USS McCampbell DDG 85 / Captain David S. McCampbell / Arleigh Burke class Guided Missile Destroyer – US Navy
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Naval Forces Technology, History & Information

 

Guided Missile Destroyer

DDG 85   -   USS McCampbell

USS McCampbell (DDG 85)

US Navy photo

Type, Class:

 

Guided Missile Destroyer; Arleigh Burke – class / Flight IIA;

planned and built as DDG 85;

Builder:

 

Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, USA

STATUS:

 

Awarded: December 13, 1996;

Laid down: July 15, 1999;

Launched: July 2, 2000;

Commissioned: August 17, 2002;

ACTIVE UNIT/ in commission (Pacific Fleet)

Homeport:

 

San Diego, California, USA

Namesake:

 

Named after and in honor of Captain David S. McCampbell (1910 – 1996);

> see history, below;

Ship's Motto:

 

> RELENTLESS IN BATTLE <

Technical Data:

(Measures, Propulsion,

Armament, Aviation, etc.)

 

see: INFO > Guided Missile Destroyer / Arleigh Burke - class.

 

Pictures, photos & more ...

 

David S. McCampbell

Photo credits: US Navy, US Naval Historical Center

 

Namesake & History:

Captain David S. McCampbell (January 16, 1910 – June 30, 1996);

 

Bath Iron Works’s fourth FLIGHT IIA Arleigh Burke Class AEGIS Destroyer proudly bears the name of Captain David S. McCampbell, United States Navy.  Captain McCampbell is the Navy’s all-time leading ace with 34 aerial victories during World War II.  David McCampbell was born in Bessemer, Alabama, on January 16, 1910.  He attended Staunton (Virginia) Military Academy and one year at Georgia School of Technology before his appointment to the United States Naval Academy, where he graduated with the class of 1933.

 

From September 1943 to September 1944 Captain McCampbell was commander of Air Group 15, in charge of fighters, bombers, and torpedo bombers aboard the aircraft carrier Essex.  From April to November 1944, his group saw six months of continuous combat and participated in two major air-sea battles, the First and Second Battles of the Philippine Sea.  During the more than 20,000 hours of air combat operations before it returned to the United States for a rest period, Air Group 15 destroyed more enemy planes (315 airborne and 348 on the ground) and sank more enemy shipping than any other Air Group in the Pacific War.  Air Group 15’s attacks on the Japanese in the Marianas and at Iwo Jima, Formosa, and Okinawa were key to the success of the “island hopping” campaign.

 

In addition to his duties as commander of the “Fabled Fifteen,” Captain McCampbell became the Navy’s “Ace of Aces” during the missions he flew in 1944.  In October 1944 Captain McCampbell and his wingman attacked a Japanese force of 60 aircraft.  During the mission, Captain McCampbell shot down nine enemy planes, setting a single mission aerial combat record.  When he landed his Grumman F6F Hellcat, his six machine guns had two rounds remaining and the plane had only enough fuel to keep it aloft for 10 more minutes.  Captain McCampbell received the Medal of Honor for that action, becoming the only fast carrier task force pilot to do so.  During a similarly courageous mission in June 1944, Air Group 15’s planes routed a large enemy force and Captain McCampbell earned seven kills.

 

For his brilliant record in command of Air Group 15, Captain McCampbell was awarded the Medal of Honor, the Navy Cross, the Legion of Merit with Combat “V,” the Silver Star Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross with two Gold Stars in lieu of the second and third  awards, and the Air Medal (shown below). After the war, his assignments included command of the carrier Bon Homme Richard and service as plans division chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.  He retired from active duty in 1964 and was interred at Arlington National Cemetery after his death on June 30, 1996.

 

 

Medal of Honor Citation:

 

McCAMPBELL, DAVID S.;

Rank and organization: Commander, U.S. Navy, Air Group 15.Place and date: First and second battles of the Philippine Sea, 19 June 1944. Entered service at: Florida. Born: 16 January 1910, Bessemer, Alabama. Other Navy awards: Navy Cross, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with 2 Gold Stars, Air Medal. 

 

Citation:

 

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as commander, Air Group 15, during combat against enemy Japanese aerial forces in the first and second battles of the Philippine Sea. An inspiring leader, fighting boldly in the face of terrific odds, Comdr. McCampbell led his fighter planes against a force of 80 Japanese carrier-based aircraft bearing down on our fleet on 19 June 1944. Striking fiercely in valiant defense of our surface force, he personally destroyed 7 hostile planes during this single engagement in which the outnumbering attack force was utterly routed and virtually annihilated. During a major fleet engagement with the enemy on 24 October, Comdr. McCampbell, assisted by but one plane, intercepted and daringly attacked a formation of 60 hostile land-based craft approaching our forces. Fighting desperately but with superb skill against such overwhelming airpower, he shot down 9 Japanese planes and, completely disorganizing the enemy group, forced the remainder to abandon the attack before a single aircraft could reach the fleet. His great personal valor and indomitable spirit of aggression under extremely perilous combat conditions reflect the highest credit upon Comdr. McCampbell and the U.S. Naval Service.

 

USS McCampbell (DDG 85):

 

… DDG 85 history wanted …

 

… and patches …

 

 

 

 

 

 

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