USS Pillsbury (DE-133)

USS Pillsbury (DE-133)

USS Pillsbury (DE-133) was an Edsall-class destroyer escort built for the U.S. Navy during World War II. She served in the Atlantic Ocean and provided destroyer escort protection against submarine and air attack for Navy vessels and convoys. She returned at war's end with five battle stars and a Presidential Unit Citation.

She was named after Rear Admiral John E. Pillsbury, known as having been one of the world’s foremost geographers and as an authority of the Gulf Stream. Actively identified with the National Geographic Society for many years, he was president of the society at the time of his death, 30 December 1919.

Pillsbury (DE–133) was laid down by the Consolidated Steel Corp., Orange, Texas, 18 July 1942; launched 10 January 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Elsie G. Richardson; and commissioned 7 June 1943, Lt. Comdr. W. Parker, USNR, in command. Parker would later be succeeded by Francis L. Dale (later owner of the Cincinnati Reds, and a member of Richard M. Nixon's campaign staff.)