. ▁ ▁Wing field ▁was ▁named ▁in ▁honor ▁of ▁John ▁Davis ▁Wing field , ▁who ▁won ▁the ▁Navy ▁Cross ▁but ▁lost ▁his ▁life ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 2 ▁in ▁the ▁Cor al ▁Sea . ▁ ▁The ▁ship ▁was ▁laid ▁down ▁on ▁ 7 ▁October ▁ 1 9 4 3 ▁at ▁New ark , ▁New ▁Jersey , ▁by ▁the ▁Federal ▁Sh ip building ▁and ▁D ry d ock ▁Corporation ; ▁launched ▁on ▁ 3 0 ▁December ▁ 1 9 4 3 ; ▁spons ored ▁by ▁Mrs . ▁E . ▁E . ▁Wing field ; ▁and ▁commission ed ▁on ▁ 2 8 ▁January ▁ 1 9 4 4 , ▁L t . ▁Com dr . ▁H . ▁E . ▁Pur dy ▁in ▁command . ▁ ▁History ▁ ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁Atlantic ▁Ocean ▁operations ▁▁ ▁Following ▁sh aked own ▁training ▁in ▁B erm uda ▁and ▁ref res her ▁training ▁in ▁Cas co ▁Bay , ▁Maine , ▁Wing field ▁reported ▁for ▁duty ▁on ▁ 1 ▁April ▁ 1 9 4 4 ▁as ▁a ▁training ▁ship ▁for ▁the ▁Dest roy er ▁Esc ort ▁School . ▁She ▁began ▁her ▁primary ▁work ▁on ▁ 8 ▁April ▁when ▁she ▁began ▁an ▁esc ort ▁voyage ▁for ▁a ▁coast al ▁con voy ▁to ▁New ▁York ▁City . ▁Wing field , ▁in ▁company ▁with ▁, ▁cleared ▁Nor folk , ▁Virginia , ▁on ▁the ▁ 1 6 th ▁for ▁a ▁sub marine ▁h unt ▁south ▁of ▁Cape ▁H atter as , ▁then ▁to ▁Great ▁Sound , ▁B erm uda . ▁She ▁returned ▁to ▁Nor