>From the “Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships,” 

1968, Vol. 3, p.198.





HAAS





	John William Haas was born 14 June 1907 in Sioux City, 

Iowa.  A member of the famed Torpedo Squadron 3, the chief 

machinist and pilot was lost in action 4 June 1942 during 

the Battle of Midway.  In the face of tremendous 

antiaircraft fire and Japanese fighter opposition, Chief 

Haas joined his squadron in pressing home the attack on 

enemy forces until it became relatively certain that in 

order to accomplish his mission he would sacrifice his 

life.  Undeterred by the grave possibilities of such a 

hazardous offensive, he carried on with extreme disregard 

for his personal safety until the gallant planes of Torpedo 

Squadron 3 had diverted Japanese planes and contributed 

importantly to the victory.  For his self-sacrifice and 

valiant fighting effort, Chief Machinist Haas was 

posthumously awarded the Navy Cross.





DE-424

Displacement:  1,350 t.

Length:  306’

Beam:  36’8”

Draft:  9’5”

Speed:  24 k.

Complement:  186

Armament:  2 5”; 4 40mm; 10 20mm; 3 21” torpedo tubes;

	2 depth charge tracks;

	8 depth charge projectors;

	1 hedge hog

Class:  JOHN C. BUTLER



	HAAS (DE-424) was launched 20 March 1944 by the Brown 

Shipbuilding Co., Houston, Tex.; sponsored by Mrs. Gladys 

Winifred Haas, widow of the late Chief Machinist Haas, and 

commissioned 2 August l944, Lt. Comdr. A. M. White, USNR, in 

command.



	After shakedown in the Caribbean and escort duty along 

the East coast, HAAS arrived Manus, Admiralty Islands via 

the Panama Canal, the Galapagos Islands, and Espiritu Santo 

15 January 1945.  America's gigantic Pacific war effort had 

carried her fleet back to the Philippines, and HAAS sailed 

to Leyte 27 January to assume escort and patrol duties in 

the still-contested islands.  In addition, the destroyer 

escort provided shore bombardment and fire support for 

initial assault landings at Lubang Island 1 March and 

Romblon and Simara Islands 10-12 March.  HAAS escorted a 

convoy from Okinawa to Leyte in July and another from Ulithi 

to Manila in early August, just before news of the Japanese 

capitulation.  After war's end, she continued to serve as an 

escort and dispatch ship in the Pacific, with frequent trips 

along the China coast.  On 5 January 1946, HAAS streamed her 

homeward bound pennant and sailed from Hong Kong for San 

Diego via Guam, Eniwetok, and Pearl Harbor.  Reaching her 

destination 1 February, HAAS decommissioned there 31 May 

1946 and joined the "mothball fleet."



	HAAS recommissioned at San Diego 19 May 1951 and, after 

shakedown, reported to 8th Naval District headquarters at 

New Orleans 18 September to begin duties as a reserve 

training ship.  Cruising primarily in the Gulf of Mexico and 

the Caribbean, with occasional visits to Central and South 

America, HAAS trained some 900 reservists annually as part 

of the Navy's never-ending effort to maintain skilled and 

ready reserve.  Entering the Charleston Navy Yard 7 November 

1957, HAAS decommissioned there 24 January 1958 and entered 

the Atlantic Reserve Fleet where she remained until scrapped 

in December 1966.



	[According to K. Jack Bauer and Stephen S. Roberts, 

“Register of Ships of the U. S. Navy, 1775-1990,” p.237, 

HAAS was sold on 6 September 1967.]





Transcribed by Michael Hansen

mhansen2@home.com