USS Clarence K. Bronson
1943 Fletcher-class destroyer
USS Clarence K. Bronson (DD-668) was a Fletcher-class destroyer of the United States Navy.
Namesake
Clarence K. Bronson was born on 21 July 1888 in Bushnell, Illinois. He was a member of the United States Naval Academy Class of 1910. After service afloat, he was trained in aviation in 1914 at the Curtiss Aeroplane Company in Hammondsport, New York, and at Naval Air Station Pensacola. Lieutenant (junior grade) Bronson was killed at the Naval Proving Ground Indianhead, Indian Head, Maryland, on 8 November 1916, while testing experimental aerial bombs.
Construction and commissioning
Clarence K. Bronson was launched 18 April 1943 by the Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Kearny, N.J., sponsored by Mrs. W. P. Richardson; and commissioned 11 June 1943.
World War II
Clarence K. Bronson reached Pearl Harbor 21 November 1943 for final training, remaining in Hawaiian waters aside from a single escort voyage to Tarawa, until January 1944, when she joined the Fast Carrier Task Force (then 5th Fleet's TF 58). Bronson screened this force for strikes supporting the landings on Kwajalein, and raids on Truk, Saipan, and Guam through February, and on 15 March, sailed from Espiritu Santo to screen aircraft carriers covering the landings in the Bismarck Archipelago from 19 to 25 March. With Task Group 36.1 (TG 36.1) she rejoined TF 58 two days later for strikes on Palau, Yap, and Woleai.
“USS Clarence K. Bronson” enters the record as 1943 Fletcher-class destroyer. Crown Archives preserves that source wording while asking what Clarence, Bronson and Fletcher-class can confirm, complicate or overturn.
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