USS Chaffee (DE-230) was a Rudderow-class destroyer escort in the United States Navy during World War II. Namesake Davis Elliott Chaffee was born on 5 May 1915 in Hartland Township, Ohio. He enlisted in the Navy on 4 January 1941, was appointed Ensign on 6 September 1941 and naval aviator on 1 October 1941. While serving with Bombing Squadron 5 based on , he was killed in action during the Battle of the Coral Sea on 8 May 1942. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross. Construction and service Chaffee was launched 27 November 1943 by Charleston Navy Yard; sponsored by Mrs. L. C. Chaffee; and commissioned 9 May 1944. After operating on the east coast as a target ship in submarine training, and as a training ship for prospective escort vessel crews, Chaffee cleared Bayonne, New Jersey, 14 October 1944. She arrived at Hollandia, New Guinea on 21 November for operations in the area screening LSTs, in gunnery and anti-torpedo exercises, and on patrol at the entrance to Aitape. Chaffee began her role in the battles of the Philippines when she sailed from Hollandia 17 December 1944 to escort landing craft to Leyte. She cleared Hollandia again 8 January 1945 with reinforcements for the recently landed San Fabian Attack Force at Lingayen, where she arrived 21 January. Assigned to patrol in Lingayen Gulf, Chaffee underwent a unique experience on 23 January, when a Japanese Mitsubishi G4M ("Betty") dropped an aerial torpedo which passed through her bow without exploding, or causing any injuries to her crew. (The propeller from the torpedo was recovered in the bow of the ship. It is in the collection of the National Museum of the United States Navy at the Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C.) By 2 February, temporary repairs had been completed, and Chaffee returned to patrol duties. She continued to escort convoys in the Philippines, as well as conduct patrols in support of the Mindanao operation until 29 April, when she cleared Parang for Morotai. She returned to the southern Philippines for escort duty 2 May. A week later, she guarded the landing of reinforcements at Davao. Chaffee arrived at Morotai from the Philippines 19 June 1945 to train for the Borneo operation, and cleared on 28 June to escort reinforcements which landed at Balikpapan 3 July. For the remainder of the war, Chaffee escorted convoys between Morotai and Hollandia and the Philippines.