USS Leland E. Thomas (DE-420) was a John C. Butler-class destroyer escort in service with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946.

While serving in the Southwest Pacific Theater during World War II, he contributed to the sinking of an Imperial Japanese Navy cruiser and destroyer.

After completing availability at the Boston Navy Yard, the destroyer escort headed for Norfolk, Virginia, arriving 25 August.

Leland E. Thomas, with other ships of Escort Division 76, proceeded to the southwest Pacific 17 November, arriving at Manus 20 December.

On 4 March, while she was investigating a possible submarine sighting south of San Jose de Buenavista, Panay, her lookouts spotted enemy planes on a nearby airstrip.

Leland E. Thomas was busy escorting convoys between Subic Bay and Okinawa when the war ended 15 August, and continued on this duty, touching at Manila and other Philippine Islands ports until 28 November.

She got underway from Samar, Philippines for home via Eniwetok and Pearl Harbor, arriving San Pedro, Los Angeles, 17 December 1945.