USS Lansdale DD426 Reunion

Searching For WWII Shipmates

We are searching for tin can sailors from this WWII destroyer which was sunk by German aerial torpedoes in the Mediterranean on 20 April 1944. We seek to locate living shipmates as well as account for deceased shipmates. When the ship sank, the crew consisted of 282 officers and men of which 234 survived. Of the 49 casualties, 7 dead were buried at the North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial, Carthage, Tunisia, and 42 missing in action are memorialized there as well. At last count we have the names and addresses of 74 living survivors plus 61 shipmates who debarked prior to the sinking. The Honor Roll contains the names of the 49 shipmates lost with Lansdale, plus 100 survivors and 101 others now dead. We have been unable to locate or account for 60 survivors.

If you are a shipmate or have information about anyone who served in USS Lansdale DD426 at any time from her commissioning to her sinking, please contact us at the mailing or e-mail address below.

Reunions

Reunions have been held regularly since 1992. The second reunion was in 1994, the 50th anniversary of the sinking. The last reunion was held on 27-30 May 2004 in Washington, D.C., and was attended by 39 persons including 12 survivors, 4 shipmates who served prior to the sinking, as well as wives, family members and friends. The highlight of the reunion was the dedication service on the Mall on Saturday afternoon, 29 May of the WWII Memorial. Saturday morning the reunion attended a memorial service in the National Cathedral. Other reunion activities included the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum at Dulles Airport, lunch at Old Ebbet's Grille and the Navy Memorial on Pensylvania Ave. A memorial service for deceased shipmates was held during the Thursaday dinner hour. We are very anxious to locate additional shipmates and family members who may desire to attend future reunions.

2005 Reunion

No reunion is planned at this time. Whenever a reunion is scheduled, the time and place will be published here as soon as the information is available.

60th Anniversary

On September 17, 2000, sixty years had passed since Mrs. Ethyl Lansdale christened USS Lansdale DD426, the second destroyer to bear her husband's name. That afternoon, Lansdale was placed in commission with Cdr. John D. Connor, USN taking command.

Links to History

Contact Person

Anne Marie Allison
31 Birds Hill Ave.
Needham, MA 02429-4229
(781)444-6789

E-mail

Send e-mail to Chuck Wales at cwales@adelphia.net

Last updated 06-2-23
Charles C. Wales
8 Willard Hill Road RR2
Stockbridge, MA 01266
(413)298-4950
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