View source for USS Oliver Mitchell

{{short description|American ship}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
: ''For other ships with a similar name see [[USS Mitchell]].''
{|{{Infobox ship begin
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{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = Starboard aerial view of USS Oliver Mitchell (DE-417) in Atlantic, August 1944 (80-G-245490).jpg
| Ship caption = ''Oliver Mitchell'' east of [[Nantucket Sound]], 20 August 1944
}}
{{Infobox ship career
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| Ship country = United States
| Ship flag = {{USN flag|1945}}
| Ship name = ''Oliver Mitchell''
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| Ship builder = [[Brown Shipbuilding Company]], [[Houston]], Texas
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| Ship laid down = 3 January 1944
| Ship launched = 8 February 1944
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| Ship commissioned = 14 June 1944
| Ship recommissioned = 
| Ship decommissioned = 24 April 1946
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| Ship struck = 15 March 1972
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| Ship fate = Sold for scrap, 15 January 1973
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{{Infobox ship characteristics
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| Header caption = 
| Ship class = {{sclass|John C. Butler|destroyer escort}}
| Ship displacement = *{{cvt|1350|LT|t|0|lk=on}} ([[Displacement (ship)#Standard displacement|standard]])
*{{convert|1745|LT|t|0|lk=off}} ([[full load]])
| Ship length = {{convert|306|ft|m|abbr=on|1}} ([[o/a]])
| Ship beam = {{convert|36|ft|10|in|m|abbr=on|1}}
| Ship draft = {{convert|13|ft|4|in|m|abbr=on|1}}
| Ship power = 2 [[boiler]]s; {{convert|12000|shp|abbr=on|lk=on}}
| Ship propulsion = 2 propellers; 2 geared [[steam turbine]]s
| Ship speed = {{convert|24|kn|lk=in}}
| Ship range = {{convert|6000|nmi|abbr=on|lk=in}} at {{convert|12|kn}}
| Ship complement = 14 officers and 201 enlisted men
| Ship sensors = *SL series surface search [[radar]]
*SA series air search radar
*QC series [[sonar]]
| Ship EW = 
| Ship armament = *2 × single [[5"/38 caliber gun|{{cvt|5|in|0}} guns]]
*2 × twin [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|{{cvt|40|mm}}]] [[AA gun]]s 
*10 × single [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|{{cvt|20|mm}}]] AA guns 
*1 × triple [[American 21-inch torpedo|{{cvt|21|in|0}}]] [[torpedo tube]]s 
*8 × [[depth charge]] throwers
*1 × [[Hedgehog (weapon)|Hedgehog]] [[Anti-submarine weapon|ASW mortar]]
*2 × depth charge racks
| Ship notes = 
}}
|}

'''USS ''Oliver Mitchell'' (DE-417)''' was a {{sclass|John C. Butler|destroyer escort}} built for the [[United States Navy]] during [[World War II]]. Post-war, after active participation in the [[Pacific War]], her crew returned home with five [[battle stars]] to their credit.

==Namesake==
Oliver Mitchell was born on 14 March 1917 in [[Los Angeles|Los Angeles, California]]. He was the son of Nicholas D. Mitchell and Margaret Ruth Green of Los Angeles. He enlisted in the [[Marine Forces Reserve|Marine Corps Reserve]] on 23 May 1941 and was appointed [[Aviation Cadet]] in the [[United States Navy Reserve|U.S. Naval Reserve]] on 3 September 1941. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Marine Reserves on 14 March 1942, was assigned to combat duty in the [[Solomon Islands]] in July. On 23 August 1942 he was killed in action while engaging [[Empire of Japan|Japanese]] [[destroyer]]s off [[Ramos Island]]. He was posthumously awarded the [[Silver Star]].

== Design ==
{{Main|John C. Butler-class destroyer escort}}
The ''John C. Butler''-class [[destroyer escort]]s were designed to meet a need for large numbers of cheap [[Anti-submarine warfare|anti-submarine]] escort ships for ocean [[convoy]]s, and as a result carried little [[Anti-surface warfare|anti-surface]] armament. The class was part of an initial requirement for 720 escorts to be completed by the end of 1944, which was significantly reduced.{{Sfn|Friedman|1982|p=|pp=141, 149}}
[[File:Diagram_of_US_Navy_WWII_destroyer_escort.png|left|thumb|A United States Navy diagram of a destroyer escort]]
''Oliver Mitchell'' was {{Convert|306|ft|m|1}} long [[Length overall|overall]] with a [[Beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|36|ft|10|in|m|1}} and a [[Draft (hull)|draft]] of {{convert|13|ft|4|in|m|1}}.{{Sfn|DANFS Oliver Mitchell||p=}} She displaced {{convert|1350|LT|t|0|abbr=|lk=on}} [[Standard displacement|standard]] and {{convert|1745|LT|t|0}} [[full load]], with a complement of 14 [[Officer (armed forces)|officers]] and 201 [[Enlisted rank|enlisted men]].{{Sfn|Friedman|1982|p=421}}

The ship was propelled by two [[Westinghouse Electric Corporation|Westinghouse]] geared [[steam turbine]]s powered by two "D" Express [[boiler]]s, which created {{Convert|12000|shp|kW|lk=on|abbr=}} for a designed maximum speed of {{convert|24|kn|lk=in}}. She had a range of {{convert|6000|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|12|kn}}.{{Sfn|Friedman|1982|p=421}}

=== Armament and sensors ===
''Oliver Mitchell''  mounted a [[main battery]] of two single [[Gun turret|turret]]-mounted [[5"/38 caliber gun]]s, one forward and one aft of the superstructure, to protect against surface and aerial threats, directed by the [[Ship gun fire-control system|Mark 51 Gunnery Fire-Control System]]. In addition, she mounted two twin [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|40 mm Bofors]] [[Anti-aircraft guns|anti-aircraft (AA) guns]], superfiring over the 5-inch guns,{{Sfn|Friedman|1982|p=|pp=141, 149}} and ten [[20 mm Oerlikon|20&nbsp;mm Oerlikon AA cannon]], also controlled by the Mark 51 fire-control system. Equipped with three [[American 21-inch torpedo|{{convert|21|in|mm|0|adj=on}}]] [[torpedo tube]]s, the ship also carried two [[depth charge]] racks, eight [[K-gun]] depth-charge throwers and one [[Hedgehog (weapon)|Hedgehog]] [[spigot mortar]] as anti-submarine weapons.{{Sfn|DANFS Oliver Mitchell||p=}} She was equipped with QC series [[sonar]],{{Sfn|Friedman|1982|p=421}} SL series surface [[Search radar|search]] [[radar]],{{Sfn|Friedman|1981|p=149}} and SA series air search radar.{{Sfn|Friedman|1981|p=146}}

==Construction and service==

=== Construction, shakedown, and initial Pacific operations ===
[[File:Launching_of_USS_Oliver_Mitchell_(DE-417)_at_Brown_Shipbuilding,_February_1944.jpg|thumb|''Oliver Mitchell'' being side launched on 8 February 1944]]
[[Keel laying|Laid down]] by the [[Brown Shipbuilding|Brown Shipbuilding Company]] of [[Houston]], Texas, on 3 January 1944, ''Oliver Mitchell'' (DE-417) was [[Ship naming and launching|launched]] on 8 February of that year, [[Ship sponsor|sponsored]] by the mother of her namesake, [[2nd lieutenant|2nd Lieutenant]] [[Oliver Mitchell]], a [[Marine aviation|Marine]] pilot who posthumously received the [[Silver Star]] for his attack on a Japanese destroyer during the [[Guadalcanal campaign]]. She was [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 14 June 1944.{{Sfn|DANFS Oliver Mitchell||p=}} Following commissioning, the ship completed her fitting out, received ammunition, and moved down the [[Houston Ship Channel]] to [[Port of Galveston|Galveston]] for gunnery testing during the second half of the month. She sailed for [[Bermuda]] on 2 July and undertook a [[shakedown cruise]] off the island for most of the month and the first days of August, attached to the [[Atlantic Fleet (United States)|Atlantic Fleet]]. While mooring alongside ''Oliver Mitchell'' on 5 August, her [[sister ship]] {{USS|Gentry||2}} collided with her, causing minor damage.{{Sfn|Barclay|1944a|p=|pp=2–3, 5, 10}} [[File:Aerial_view_of_USS_Oliver_Mitchell_(DE-417)_underway_in_Atlantic,_August_1944_(80-G-245489).jpg|thumb|''Oliver Mitchell'' underway east of Nantucket Sound on 20 August 1944, from a blimp of [[US Navy airships during World War II|ZP-11]]]]
For repairs to correct deficiencies found during shakedown, ''Oliver Mitchell'' was ordered to the [[Boston Navy Yard]], and thence to [[Norfolk Navy Yard]] for further work. Together with her sister {{USS|Robert F. Keller||2}}, she departed Norfolk on 27 August for the [[Philadelphia Navy Yard]], where she met the seaplane tender {{USS|Currituck|AV-7|2}}. The three ships departed for the [[Panama Canal]] on the last day of August.{{Sfn|Barclay|1944a|p=|pp=11–13}} Assigned to Escort Division (CortDiv) 72 of the [[United States Pacific Fleet|Pacific Fleet]] after transiting the canal on 6 September,{{Sfn|Barclay|1944a|p=15|pp=}} the two destroyer escorts arrived at [[Naval Base San Diego|San Diego]] on 15 September.{{Sfn|Barclay|1944b|p=4}} ''Oliver Mitchell'' steamed to [[Pearl Harbor]] and entered it on 25 September.{{Sfn|Barclay|1944b|p=7}} Operating from Pearl Harbor, she screened {{USS|Saratoga|CV-3|2}} while the latter conducted [[carrier qualification]] between 1 and 5 October.  ''Oliver Mitchell''  participated in [[Hunter-killer Group|hunter-killer group]] exercises with the escort carrier {{USS|Anzio|CVE-57|2}} and fellow CortDiv 72 destroyer escorts ''Robert F. Keller'', {{USS|Lawrence C. Taylor||2}}, ''{{USS|Melvin R. Nawman||2}}'', and ''{{USS|Tabberer||2}}'' between 8 and 12 October. She departed for [[Eniwetok]] with ''Anzio'' and the four CortDiv 72 escorts on 16 October, arriving there on 24 October.{{Sfn|Barclay|1944b|p=|pp=9–11, 13}} ''Anzio'' departed for [[Ulithi]] with the destroyer escorts on 28 October. ''Oliver Mitchell'' rescued two survivors from the crew of a crashed [[TBF Avenger]] from the escort carrier later that day, and on 29 October picked up four men thrown overboard when a crashed plane sent two others off the ''Anzio'' flight deck. The ships arrived at Ulithi on 1 November.{{Sfn|Barclay|1944b|p=|pp=14, 16}}

=== Hunter-killer operations ===
[[File:USS_Oliver_Mitchell_(DE-417)_approaching_USS_Anzio_(CVE-57),_December_1944_(80-G-298067).jpg|thumb|''Oliver Mitchell'' approaching ''Anzio'' to return a rescued Avenger crew, 19 December 1944]]
[[File:USS_Oliver_Mitchell_(DE-417)_port_bow_closeup_during_approach_to_USS_Anzio_(CVE-57),_December_1944_(80-G-298068).jpg|thumb|Sailors on the port bow about to make the transfer by [[breeches buoy]]]]

After arrival at Ulithi, ''Anzio'' and her escorts were designated as [[Task force|Task Group]] (TG) 30.7 of the [[United States Third Fleet|Third Fleet]], and on 4 November departed to serve as a hunter-killer group in the [[Philippine Sea]]. They were diverted later that day to assist the light cruiser {{USS|Reno|CL-96|2}}, torpedoed by a Japanese submarine. The task group protected the light cruiser while she was towed back to Ulithi until 8 November, when it was tasked with screening the [[Replenishment oiler|oilers]] of TG 30.8. ''Lawrence C. Taylor'' and ''Melvin R. Nawman'' sank a Japanese submarine on 18 November,{{Sfn|Y'Blood|1987|p=|pp=247–248}} and the task group returned to Ulithi ten days later.{{Sfn|Barclay|1944b|p=|pp=14, 16–17, 22}} The commander of CortDiv72 transferred his pennant to ''Oliver Mitchell'' on 3 December, before TG 30.7 departed Ulithi on 10 December for an anti-submarine sweep around TG 30.8.{{Sfn|Barclay|1944c|p=|pp=2–3}} Three days later, TG 30.7 left TG 30.8 for an anti-submarine sweep north of the [[Fast Carrier Task Force]] (TF 38) as the aircraft of the latter supported the [[Battle of Mindoro|Mindoro]] landings with strikes against Japanese airfields on [[Luzon]].{{Sfn|DANFS Oliver Mitchell||p=}}{{Sfn|Y'Blood|1987|p=|pp=267–268}} ''Oliver Mitchell'' depth charged a false contact on 14 December and rescued the crew of a crashed ''Anzio'' Avenger on 17 December. When TG 30.7 and the rest of the Third Fleet ran into [[Typhoon Cobra]] on 18 December, she became separated from ''Anzio'' for several hours while weathering the storm.{{Sfn|Barclay|1944c|p=|pp=4–5}}{{Sfn|Y'Blood|1987|p=|pp=269–270}} On 21 December, ''Anzio'', ''Oliver Mitchell'', ''Robert F. Keller'', and ''Lawrence C. Taylor'' were sent to search for survivors of destroyers sunk in the typhoon,{{Sfn|Montgomery|1944|p=6}} but ''Oliver Mitchell'' only recovered three corpses. TG 30.7 returned to Ulithi on Christmas morning, and departed on 29 December for an anti-submarine sweep ahead of TG 30.8, with the destroyer ''{{USS|Kalk|DD-611|2}}'' replacing ''Tabberer'' and ''Melvin R. Nawman'', damaged in the typhoon.{{Sfn|Barclay|1944c|p=|pp=7–8}}{{Sfn|Montgomery|1944|p=10}}

''Oliver Mitchell'' and ''Lawrence C. Taylor'' were detached to TG 38.2 of the [[Fast Carrier Task Force]] between 2 and 6 January 1945 to screen the fleet carriers as they launched [[South China Sea raid|strikes]] on [[Formosa]] and Luzon in support of the [[invasion of Lingayen Gulf]]. While returning to TG 30.7, a broken shaft disabled her sonar, preventing effective anti-submarine operations and relegating her to providing [[plane guard]] duty for ''Anzio''. As a result, the commander of CortDiv 72 transferred his pennant to ''Lawrence C. Taylor'' on 10 January. On the next day, ''Oliver Mitchell'' was detached from TG 30.7 to return to Ulithi in company with two destroyers and an oiler, arriving two days later. At Ulithi, the ship was drydocked for sonar repairs and remained there for the rest of the month. The commander of CortDiv 72 returned his pennant to her when TG 30.7 returned to Ulithi on 28 January.{{Sfn|Barclay|1945a|p=|pp=1–6}}

=== Iwo Jima and Okinawa ===
Departing Ulithi for Eniwetok on 2 February with ''Anzio'' and ''Robert F. Keller'', forming TG 50.7 of the [[United States Fifth Fleet|Fifth Fleet]] (renamed when Admiral [[Raymond Spruance]] took command of the fleet), ''Oliver Mitchell'' and her task group arrived there four days later. At Eniwetok, ''Tabberer'' and ''Melvin R. Nawman'' rejoined the task group, which departed Eniwetok for [[Saipan]] on 7 February, covering the transports of TG 51.11 and 51.12. Off Saipan, they met the fleet for the [[invasion of Iwo Jima]], with the task group joining Task Unit (TU) 52.2.2 of the Support Carrier Group (Task Group 52.2), of the Amphibious Support Force (Task Force 52) on 13 February. After reaching station off Iwo Jima on 16 February, the ''Anzio'' aircraft conducted anti-submarine patrol and [[combat air patrol]] in defense of the escort carriers of TU 52.2.2 as the aircraft of the latter struck Iwo Jima.{{Sfn|Y'Blood|1987|p=322}} ''Oliver Mitchell'' was detached to screen TU 52.2.1 on 19 February, which was joined by TU 52.2.2 on 23 February. From 25 February to 4 March she conducted nightly anti-submarine sweeps around the escort carriers as part of TG 50.7.{{Sfn|Barclay|1945b|p=|pp=1–10}} The ship expended depth charges on a false contact on 4 March and on 7 March departed for [[Leyte]] with TG 50.7 as land-based aircraft took over anti-submarine patrol duty off Iwo Jima.{{Sfn|Y'Blood|1987|p=|pp=344–345}}{{Sfn|Barclay|1945c|p=4–5}}

The task group arrived in [[San Pedro Bay (Philippines)|San Pedro Bay]], Leyte, on 12 March, remaining there for a brief period of resupply before departing on 21 March for the [[invasion of Okinawa]] with the Support Carrier Group. ''Oliver Mitchell'' initially screened TU 52.1.2, which included the escort carriers {{USS|Marcus Island||2}} and {{USS|Savo Island||2}} in addition to ''Anzio''. While the task unit conducted gunnery practice on a target sleeve on the next day, fragments from a stray 20&nbsp;mm round fired by another ship wounded seven sailors aboard her. The ship sent out a swimmer to rescue a crashed ''Marcus Island'' fighter pilot on 25 March, the first day of strikes against Okinawa, but the latter drowned before he could be rescued.{{Sfn|Barclay|1945c|p=6–8}} From 26 March, ''Oliver Mitchell'' and her four CortDiv 72 sisters screened TU 52.1.1, centered around {{USS|Makin Island|CVE-93|2}}, {{USS|Fanshaw Bay||2}}, ''{{USS|Lunga Point||2}}'', ''{{USS|Natoma Bay||2}}'', {{USS|Savo Island||2}}, ''{{USS|Steamer Bay||2}}'', and ''Anzio'', during daytime support operations. At night, she and her sisters were detached to conduct anti-submarine sweeps with ''Anzio''.{{Sfn|Y'Blood|1987|p=|pp=353–354}} The ship picked up the crew of a crashed ''Anzio'' Avenger on 28 March.{{Sfn|Barclay|1945c|p=9–10}}

''Oliver Mitchell'' put into [[Kerama Retto]] with ''Lunga Point'' for refueling on 2 April. While anchored that morning, she contributed with her AA guns to flak that helped shoot down a diving Japanese [[A6M Zero]]. While ''Oliver Mitchell'' returned to TU 52.1.1 with ''Lunga Point'', ''Melvin R. Nawman'', and the destroyer ''{{USS|Patterson|DD-392|2}}'' that night, nearby transports of TU 51.2.1 came under kamikaze attack.{{Sfn|Barclay|1945d|p=3}} AA fire from ''Oliver Mitchell'' downed a [[Kawasaki Ki-45|Ki-45 Nick]] heading for her and damaged another that crashed into the [[high-speed transport]] ''{{USS|Dickerson|DD-157|2}}''.{{Sfn|Barclay|1945e|p=|pp=4, 7}}{{Sfn|Y'Blood|1987|p=|pp=356–357}} She returned to Kerama Retto on 6 April, where she met the damaged escort carrier ''{{USS|Wake Island||2}}''. ''Oliver Mitchell'' escorted ''Wake Island'' back to Guam for repairs, arriving there four days later having sunk a [[Naval mine|floating mine]] by gunfire on 7 April. At Guam, the ship entered the Task Force 51 escort pool before departing for Saipan on 14 April. Arriving there on the same day, she departed the next day as part of the escort for a convoy of transports bound for Ulithi. Reaching the destination on 17 April, ''Oliver Mitchell'' departed as part of the escort for Okinawa-bound Convoy UOK-2, consisting of cargo ships and auxiliaries, three days later. After a voyage uneventful except for a submarine scare on 24 April that forced a route change,{{Sfn|Cressman|2016|p=}} she put into Kerama Retto for resupply before rejoining TU 52.1.1, whose aircraft were still flying support missions off Okinawa, on 27 April.{{Sfn|Barclay|1945d|p=|pp=5–10}}

''Oliver Mitchell'' joined TU 50.7.3, the hunter-killer group centered around the escort carrier ''{{USS|Tulagi||2}}'',{{Sfn|Y'Blood|1987|p=380}} on 1 May, replacing her sister ''{{USS|William Seiverling||2}}'', which had departed for repairs.{{Sfn|DANFS William Seiverling||p=}} The screen also included sister destroyer escorts ''{{USS|Goss||2}}, {{USS|Kendall C. Campbell||2}}'', and ''{{USS|Ulvert M. Moore||2}}''. After refueling at Kerama Retto on the next day, the task unit departed for anti-submarine patrol along the shipping lanes to Okinawa. This proved uneventful, although ''Oliver Mitchell'' fired her Hedgehog against a false contact on 4 May and destroyed a floating mine by gunfire on 18 May. ''Anzio'' relieved ''Tulagi'' as the anti-submarine carrier on 21 May and she and the destroyer escorts continued the anti-submarine patrols as TU 50.7.1. On 28 May, after Admiral [[William Halsey Jr.|William Halsey]] took over from Spruance, the group changed its designation to TG 30.6, ''Tabberer'' and ''Robert F. Keller'' having replaced ''Goss'' and ''Kendall C. Campbell''. That day, the group received a report of a possible submarine contact from a minesweeper, and changed course to investigate. An ''Anzio'' Avenger spotted a surfaced Japanese submarine, {{Ship|Japanese submarine|I-361|4=2}}, on the morning of 31 May and sank the latter with a [[FIDO Homing Torpedo]]. Reaching the site of the attack, ''Oliver Mitchell'' and ''Tabberer'' confirmed the sinking by retrieving debris from the submarine.{{Sfn|Barclay|1945f|p=|pp=1–10}}{{Sfn|Y'Blood|1987|p=|pp=397–399}}

When ''Lawrence C. Taylor'' replaced ''Ulvert M. Moore'' in the task group on 1 June, ''Oliver Mitchell'' transferred the commander of CortDiv 72 to the former. She was detached on 4 June to return to Ulithi, arriving there two days later for a period of replenishment and routine maintenance. The ship departed for San Pedro Bay on 18 June and arrived there after a three-day journey. ''Oliver Mitchell'' departed for Ulithi as part of the screen of TG 30.8, the Third Fleet Logistic Support Group, on 28 June.{{Sfn|Barclay|1945g|p=|pp=1–7}}

A 47-day deployment at sea screening carrier task forces operating off the east coast of Japan followed.

During the next four months, ''Oliver Mitchell'' escorted forces to [[Korea]] for occupation duty and to and along the China coast trying to assuage postwar unrest in that country. On 26 December, pressed into [[Operation Magic Carpet]] duty, ''Oliver Mitchell'' headed back to the United States.

== Fate ==

She arrived at [[San Francisco]], [[California]] on 15 January 1946 and on 24 April, at [[San Diego]], California, decommissioned and joined the [[Pacific Reserve Fleet]]. Later transferred to the [[Mare Island]] Reserve Group, she remained a unit of the [[National Defense Reserve Fleet|Reserve Fleet]] into 1970. She was struck from the [[Naval Vessel Register]] on 15 March 1972{{Sfn|Friedman|1982|p=467}} before being sold for scrap on 15 January 1973.{{Sfn|Bauer|Roberts|1991|p=237}}

== Awards ==

''Oliver Mitchell'' received five [[battle stars]] for World War II service,{{Sfn|DANFS Oliver Mitchell||p=}} one each for her participation in the Luzon attacks, the Formosa attacks, the assault and occupation of Iwo Jima, the assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, and the 3rd Fleet operations against Japan.{{Sfn|Bureau of Naval Personnel|1948|p=|pp=51–52, 127}}

== References ==

=== Citations ===
<references />

=== Bibliography ===
{{DANFS|https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/o/oliver_mitchell.html}}

* {{cite book|title=Register of Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1775-1990: Major Combatants|last=Bauer|first=K. Jack|last2=Roberts|first2=Stephen S.|publisher=Greenwood Press|year=1991|isbn=0-313-26202-0|location=[[Westport, Connecticut]]}}
*{{cite DANFS|last=Cressman|first=Robert J.|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/l/lynx-ak-100-iii.html|title=Lynx III (AK-100)|publisher=Naval History and Heritage Command|date=11 July 2016|access-date=12 February 2017}}
*{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/DecorationsMedalsRibbonsBadges1948/|title=Decorations, Medals, Ribbons, Badges of the United States Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard 1861-1948|publisher=Bureau of Naval Personnel|year=1948|series=NAVPERS 15790|location=Washington, D.C.|oclc=2504188|ref={{sfnRef|Bureau of Naval Personnel|1948|}}}}
* {{cite book|title=Naval Radar|last=Friedman|first=Norman|publisher=Conway Maritime Press|year=1981|isbn=0-85177-238-2|location=London|author-link=Norman Friedman}}
* {{cite book|title=U.S. Destroyers: An Illustrated Design History|last=Friedman|first=Norman|publisher=Naval Institute Press|year=1982|isbn=0-87021-733-X|location=Annapolis}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/o/oliver_mitchell.html|title=Oliver Mitchell (DE-417)|date=19 April 2016|work=Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships|publisher=Naval History & Heritage Command|access-date=5 November 2018|ref={{sfnRef|DANFS Oliver Mitchell}}}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/w/william-seiverling.html|title=William Seiverling|date=2 November 2015|work=Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships|publisher=Naval History & Heritage Command|access-date=5 November 2018|ref={{sfnRef|DANFS William Seiverling}}}}
*{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/littlegiantsuses00yblo|title=The Little Giants - U.S. Escort Carriers Against Japan|last=Y'Blood|first=William T.|publisher=United States Naval Institute|year=1987|isbn=0-87021-275-3|location=Annapolis, Maryland}}

'''Military documents'''

* {{cite web|url=https://www.fold3.com/image/1/296573994|title=War Diaries of the USS Oliver Mitchell (DE 417) for the period 14 June 1944 through 6 September 1944|last=Barclay|first=Kenneth J.|date=1944a|publisher=United States Navy|via=[[Fold3]]|url-access=subscription|access-date=5 November 2019}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.fold3.com/image/1/293483818|title=War Diaries of the USS Oliver Mitchell (DE 417) for the period 7 September 1944 through 30 November 1944|last=Barclay|first=Kenneth J.|date=1944b|publisher=United States Navy|via=Fold3|url-access=subscription|access-date=7 November 2019}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.fold3.com/image/1/295251146|title=War Diary of the USS Oliver Mitchell (DE 417) for the month of December 1944|last=Barclay|first=Kenneth J.|date=1944c|publisher=United States Navy|via=Fold3|url-access=subscription|access-date=8 November 2019}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.fold3.com/image/1/295224561|title=War Diary of the USS Oliver Mitchell (DE 417) for the month of January 1945|last=Barclay|first=Kenneth J.|date=1945a|publisher=United States Navy|via=Fold3|url-access=subscription|access-date=16 November 2019}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.fold3.com/image/1/295418256|title=War Diary of the USS Oliver Mitchell (DE 417) for the month of February 1945|last=Barclay|first=Kenneth J.|date=1945b|publisher=United States Navy|via=Fold3|url-access=subscription|access-date=16 November 2019}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.fold3.com/image/1/295920079|title=War Diary of the USS Oliver Mitchell (DE 417) for the month of March 1945|last=Barclay|first=Kenneth J.|date=1945c|publisher=United States Navy|via=Fold3|url-access=subscription|access-date=16 November 2019}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.fold3.com/image/1/296168368|title=War Diary of the USS Oliver Mitchell (DE 417) for the month of April 1945|last=Barclay|first=Kenneth J.|date=1945d|publisher=United States Navy|via=Fold3|url-access=subscription|access-date=26 November 2019}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.fold3.com/image/1/295862656|title=Report of AA actions off the Kerama Retto, Ryukyu Islands on 2 April 1945|last=Barclay|first=Kenneth J.|date=1945e|publisher=United States Navy|via=Fold3|url-access=subscription|access-date=28 November 2019}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.fold3.com/image/1/296131102|title=War Diary of the USS Oliver Mitchell (DE 417) for the month of May 1945|last=Barclay|first=Kenneth J.|date=1945f|publisher=United States Navy|via=Fold3|url-access=subscription|access-date=29 November 2019}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.fold3.com/image/1/296548108|title=War Diary of the USS Oliver Mitchell (DE 417) for the month of June 1945|last=Barclay|first=Kenneth J.|date=1945g|publisher=United States Navy|via=Fold3|url-access=subscription|access-date=30 November 2019}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.fold3.com/image/1/295248815|title=War Diary of the USS Anzio (CVE-57) for December 1944|last=Montgomery|first=George C.|date=1944|publisher=United States Navy|via=Fold3|url-access=subscription|access-date=14 November 2019}}

== External links ==

* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/06/417.htm NavSource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive - USS Oliver Mitchell (DE-417)]

{{John C. Butler class destroyer escort}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Oliver Mitchell}}
[[Category:John C. Butler-class destroyer escorts]]
[[Category:Ships built in Houston]]
[[Category:1944 ships]]
[[Category:World War II frigates and destroyer escorts of the United States]]