Hi everyone,
I've been doing some research this week. Rick Davis e-mailed me a couple awesome photos of the Haggard I have never seen before. They will allow me to do the specific type of building that will depict my build as the Haggard was built so many years ago.
The Haggard’s history is unique and very interesting like all the Fletchers built during WWII. This is an excerpt from the history section of the Haggard’s web site. The Haggard was credited with sinking two Japanese subs one of which was by ramming at full speed ahead none the less!!!!
(An excerpt from DD-555 USS Haggard’s History)
With the Pacific campaign then reaching its climax, Haggard sortied again with Vice Admiral Mitscher's 5th fleet carriers for attacks on Japan. During strikes on Honshu 18 19 March, Japanese suicide planes struck back at the task force. Haggard's gunners shot down several kamikazes, as carriers Franklin and Enterprise were damaged. After fueling at sea, the fast carrier group, moved toward Okinawa 22 March, with Haggard acting as picket destroyer ahead of the formation. Shortly before midnight she detected a surfaced submarine with radar, and after it dived attacked with depth charges. Ten minutes later the submarine surfaced on Haggard's port beam. Commander Soballe brought his ship into a hard left turn toward his adversary. With full throttle and guns blazing Haggard rammed the submarine I-371 amidships, sinking her in three minutes. After this daring duel, Haggard's crew made emergency repairs to her damaged bow and took her back to Ulithi 25 March.
Her repairs completed, Haggard sailed from Ulithi 21 April with battleship Iowa to support the Okinawa operation.
The following images depict the damage after ramming the sub.
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I am planning to get some 010 sheet styrene to simulate the repairs to the hull after sinking the sub. It should look great and further add to the realism to my build!!!!!!
The next bit of history only eight short days later with a sad twist of fate!!!!
(DD-555 History excerpt #2 4-29-1945)
While proceeding to picket station 29 April the ship was attacked by a kamikaze making a shallow dive to starboard. Though nearly blown apart by the fury of the destroyer's guns, the aircraft crashed close aboard and penetrated her hull near the waterline. Soon afterward, her bomb exploded in Haggard's engine room. As water gushed through the gaping hole in the destroyer's side and she began to settle, another suicide plane attacked, but was splashed by anti-aircraft fire. Through fast and skillful damage control the flooding was stopped and Haggard was kept afloat. Wounded were taken by cruiser San Diego and destroyer Walker arrived to tow the stricken ship to Kerama Retto near Okinawa. The ship arrived 1 May 1945.
Hampered by lack of materials and almost constant air alerts, Haggard's crew succeeded in repairing her so that she could get underway. She departed Kerama Retto 18 June 1945 and arrived Pearl Harbor via Saipan and Guam 12 July. From there she steamed to San Diego and the Canal Zone, arriving at Norfolk 5 August 1945.
Decommissioned 1 November 1945, Haggard was scrapped because of war damage.
In the next image I have circled one of the crew standing on I know not what floating next to his crippled ship. His name is Harold Bud Weigand; he was a carpenter’s mate aboard the Haggard from her maiden voyage to her last. He was one of many who helped patch her up enough to make it to a near by US held island for further repairs that allowed the Haggard to make her way home to the US.
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Bud was instrumental in the creation of Haggard's web site. He is alive and doing well, I have been in contact with him since the end of March this year. After Bud's first reply to me I happened to check out a small hobby shop 25 miles away from where I live. I mentioned what I was currently building and it just so happens that the owner’s father was a torpedo man aboard the Haggard as well. His duty post was the forward torpedo launcher just above where the kamikaze struck the ship. He credits the sparing of his life to going to get a coffee after completing a double watch. Moment’s later tragedy rocked the ship and all hands in the forward engine room were instantly killed.
What are the chances of meeting up with two people within a week of each other that had ties to the Haggard?
I was shocked and amazed to say the least!!!!!!
I feel that I have chosen the best Fletcher for myself to build. The next time I visit the hobby shop the owner is going to show me all his dad's photos of the Haggard. I'm sorry to say, but his father is no longer with us.
Check back soon for more progress on DD-555!!!!!!!!!