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| USN District Patrol Craft 469 Tons 131' 3" x 29' 6" x 15' |
Ship History Built by Campbell Industries in San Diego. Laid down as a a wooden hull diesel-engine purse seiner fishing vessel. Completed May 1940 and named Endeavor operated by Joe C. Mouise and used for tuna fishing off San Diego. Wartime History On February 17, 1942 acquired by the U.S. Navy (USN) under a bare-boat charter and converted into a District Patrol Craft at Campbell Machine Company. On February 23, 1942 commissioned as USS YP-284. On March 5, 1942 departs San Francisco via San Diego for the Panama Canal. On March 18, 1942 transfered to Hawaii. On April 22, 1942 returns to San Diego then back to Hawaii. On May 6, 1942 departs Pearl Harbor assigned to Task Force 4 (TF 4) to patrol the Hawaiian Sea Frontier. On May 20, 1942 departs Pearl Harbor with YP-290, YP-345, and YP-350. On May 27, 1942 YP-284 patrols off Lisianski Island to watch for any enemy activity and assist downed pilots during the Battle of Midway. On June 10, 1942 departs Lisianski Island and returns to Pearl Harbor. On July 23, 1942 assigned to the South Pacific Force under the command of Warrant Officer Christian Rasmussen. On August 29, 1942 departs for Guadalcanal with YP-239 and YP-346 escorted by USS Helm (DD-388). On September 1, 1942 they vessels arrive off Guadalcanal. Sinking History On October 25, 1942 at 7:40am departs Tulagi Harbor with 46 Marines embarked from Battery I, 3rd Battalion, 10th Marines plus 28 drums of aviation fuel and 3,600 rounds of 75mm ammunition. At 9:40am arrives off Lunga Point on Guadalcanal and awaits lighters for unloading. At 10:15am ordered to return to Tulagi without unloading with USS Seminole (AT-65). At 10:30am spotted "three unknown vessels" off Savo Island headed towards Guadalcanal and reports them and are told they are not friendly. They were Japanese destroyers Akatsuki, Ikazuchi and Shiratsuyu. Meanwhile, they also spot two "destroyers" actually high-speed minesweepers USS Trever (DMS-16) and USS Zane (DMS-14) leaving Tulagi Harbor that were engaged by the three destroyers with gunfire. Meanwhile, YP-284 increased speed and remained on course for Tulagi Harbor, assuming the three Japanese destroyers were engaging the minesweepers but they changed course to intercept YP-284 and USS Seminole (AT-65). At 10:45am the pair turned back toward Guadalcanal but were soon within range and the destroyers opened fire. At 10:50am the Japanese second salvo of gunfire hit off the starboard quarter causing the fuel drums to catch fire followed by other hits. Aboard, two U.S. Marines went Missing In Action (MIA) Pfc. LaVern D. Darling, USMCR and Pvt. George A. McCartney, USMC and wounded was BM1c Millard G. Ball. Rasmussen ordered the engine stopped roughly five miles off Guadalcanal burning as the Japanese engaged Seminole and was sunk. YP-284 sank in 270 fathoms five mile east of Lunga Point. Officially, stricken from Navy Register on April 16, 1943. Rescue Afterwards, lighters rescued the survivors and landed them at Lunga Point. Memorials The two Marines lost on October 25, 1942 earned the Purple Heart, posthumously and remain listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Both are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. References Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) YP-284 Navsource - YP-284 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - LaVern D. Darling FindAGrave - PFC Lavern David Darling (obituary, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - PFC LaVern David Darling (obituary, memorial marker photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - George A. McCartney FindAGrave - Pvt George Allen McCartney (photo, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Millard Gildner Ball Contribute
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