USS Eagle 56 PE-56 |
Type: |
Patrol Boat |
Class: |
|
Builder: |
Ford Motor Company River Rouge Complex Dearborn, Michigan |
Hull Number: |
PE-56 (July 17, 1920) |
Ordered: |
March 4, 1917 |
Commissioned: |
October 26, 1919 |
Keel Laid: |
March 25, 1919 |
Decommissioned: |
N/A |
Launched: |
August 15, 1919 |
Stricken: |
N/A |
Fate: |
Sunk Apr. 23, 1945 by U-853 (Oberleutnant zur See Helmut Frömsdorf) Location: North Atlantic, 6 miles east of Higgins Beach, Maine. 49 men lost, 13 survivors picked up by USS Selfridge DD-357 and landed at Portland, Maine. (Roll of Honor) |
||
Note: |
It was originally determined by the U.S. Navy that Eagle's loss was due to a boiler explosion. The assessment was amended after new research had been completed in mid 2001 and Eagle is now considered a combat loss due to enemy action. In June of 2001 the Purple Heart was awarded to the three living survivors and posthumously the rest of the crew. |
Commanding Officers |
||
From |
To |
Name |
Oct. 26, 1919 |
N/A |
Lieutenant Edward William Wunch, USN |
1919 |
1939 |
Information not available. |
Mar. 1939 (a) |
June 1939 (b) |
Lieutenant Walter G. Ebert, USN |
June 1939 (b) |
Dec. 1940 (c) |
Lieutenant (j.g.) James L. Kemper, USN (Lt. from Sept. 1940) |
Dec. 1940 (c) |
Apr. 3, 1943 |
Lt. Commander Frank W. Parsons, USNR |
Apr. 3, 1943 |
Mar. 1944 (d) |
Lieutenant James W. Roddy, USNR |
Mar. 1944 (d) |
Mar. 1945 (e) |
Lieutenant John L. Barr, Jr., USNR |
Mar. 1945 (e) |
Apr. 23, 1945 |
Lieutenant James Godsey Early, USNR |
Notes |
|
(a): |
In command on this date, date he took command not available. |
(b): |
Change of command took place between Mar. and June 1939. |
(c): |
Change of command took place between Sept. and Dec. 1940. |
(d): |
Change of command took place in Mar. 1944. |
(e): |
Change of command took place between Jan. and Mar. 1945. |
Awards |
|
Combat Action Ribbon |
|
American Defense Service Medal |
|
World War II Victory Medal |
Ship's History |
|
Pre 1923 |
Not available. |
Mar. 1923: |
Reservist training at Washington, D.C. |
Oct. 1925: |
Temporary duty at Belleview for sound experiments. |
Jan. 1926: |
Assigned to 5th Naval District for reservist training, homeport Baltimore, Maryland. |
Nov. 1940: |
Assigned to 4th Naval district, homeport Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. |
1941-1942: |
Information not available. |
Nov. 1942: |
Assigned to Service Squadron Nine, Service Force U.S. Atlantic Fleet, Fleet Sound School, Key West, FL. Conducting training duties, acting as harbor guard and conducting routine patrols. (Exact date of assignment not available.) |
1942-1944: |
Same as above. |
1945: |
Information not available. |
Apr. 23, 1945: |
Sunk by U-853. |
Page published May 16, 2020 |