YMS-268 was laid down 1 December 1942 by Kruse & Banks Shipbuilding Co., North Bend, Oregon; launched 15 April 1943; sponsored by Mrs. J. H. Granger; and commissioned 31 July 1943. After shakedown along the west coast, YMS-268 trained minesweeper crews out of San Pedro, California, throughout the most of the war, contributing to the war effort by increasing the efficiency of American minesweeping operations throughout the world. Lapwing decommissioned 15 November 1957 at New York and entered the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register 1 November 1959.