| USS FREDERICK C. DAVIS (April 24, 1945)
The 1,490 ton destroyer escort was commissioned on July 14, 1943. Nine months later the destroyer was sunk by the U-546 in the Western Atlantic. The vessel was participating in a search for snorkel-equipped U-boats when she sighted the U-546 preparing to attack the American aircraft carrier USS Bogue. The Davis attacked the U-boat but while doing so was herself hit by a torpedo from the U-546 the explosion of which split the Davis in two causing her to sink within a few minutes. Other destroyers in the group then attacked the U-boat which was eventually destroyed. They then proceeding to rescue the 77 survivors of the Davis. Unfortunately, 115 of her crew perished.
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On weald of Kent I watched once more
Again I heard that grumbling roar
Of fighter planes; yet none were near
And all around the sky was clear
Borne on the wind a whisper came
'Though men grow old, they stay the same'
And then I knew, unseen to eye
The ageless Few were sweeping by
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