USS Stephen Potter (DD-538) - 1945

1945

Stephen Potter entered the South China Sea on 9 January with the carriers which launched air strikes against Saigon and Camranh Bay, Indochina, on 12 January and Formosa on 15 January. Strikes were made against Hainan and Hong Kong on 16 January, after which American planes made a photographic reconnaissance of Okinawa before retiring to Ulithi. The destroyer sortied with TG 58.2 on 10 February and participated in the carrier strikes against the Tokyo area on, 16 and 17 February. From 19 through 22 February, strikes were launched against Iwo Jima to support the landing there. Two days later, the carriers sailed towards Japan and, on 25 February, launched air strikes against targets in the Tokyo Bay area before returning to Ulithi on 1 March.

The task group was at sea again on 14 March and, four days later, launched attacks against airfields on Kyūshū and against Japanese shipping at Kobe and Kure. The strikes continued the next day. The destroyer rescued a downed pilot on 18 March and saved another on 19 March. The task group was under enemy air attack both days. As the forces withdrew, they were under constant air attack. Franklin was hit on 19 March and Enterprise on the next day. Stephen Potter was in the screen that escorted the carriers back to Ulithi.

The destroyer was at sea again in 5 April with TG 58.2, in an area east of Okinawa. Strikes were flown against that island stronghold until 13 May when air raids were launched against Kyūshū. On 11 May, she picked up 107 survivors from Bunker Hill which had been hit by a kamikaze. Strikes were launched against Okinawa again from 22 to 28 May, and the group then sailed for Leyte. Stephen Potter then sailed for the United States, via Eniwetok and Pearl Harbor, arriving at San Francisco on 9 July. She underwent overhaul at the Mare Island Navy Yard until 31 August.

The war was over, and the destroyer was destined to be placed in the Pacific Reserve Fleet. After preparations were completed for placing her in "mothballs," Stephen Potter was placed out of commission, in reserve, on 21 September 1945 and berthed at Long Beach.