USS Hadley was one of the Sumner Class destroyers. Built in San Pedro CA, Commissioned in November 1944. Engaged in the fierce battle on 11 May 1945 Radar Picket station 15 off the Northwest Coast of Okinawa. She was the Radar Control Center for the AirCap. The Hadley, the Evans and 4 small boats LCS 82, LCS(L) 83, LCS(L) 84, and LSM(R) 193 as support ships and a Combat Air Patrol of twelve planes faced 156 Kamikazes on the morning of the 11th.
http://destroyerhistory.org/sumner-gearingclass/usshughwhadley/
Both the Hadley and the Evans were severely damaged. Following the event the Hadley and her crew went into the record books as, the champion kamikaze killer, holder of the all-time individual ship single-engagement anti-aircraft gunnery record—20 planes splashed plus three destroyed by hitting the ship in 100 minutes—was destroyer USS
Hugh W. Hadley (DD 774). Although more than one hundred planes attacked the two destroyers and both were hit, both crews managed to save their ships, which were eventually towed to the West Coast but never repaired.
I have had the honor to know some of the crew for the USS Hadley. I grew up with a piece of her history on the wall in my bedroom, portion of the Hadley bridge saved from the scrap yard. The ships record of that day, now on permanent display in the National Museum of the Pacific War, Fredericksburg, Texas.
Sorry if I hijacked this thread.
Fair winds to all of you sailors.