This Fallen Navy Profile is not currently maintained by any Member.
If you would like to take responsibility for researching and maintaining this Fallen profile please click
HERE
Casualty Info
Home Town Derry, PA
Last Address Latrobe, PA
Casualty Date Apr 29, 1945
Cause KIA-Body Not Recovered
Reason Other Explosive Device
Location Pacific Ocean
Conflict World War II
Location of Interment Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial - Honolulu, Hawaii
Wall/Plot Coordinates Court 5 (cenotaph)
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
The USS Hazelwood (DD-531) sailed for action 14 March 1945 with a fast carrier force to provide air cover and shore bombardment for the invasion of Okinawa, last step before invasion of the Japanese home islands. After the invasion 1 April, Hazelwood operated off Okinawa on radar picket and escort patrols through intense Japanese air attacks. On 29 April, the carrier group she was shepherding was attacked by kamikazes who dove out of low cloud cover.
Hazelwood, all guns blazing, maneuvered to avoid two of the Zeros. A third screamed out of the clouds from astern. Although hit by Hazelwood's fire, the enemy plane careened past the superstructure. It hit the #2 stack on the port side, smashed into the bridge, and exploded. Flaming gasoline spilled over the decks and bulkheads as the mast toppled and the forward guns were put out of action. Ten officers and 67 men were killed.
RDM3 Burd's body was never recovered and he was later declared dead.
Comments/Citation:
Service number: 6535506
The information contained in this profile was compiled from various internet sources.
Named after John Hazelwood, born in England in 1726, was appointed to superintend
the building of fire rafts for the protection of Philadelphia against the British during the Revolutionary War. A commissioned officer in the Pennsylvania Navy, Commodore Hazelwood commanded all units of the Pennsylvania and Continental navies participating in the defense of the Delaware River approaches to Philadelphia in 1777. His gunboats and galleys engaged British men-of-war 23 October near river obstructions; and, after the
British frigate Merlin and ship of the line Augusta grounded, their crews were forced to burn them.
Later Commodore Hazelwood took command of Continental vessels in Delaware Bay. In recognition of his services in the War for Independence, the Continental Congress voted him a handsome sword, now in the collection of the Naval Historical Foundation.
Commodore Hazelwood died at Philadelphia 1 March 1800.
CLASS - FLETCHER As Built. Displacement 2924 Tons (Full), Dimensions, 376' 5"(oa) x 39' 7" x 13' 9" (Max) Armament 5 x 5"/38AA, 6 x 40mm, 10/11 x 20mm AA, 10 x 21" tt.(2x5). Machinery, 60,000 SHP; Westinghouse Turbines, 2 screws Speed, 38 Knots, Range 6500 NM@ 15 Knots, Crew 273. Operational and Building Data Laid down by Bethlehem Steel, San Francisco. April 11 1942. Launched October 20 1942 and commissioned June 18 1943. Decommissioned January 18 1946 and recommissioned September 12 1951. Converted into a DASH helicopter trials ship in 1958. Decommissioned March 19 1965. Stricken December 1 1974
WWII - Heroic deed and loses. June 15, 1945 USS Hazelwood survives two Jap kamikaze planes. While escorting a fast carrier striking force off the northeast coast of Okinawa late in the evening of April 29, 1945, the destroyer USS Hazelwood was the target of two Jap suicide planes. Hit by the Hazelwood’s guns, the first Kamikaze plane, out of control, grazed an after mount and plummeted into the sea. The second suicide, diving out of a low-hanging cloud, was in before the Hazelwood’s guns could sufficiently finish her off. As a result Kamikaze number two hit squarely into the superstructure; its bombs smashing into the bridge and ignited gasoline spreading throughout the area.
Ten of the ship’s 19 officers, including its Commanding Officer, Commander V. P. Douw, USN, and 67 enlisted men were killed or missing in action. Lt (jg) C. M. Locke, taking charge, directed the fighting of fire and the transfer of wounded to nearby ships. Back on the West Coast where the Hazelwood was undergoing repairs, Lt (jg) Locke paid high tribute to the men who stuck with the ship to bring her back.
Her superstructure in shambles from two Jap suicide plane hits, the destroyer USS Hazelwood lies dead and smoking in the water as her crew fight courageously to save their ship.
The Hazelwood continue serving the US Navy and was converted in the 1960's for Anti-submarine warfare with a DASH conversion.
