From: Dictionary of American Fighting Ships

John Lincoln Doneff born 12 February 1920 in Newark, Ohio, graduated from the Naval Academy and was commissioned Ensign 19 June 1942. Ensign Doneff was killed in action when his ship, Pensacola (CA-24) was damaged during the Battle of Tassafaronga in the Solomon Islands 30 November 1942.

(DE - 49: dp. 1,140; l. 289'5"; b. 35'1"; dr. 8'3"; s. 21 k.; cpl. 156; a. 3 3", 8 dcp., 1 dcp.(hh.), 2 dct.; cl. Evarts)

BDE-49, originally intended for transfer to Great Britain, was launched 24 July 1942 by Philadelphia Navy Yard; retained by the U.S. Navy; named Doneff 4 March 1943; and commissioned 10 June 1943, Lieutenant Commander L. C. Mabley, USNR, in command.

Doneff arrived at San Diego as escort for a convoy 9 September 1943. On 27 September she got underway for Alaskan waters and escort duty. From April 1944 she cruised between Attu and the Kurile Islands to report enemy contacts, forced landings of aircraft, and weather, and to guide planes and serve as rescue vessel in case of forced landings. She returned to Attu 19 May for escort duty between Alaskan ports. Except for a period as guard ship again from 1 to 21 August 1944, she continued to escort convoys until 7 January 1945 when she sailed for San Francisco and overhaul.

Arriving at Pearl Harbor 9 March 1945 for exercises, Doneff got underway on the 20th to escort a convoy to Eniwetok, arriving 28 March. She served at Guam on patrol and local escort duty, then made antisubmarine patrols off Saipan until 6 August, when she sailed for Okinawa as a convoy escort, returning to Saipan 19 August. From 25 August to 23 September she joined Mayrant (DD-402) to receive the surrender of the Japanese garrison on Marcus Island and support occupation of the island by American troops.

After brief overhaul at Guam, Doneff put to sea 11 October, arriving at San Pedro 26 October. Doneff was decommissioned 22 December 1945 at San Diego, and sold for scrapping 9 January 1947.

Transcribed by Yves HUBERT