USS Ellyson

Theodore Gordon Ellyson, born 27 February 1885 in Richmond, Va., was the first naval officer designated an aviator. He served in experimental development of aviation, and established the Naval Aviation Camp at San Diego in 1911. Commander Ellyson was awarded the Navy Cross for distinguished service in World War I, for his development of successful tactics for the submarine chasers based at Plymouth, England. He was killed in a plane crash 27 February 1928.

Ellyson (DD-454) was launched 25 July 1941 by Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Kearny, N.J.; sponsored by Miss Gordon Ellyson, daughter of Commander Ellyson; and commissioned 28 November 1941, Lieutenant Commander J. B. Rooney in command.

Still outfitting when the United States entered World War II, Ellyson was quickly readied for sea and patrolled in the Atlantic, protecting Allied shipping from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to the West Indies and Panama Canal. On 14 January 1942 she rescued 24 survivors from the sunken Norwegian SS Harness. On 15 June she broke the pennant of Commander, Destroyer Squadron 10, which she was to carry proudly through the war, through the squadron's redesignation to Mine Division 20 and the subsequent conversion of its destroyers to high-speed minesweepers.

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From the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, compiled by the Naval History and Heritage Command (Ellyson (DD-454)). A work of the United States Government, in the public domain.