The second USS Bailey (DD-269) was a Clemson-class destroyer built for the United States Navy, launched in February 1919 by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation in Squantum, Massachusetts. Named after Theodorus Bailey, she was commissioned on June 27, 1919, and initially served with the Pacific Fleet, conducting routine operations along the U.S. West Coast from October 1919 to June 1922. During this period, she also performed patrol duties off the coast of Mexico in 1920, amidst regional disturbances. She was decommissioned at San Diego on June 16, 1922. Reactivated on September 30, 1939, Bailey was recommissioned at San Diego and assigned to Destroyer Division 72 of the Atlantic Squadron, operating along the eastern seaboard until November 1940. She was then decommissioned at Halifax, Nova Scotia, and transferred to Great Britain as part of the destroyer-land bases exchange, arriving at Plymouth on December 17, 1940. Renamed HMS Reading (G71), she was fitted at HMNB Devonport and became part of the 5th "Town" Flotilla. During her service with the Royal Navy, HMS Reading primarily escorted convoys across the Atlantic, based out of Liverpool, from March to July 1941. She subsequently joined the Newfoundland Escort Group, remaining with it until May 1942. Notably, she escorted the battleship HMS Prince of Wales, carrying Winston Churchill to the Newfoundland Conference. During this period, she was stationed at Placentia Bay for guard duties during the conference. Afterward, she resumed Atlantic escort missions temporarily. From May to October 1942, HMS Reading underwent a yard overhaul in London, during which her weaponry was removed. She then served as a target ship for aircraft from the Air Station at Fearn, Scotland, a role she maintained until July 1945. Eventually, she was handed over to ship-breakers at Rosyth. Her badge from HMS Reading is preserved by the Historical Society of Berks County in Reading, Pennsylvania, marking her distinguished service during World War II.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.