Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
Office of the Chief of Naval OperationsNaval History Division • Washington
(PC-542: dp. 284; l. 173'8"; b. 23'; dr. 10'10"; a. 1 3", 2 dct., 2 k-guns, 2 dc; s. 21 k.; cpl 65; cl. PC-461)
PC-542 was laid down 26 February 1942 at Defoe Ship Building Co., Bay City, Mich.; launched 40 April; and commissioned 25 May 1942.
After commissioning, PC-542 ran convoys to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba before sailing for the Mediterranean, arriving in Arzew, Algeria. She participated in the invasions of Scoglihi, Brollo, Salerno, and Anzio Italy; and in Operation Dragoon--the invasion of Southern France.
On 30 September 1944, PC-542 was transferred to France under Lend-Lease, where she served as Tirailleur and was credited with shooting down 2 German planes in the Mediterranean. She was condemned by the French Navy in 1957.