USS Willis (DE-395) - Operational History

Operational History

Willis (DE-395) was laid down on 17 July 1943 at Houston, Texas, by Brown Shipbuilding Co.; launched on 14 September 1943, sponsored by Mrs. Marie E. Willis, the mother of the late Ens. Willis; and commissioned on 10 December 1943, Lt. Comdr. G. R. Atterbury, USNR, in command.

After fitting-out at Houston and loading ammunition at the San Jacinto Ordnance Depot, Willis departed Galveston, Texas, on 5 January 1944 in company with USS Kretchmer (DE-329) bound for the British West Indies and reached Bermuda on the 10th.

Following shakedown, Willis departed Bermuda on 3 February-in company with Kretchmer and USS Thomason (DE-203) and arrived at Charleston, South Carolina, on the 6th. The destroyer escort underwent post-shakedown availability in the navy yard there over the ensuing week and sailed on 15 February for the Chesapeake Bay, escorting the merchantman SS Exanthia to Hampton Roads where she arrived the next day.

Two days later, Willis then proceeded-in company with USS Stewart (DE-238) to Staten Island, New York, and, upon arrival, reported for duty to Commander, Escort Division (CortDiv) 51. Subsequently, Willis joined Task Group (TG) 21.11 at Hampton Roads on 26 February, the hunter-killer group formed around the escort carrier USS Bogue (CVE-9).