 USS George B. Badger (AVP-16) History
Circa 1941
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...USS George B. Badger (AVP-16) (tender for VP-74) and the USS Belknap (AVD-8) (tender for VP-73) were with us in Iceland in 1941..." Contributed by CARTHEN, AVCM Roy B. Retired roycar@outlook.com [02MAY2012]
Most do not know that FDR sent us there after he had met secretly with Churchill in Argentia, Nfld. There is a book titled "Mr Roosevelt Navy" by Patrick Abbazia which explains FDR secret war. It is out of publications but can be bought on the internet for $15 and up depending on the books condition. Now, for my info:
The USS George B. Badger (AVP-16) and the USS Belknap (AVD-8) arrived at Reykjavik, Iceland to tender two squadrons. VP-73 had PBY-5 planes with the Belknap as tender and VP-74 had PBM1 planes tendered bu the George E Badger. I was in VP-74. These two ships were WW1 destroyers which had been converted for aircraft tender service. All of these four units were assigned to operate against the German U boats and all the planes stayed on the water attached to buoys when not flying. The planes were initially armed with bombs, however in September of 1941 we changed to depth charges as we realized the under water advantage of the depth charges.
During these pre Pearl Harbor days the enemy subs were causing much damage and at one time we were running out of food due to the ship being sunk. On 28 August 1941 German U boat U570 commanded by Kapitasnleutant Hans Joaachim Rahmlow was captured. At this time we were told that a PBY from VP-73 and a PBM from VP-74 caused this capture, however since we were not at war, two British planes took the credit, but it has been reported that "two of our planes were "nearby circling" as recorded in the book "Search, Find and Kill" by Norman Franks page 182. I note that this book says the sub was brought to the coast of Iceland and changed to a British sub, however in the past years I have been able to convince some historians that the sub was actually brought well into Iceland and in a fjord where many of our ships were... I was on a plane that flew to this place and we saw the sub well up into the fjord into Iceland.
A BIT OF HISTORY:  "...U.S.S. Geo. E. Badger..."The Ships and Aircraft of the U. S. Fleet - War Edition - Page 47 - 1941"...Official U. S. Navy Photo..." [24JAN2001]
Circa 1920
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...George B. Badger (AVP 16)..." http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/destroy/dd196txt.htm [03JAN2001]
George B. Badger (AVP 16)
(DD-196: dp. 1,190; 1. 314'5"; b. 31'9"; dr. 9'4"; s. 35 k; cpl. 101; a. 4 4", 3 3", 1 .30 cal. mg., 12 21" tt; cl. Clemson. )
George B. Badger (DD-196) was laid down 24 September 1918 by the Newport News Shipbuilding Co., Newport News, Va.; launched 6 March 1920; sponsored by Miss Mary B. Wilson, the namesake's granddaughter, and commissioned 28 July 1920, Lt Comdr. Albert Gleaves Berry Jr., in command.
After shakedown, George B. Badger based at Charleston, S.C., while operating in Caribbean waters and along the eastern seaboard from Jacksonville, Fla., to Boston. Returning to Philadelphia 6 June 1922, she decommissioned there 11 August 1922 and was subsequently transferred to the Treasury Department 1 October 1930 for use by the Coast Guard. She was reacquired by the Navy 21 May 1934 and redesignated (AVP-16) on 1 October 1939.
George E. Badger recommissioned at Philadelphia 8 January 1940, Lt. Comdr. Frank Akers in command. During the next year she engaged in training operations in the Caribbean. Redesignated AVD-3 on 2 August 1940 she returned to Norfolk 12 January 1941 and subsequently tended planes while based at Argentia, Newfoundland, and Reykjavik, Iceland, until the spring of 1942.
Ordered to Charleston, N.C., 26 May 1942, George B. Badger escorted convoys along the eastern seaboard, in the Gulf of Mexico, and to Recife and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, until returning to Norfolk 15 January 1943 to be fitted out for Atlantic convoy duty. Through the spring of 1943 she operated out of Argentia shepherding convoys bound for the United Kingdom. In June she underwent overhaul at Norfolk, then sailed 13 July for North Africa. Steaming with escort carrier Bogue (CVE-9) and destroyer Clemson (DD-186), she made her first kill 23 July 1943 after four depth charge attacks broke up deeprunning U-613 southwest of Sao Miguel, Azores. His victory came just a few hours before planes from Bogue attacked and sent U-527 to the bottom not far away.
After touching Casablanca, George E. Badger returned to New York 23 August. During the next 2 months she made another escort voyage from New York to Casablanca, then returned to New York 21 October. Departing Hampton Roads 14 November, she sailed for North Africa with Bogue and destroyers Dupont, Osmond Ingram and Clemson on an offensive antisubmarine patrol. This patrol was aggressively and successfully conducted, blasting U-l72 on 12 December 1943 after a 24-hour game of cat-and-mouse which the German submarine lost.
After escorting another convoy from Norfolk to North Africa and back George E. Badger underwent conversion to high speed transport at Charleston and was redesignated APD-33 on 19 May 1944. Sailing for duty in the Pacific, she steamed via the West Coast and Pearl Hal:bor to Guadalcanal where she arrived 12 August. From there she carried to the Palau Islands. Reaching Angaur Island 12 September, anchorage 17. Badger screened warships bombarding the island and from 14 to 16 September sent her hardy frogmen ashore for reconnaissance and demolition work. Intelligence was gathered and obstacles on the beach removed before the ship got underway 12 October for Leyte, where until 18 October she supported the reconnaissance and bombardment of' the east coast of that strategic island and again landed her frogmen.
Departing 21 October, she called at Rossol Passage, Manus, and Noumea before participating in the Lingayen landings of 5-11 January 1945. In these she lent her effective fire support as requested, and on D-day, 5 January, blew an attacking Japanese torpedo plane out of the air. Her frogmen hit the beaches 2 days later; and, despite frequent air attacks, George E. Badger continued screening during landings 7 January until sailing 11 January for Leyte and Ulithi.
Until the spring of 1945 the veteran warship was overhauled at Ulithi, patrolled off Iwo Jima while the fighting raged; and escorted ships from Guam to Guadalcanal, Noumea, and Manus. She sailed from Ulithi 2 April 1945 for Okinawa with carriers delivering replacement aircraft, and subsequently escorted convoys from Saipan to Okinawa. George E. Badger sailed from Eniwetok 24 June for Pearl Harbor. Ordered thence to San Francisco for reconversion, she reverted to DD-196 on 20 July 1945 and later decommissioned at that port 3 October 1945. George 11. Badger was scrapped 3 June 1946.
George E. Badger received eight battle stars for World War II service in addition to the Presidential Unit Citation.
Circa Unknown
Can you identify the Month and or Year?
A BIT OF HISTORY:  [24JAN2001]
"USS George B. Badger (AVP-16) Summary Page"
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