panama Canal, touched at San Diego, Pearl Harbor and Midway enroute to Yokosuka, Japan where she arrived on 7 July 1954. She visited Manila, the Philippine Islands 3 July through 4 August and engaged in hunter-killer exercises while enroute from Yokosuka to Hong Kong where she arrived on 28 August. From there she she set course for the areas off Formosia and Subic Bay. On 18 October 1954 she was homeward bound from Sasebo on the last leg of her world cruise which took her by way of Hong Kong, Singapore, Colombo, the Suez Canal, Naples, Golfe Juan, Barcelona, Gibraltar and the Azores. She reached Newport on 18 December 1954 and spent the next two years on duty which included a three month tour as an engineering schoolship at that base; a reserve training cruise to New Brunswick, Canada, and tactics along the eastern seaboard to waters off Puerto Rico and Cuba.
On 6 November 1956 the Benham sailed from Newport and patrolled in the eastern Mediterranean during the settlement of the Suez Crisis, She returned to Newport on 20 February 1957 for independent exercises and type training with submarines and aircraft carriers. She took part in the International Naval Review at Hampton Roads on 12 June 1957. This was followed by a midshipman training cruise through the Caribbean Sea to Rio De Janeiro. She debarked her midshipmen at Annapolis on 4 August 1957 and put to sea from Newport on 3 September to take part in the North Atlantic Treaty Orginization operations "Seaspray", "Strike Back" and "Pipe Down". She visited ports of Chatham, England and Belfast, Ireland during this tour of service and returned to Provincetown, Mass. on 22 October 1957. After plane guard duty with the carrier Essex off Port Everglades, Florida, she underwent overhaul in the Boston Navy Shipyard on 8 January through 15 April. At this time the port aft depth charge rack and all "K" guns were removed. The old SC air search radar was replaced by the SPS-6. The interception and jamming domes were switched from the aft mast to the aft stack. After daily exercises on 17-24 April she steamed toward Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for shakedown exercises until 11 May 1958. The Benham returned to Newport on 2 June and continued daily exercises until 13 June 1958. She then had a tender period alongside the USS Arcadia AD23 until 30 June. She debarked Newport 11 July 1958 to embark midshipmen at Annapolis for transit to the Sixth Fleet, then conducted exercises with the carrier Antietam off the Virginia Capes and Puerto Rico. She stood out of San Juan on 1 August 1958 and reached Gibraltar ten days later for manuevers with the Sixth Fleet after visiting Pointa Delgado, Sao Miguel Island (Azores). On 14-17 August Benham made ports of Naples, Italy and Pireaus, Greece on her way to Port Said, Egypt. On 28 August she passed through the Suez Canal for brief service with the Middle East Forces off Massawa, Eritrea; Bahrein Island; and the northern end of the Persian Gulf. She rejoined the Sixth Fleet on 5 October and returned to Newport on 13 November 1958 after visiting Cannes and Gulf Juan, France; and Barcelona, Spain. During the next five months she conducted exercises along the eastern seaboard and off Puerto Rico with the guided missle destroyer Gyatt DDG1, The guided missle cruiser Galveston CLG3 and the guided missle cruiser Canberra CAG1. This period of time included participation in Navy Week in New York City on 11-16 June 1959. This duty was followed by voyage repairs in the Boston Navy Shipyard and operations off the coast of Florida with the carriers Essex and Saratoga.
The Benham put to sea from Newport on 7 August 1959 for another tour of the Mediterranean which was again intervened by a brief period of duty with the Middle East Forces. She returned to Newport on 26 February 1960 and after operations with the guided missle cruiser Topeka in local waters coducted a refresher training cruise to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. She returned to Newport on 29 May and was placed out of commission in the Boston Navy Shipyard on 30 June 1960. On 15 December 1960 the Benham was loaned to Peru and renamed B.A.P. (Buque Armada Peruana) Villar under the Military Assistance Program. Due to the cost of further modernization, the US Navy Department found the Benham unfit for further Naval service and on 15 January 1974 she was stricken from the Navy Register and was sold to Peru.
The Peruvian Navy used the Villar for various activities including ASW. The only modification to the ship was the installation of a heliocopter pad on the fantail. On 21 April 1980 the Peruvian Navy declared the Villar inactive and on 13 May 1980 she went on inactive status. On 28 May the ship was stripped for spare parts to be used throughout the Peruvian fleet. After this time the ship was sold for scrap.
The USS Benham DD796 earned 8 battle stars, two Navy Occupation Service Medals, two Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation Badges, A Korean Service Medal and a United Nations Service Medal.
This concludes the history of the three USS Benhams.
