HISTORY

DURING WORLD WAR II THE NEWEST DESTROYERS WERE OF THE FLETCHER  (DD-445) CLASS.

SHIPS WERE ORGANIZED IN SQUADRONS OF 8 – 10 SHIPS.  DESTROYER SQUADRON 50 HAD TWO DIVISIONS.

DIVISION 99

CLARENCE K. BRONSON (DD-668)

COTTEN (DD-669)  

DORTCH (DD-670) 

GATLING (DD-671)  

HEALY (DD-672)

DIVISION 100

CAPERTON (DD-650)  

COGSWELL   (DD-651)  

INGERSOLL   (DD-652)

KNAPP   (DD-653)  

AT THE END OF THE WAR ALL SHIPS WERE INACTIVATED.

IN 1951 AT THE START OF THE KOREAN WAR MOST OF THESE SHIPS WERE RE-COMMISSIONED AND FORMED INTO A NEW SQUADRON  -  DESTROYER SQUADRON 30

DESRON 30 ASSOCIATION INC. IS A NEW GROUP WHICH COMBINES REUNION GROUPS FOR FOUR OF THE FLETCHER CLASS DESTROYERS WHICH WERE PART OF SQUADRON 30 WHICH WAS FORMED IN 1951. DUE TO AGE OF THE WORLD WAR II SAILORS MOST ASSOCIATION MEMBERS ARE FROM THE KOREAN AND COLD WAR ERAS. ALL SHIPS WERE TAKEN OUT OF SERVICE IN 1959/1960.

THE SHIPS CURRENTLY IN THE ASSOCIATION ARE:

USS COTTEN (DD-669)

USS DALY (DD-519)

USS DORTCH (DD-670)

USS GATLING (DD-671)

OTHER SHIPS WHICH MAY JOIN ARE:

USS CLARENCE K. BRONSON (DD-668)

USS CAPERTON (DD-650)

USS DASHIELL (DD-659)

USS SMALLEY (DD-565)