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  USS William B. Preston DD-344 / AVP-20 / AVD-7
USN
Clemson-class destroyer

1,308 tons
314' 4" x 30' 11" x 9' 10"
As Destroyer)
4 × 4" guns
1 × 3"guns
12 × 21" torpedo tubes

Ship History
Built at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia. Laid down on November 18, 1918 as a Clemson-class destroyer. Launched on August 9, 1919 as USS William B. Preston. Sponsored by Mrs. William Radford Beale, eldest daughter of William B. Preston. Designated DD-344 on July 17, 1920. Commissioned on August 23, 1920 with Lieutenant James B. Ryan in temporary command. On September 7, 1920 Commander William E. Eberle took command.

Wartime History
On February 5, 1942 evacuated Dutch and American personnel from Saumlaki Seaplane Base including U.S. Navy (USN) Patrol Wing 10 (PATWING 10).

PARTIAL HISTORY

Postwar
On December 6, 1945, William B. Preston was decommissioned. On January 3, 1946, her name was struck from the Navy list.

Awards
William B. Preston received one battle star for her World War II service.

Fate
On November 6, 1946 puchased by Northern Metals Company of Philadelphia and broken up for scrap.

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Last Updated
April 13, 2025

 

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