USS Eagle 56 PE-56

Type:
Patrol Boat
Class:
Builder:
Ford Motor Company
River Rouge Complex
Dearborn, Michigan
Hull Number:
PE-56 (July 17, 1920)
Ordered:
March 4, 1917
Commissioned:
October 26, 1919
Keel Laid:
March 25, 1919
Decommissioned:
N/A
Launched:
August 15, 1919
Stricken:
N/A
Fate:
Sunk Apr. 23, 1945 by U-853 (Oberleutnant zur See Helmut Frömsdorf)

Location: North Atlantic, 6 miles east of Higgins Beach, Maine.

49 men lost, 13 survivors picked up by USS Selfridge DD-357 and landed at Portland, Maine.
(Roll of Honor)
Note:
It was originally determined by the U.S. Navy that Eagle's loss was due to a boiler explosion.
The assessment was amended after new research had been completed in mid 2001 and
Eagle is now considered a combat loss due to enemy action. In June of 2001 the Purple
Heart was awarded to the three living survivors and posthumously the rest of the crew.


Commanding Officers
From
To
Name
Oct. 26, 1919
N/A
Lieutenant Edward William Wunch, USN
1919
1939
Information not available.
Mar. 1939 (a)
June 1939 (b)
Lieutenant Walter G. Ebert, USN
June 1939 (b)
Dec. 1940 (c)
Lieutenant (j.g.) James L. Kemper, USN (Lt. from Sept. 1940)
Dec. 1940 (c)
Apr. 3, 1943
Lt. Commander Frank W. Parsons, USNR
Apr. 3, 1943
Mar. 1944 (d)
Lieutenant James W. Roddy, USNR
Mar. 1944 (d)
Mar. 1945 (e)
Lieutenant John L. Barr, Jr., USNR
Mar. 1945 (e)
Apr. 23, 1945
Lieutenant James Godsey Early, USNR
   
Notes
(a):
In command on this date, date he took command not available.
(b):
Change of command took place between Mar. and June 1939.
(c):
Change of command took place between Sept. and Dec. 1940.
(d):
Change of command took place in Mar. 1944.
(e):
Change of command took place between Jan. and Mar. 1945.


Awards
Combat Action Ribbon
American Defense Service Medal
World War II Victory Medal


Ship's History
Pre 1923
Not available.
Mar. 1923:
Reservist training at Washington, D.C.
Oct. 1925:
Temporary duty at Belleview for sound experiments.
Jan. 1926:
Assigned to 5th Naval District for reservist training, homeport Baltimore, Maryland.
Nov. 1940:
Assigned to 4th Naval district, homeport Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
1941-1942:
Information not available.
Nov. 1942:
Assigned to Service Squadron Nine, Service Force U.S. Atlantic Fleet,
Fleet Sound School, Key West, FL. Conducting training duties, acting as harbor guard
and conducting routine patrols. (Exact date of assignment not available.)
1942-1944:
Same as above.
1945:
Information not available.
Apr. 23, 1945:
Sunk by U-853.



Page published May 16, 2020