SANK  6  SUBMARINES  IN  12  DAYS

Walton Barclay Pendleton was born November 24, 1897, in Globe, Arizona.  He was appointed to the Naval Academy in 1917 and graduated as Ensign in June 1921.  His first duty assignment was aboard the battleship USS Texas following which he attended the Naval War College in 1929.  He was next assigned service at the Recruiting Station in New Haven, Connecticut.  During the 1930s, he was stationed at several shore facilities and on several ships, ending the decade as Commanding Officer of the minesweeper USS Tern (AM-31).  After the United States entered World War II, Pendleton received a promotion to the rank of Lieutenant Commander, and as Commanding Officer, placed the destroyer escort USS England (DE-635) into commission during December 1943. 

In May 1944, the England was on antisubmarine patrol with a group of ships in the Bismarck Archipelago in the Western Pacific.  In the short time span of twelve days, England successfully tracked and sank six Japanese submarines, an unprecedented feat in the chronicles of naval warfare and a feat unparalleled in the history of antisubmarine warfare.  LCDR Pendleton was awarded the Navy Cross for this accomplishment.  A naval historian has written that this was “the most brilliant antisubmarine operation in history.”  Admiral Ernest King, Chief of Naval Operations, expressed his congratulations writing: “There’ll always be an England in the United States Navy.”

Pendleton retired from the Navy in January 1947 with the rank of Captain.  He died December 9, 1972, and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

NAVY  CROSS  CITATION

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander Walton Barclay Pendleton, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the Destroyer Escort USS ENGLAND (DE-635), while carrying out an anti-submarine patrol in the Bismarck Archipelago area from 18 to 31 May 1944.  During this brief period, Lieutenant Commander Pendleton's ship contacted, tracked down and destroyed five Japanese submarines and was largely responsible for the sinking of a sixth.  His outstanding seamanship and skillful direction of the attacks carried out by his vessel contributed materially to the great damage inflicted on the enemy forces.  His courage, forceful leadership and aggressive fighting spirit were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

                                   USS ENGLAND  IN  WESTERN  PACIFIC  -  1944

On May 9, 1945, USS England was attacked by three Japanese dive bombers.  The first bomber was shot down but crashed in flames into England just below the bridge.  When the plane’s bomb exploded 37 crewmembers were killed or missing, and 25 wounded.  In July 1945, England sailed to Philadelphia for repairs but when World War II ended the work was halted, she was decommissioned and sold for scrapping.

Submitted by CDR Roy A. Mosteller, USNR (Ret)