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

(1968) Vol. 3, p.456.





IRA JEFFERY





	Ira Well Jeffery was born in Minneapolis, Minn., 8 

March 1918, and enlisted in the Navy 23 August 1940.  He 

was appointed Midshipman in 1941 and, after undergoing 

officer training at the Naval Reserve Midshipman’s School, 

Northwestern University, was commissioned Ensign 12 June 

1941.  He reported to battleship CALIFORNIA (BB-44) 25 July 

1941.  During the Japanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbor 7 

December 1941, Ensign Jeffery organized an ammunition 

passing party at great risk to his own life in an attempt 

to maintain a supply of ammunition for the stricken ship’s 

anti-aircraft guns.  Ensign Jeffery was killed in the 

attack, and received a letter of commendation from the 

Secretary of the Navy for his valor.





DE-63

Displacement:  1,400 t.

Length:  306’

Beam:  37’

Draft:  9’5”

Speed:  24 k.

Complement:  186

Armament:  3 3”; 4 1.1”; 8 20mm; 3 21” torpedo tubes;

	2 depth charge tracks;

	8 hedge charge projectors;

	1 hedge hog

Class:  BUCKLEY



	IRA JEFFERY (DE-63) was laid down as JEFFERY 13 

February 1943 by Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard, Inc., Hingham, 

Mass.; launched 15 May 1943; sponsored by Mrs. D. C. 

Jeffery, mother of Ensign Jeffery, renamed IRA JEFFERY 29 

July 1943; and commissioned 15 August 1943, Lt. Comdr. R. A. 

Fitch in command.



	IRA JEFFERY conducted shakedown training off Bermuda 

and in Casco Bay, Maine, before returning to Naval Torpedo 

Station, Quonset, R.I., for experiments with noise-makers 

designed to counter the German acoustic torpedo.  She then 

moved to New York and departed 5 November 1943 with her 

first Atlantic convoy.  During the next year, she sailed 

with seven Atlantic troop convoys, seeing each safely to 

staging points in Northern Ireland or Great Britain.  After 

her return to Charleston 22 October 1944, IRA JEFFERY joined 

a large convoy of cranes, powerplants, and tugs bound for 

the invasion ports of Europe.  On the return crossing, 20 

December 1944, the escort's convoy was attacked by a German 

submarine.  After sinking an LST and damaging destroyer 

escort FOGG (DE-57), the submarine was driven off.  IRA 

JEFFERY assisted the damaged ship and eventually escorted 

her through rough seas to the Azores.



	Returning to the United State 1 February 1945, the ship 

spent two weeks working with experimental mines in 

Chesapeake Bay.  She entered the New York Naval Shipyard 15 

February for conversion to a high-speed transport.  After 

the installation of troop quarters and extensive alterations 

she emerged in May 1945 as APD-44 (officially reclassified 

23 February 1945) and departed 12 May for shakedown in 

Chesapeake Bay.  IRA JEFFERY then sailed 25 May with 

aircraft carrier ANTIETAM (CV-36) for the Panama Canal and 

Pearl Harbor, where she arrived 18 June 1945.



	After training in Hawaiian waters, the ship returned to 

San Diego 23 July and began training with underwater 

demolition teams.  She sailed 16 August, 1 day after the 

war's end for the forward areas, stopping at Eniwetok, 

Ulithi, and Manila.  After demolition exercises in Lingayen 

Gulf, she sailed to Wakayama, Japan, where underwater 

demolition teams reconnoitered beaches prior to American 

occupation landings.  After the successful operation, IRA 

JEFFERY sailed for the United States, arriving San Diego 20 

November 1945.



	The ship sailed via the Panama Canal for the East Coast 

and, after her arrival Philadelphia 8 December, underwent 

repairs.  IRA JEFFERY then sailed to Jacksonville, Fla., and 

decommissioned at Green Cove Springs 18 June 1946.  She 

entered the Atlantic Reserve Fleet and remained there until 

struck from the Navy List 1 June 1960.  She was sunk during 

tests in July 1962.





Transcribed by Michael Hansen

mhansen2@home.com