William served on the USS Hovey (DMS-11) With the exception of the USS Southard struck on 6 January at 1732, no more damaging attacks occurred to the sweepers until 0425, the morning of 7 January, when two enemy aircraft were picked up on radar. At 0450, one plane flying low to the water came in from the starboard quarter passing ahead of Hovey. A few moments later, another plane coming from the port beam was put on fire by Chandler. This plane passed very low over Hovey and crashed off the starboard beam. At 0455, the instant the burning plane crashed, Hovey was struck by a torpedo on her starboard side in the after engine room. Lights and power were lost instantly. The stern remained nearly level and sinking to the top of the after deck house, the bow listed 40 degrees to starboard and rose out of the water, the ship breaking in half. Two minutes later the bow listed to 90 degrees, rose vertically and rapidly sank in 54 fathoms of water. Twenty four men were killed in addition to twenty four more men who were survivors from Long and Brooks. Survivors of the Hovey, which included rescued survivors of the Brooks and most of the crew of the Long were rescued by both USS Chandler (DD-206), who recovered a total of 229 officers and enlisted that day, and later by USS West Virginia.
William served on the USS Hovey (DMS-11) With the exception of the USS Southard struck on 6 January at 1732, no more damaging attacks occurred to the sweepers until 0425, the morning of 7 January, when two enemy aircraft were picked up on radar. At 0450, one plane flying low to the water came in from the starboard quarter passing ahead of Hovey. A few moments later, another plane coming from the port beam was put on fire by Chandler. This plane passed very low over Hovey and crashed off the starboard beam. At 0455, the instant the burning plane crashed, Hovey was struck by a torpedo on her starboard side in the after engine room. Lights and power were lost instantly. The stern remained nearly level and sinking to the top of the after deck house, the bow listed 40 degrees to starboard and rose out of the water, the ship breaking in half. Two minutes later the bow listed to 90 degrees, rose vertically and rapidly sank in 54 fathoms of water. Twenty four men were killed in addition to twenty four more men who were survivors from Long and Brooks. Survivors of the Hovey, which included rescued survivors of the Brooks and most of the crew of the Long were rescued by both USS Chandler (DD-206), who recovered a total of 229 officers and enlisted that day, and later by USS West Virginia.
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from California.
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