menu-header-menu

Follow Us

Follow us   

The United States Navy Memorial

Navy Memorial Honoring the Men & Women of the Sea Services

Donate

Longshaw

Ship Designation: 
DD-559
Date Lost: 
Friday, May 18, 1945
Battery Fire near Naha Airfield
Following a grueling 4 day period of fire support off Okinawa, and while en route to her patrol area, Longshaw ran aground on a coral reef south of Naha airfield. ... While attempts were made to free her from the reef, Japanese shore batteries opened up on Longshaw. The stranded destroyer attempted to fight back as best she could; but, as she opened fire, her bow was completely blown off by a hit which struck the forward magazine. When efforts to save her appeared hopeless, the order was given to abandon ship. ... Eighty-six of her crew died with the ship. ... Later in the afternoon, Longshaw, battered beyond salvaging, was destroyed by gunfire and torpedoes from U.S. ships.

Lost At Sea Log

Number of sailors in this log: 85

Name Service Branchsort descending
SM 2c Robert Blacksmith USN
Sea 1c Bruce Stice USN
F 1c Everett Seadeek USN
GM 2c Gene Manzetti USN
TM 3c Jerome Faber USN
RDM 3c Harold Blair USN
Lt(jg) Robert Thomas USN
F 1c Steve Rivalsky USN
Sea 1c Benjamin Maser USN
Sea 1c Eldon Engle USN
F 1c William Blanchard USN
Sea 1c Paul Toler USN
EM 1c Warren Riefner USN
Sea 1c Ellis Long USN
F 1c George Demartini USN
CBM Wilson Bowen USN
Lt(jg) Willard Walker USN
Sea 1c Chester Ray USN
Cox J. Loftin USN
F 1c Madison Delaney USN

Pages

Prepared by CAPT R.O. Strange USN (Ret.)