Antietam (CV 36) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 14 text:

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.--1 - ,K D .. 'fl , 5 - x. '. l X g-g s 4. 1. 4.1 . ,EL I.. Kim, P 1,4451 A Q.. A A. - I Q A' -1 , SQL ' 1 ' 'i t. . - A - ' -JU N .' ' 1 - ' -1 ' -- w 7 December 6, 1950, the USS Antietam began activation on a limited scale as part of a program to recommission carriers for active and reserve duty in the event of increased activity in the Korean theatre. On January 17, 1951, the Antietam was recommissioned and placed in the active reserve, Cap- tain George J. Dufek commanding. The complement at that time was eighteen officers and one hundred and thirty en- listed men, most of them reserves. ' After bay trials on January 20, the Antietam was taken to the Naval Shipyard, San Francisco, where it remained until The maintenance and material work that the ship's com- pany was performing began to take on a more serious 2 air as the ship was readied for active duty. And as it was receiving additional officers and enlisted men who would bring the ship up to its normal complement, it was in the process of undergoing underway training at San Diego. The underway training was conducted for a period of three weeks by personnel from the training command who helped the Antietam personnel in the organization of the ship. For this period the ship operated out of San Diego, conducting routine and special checks of all ma- chinery, qualifying Air Group 15 and squadrons based at North Island. Week ends were spent in San Diego, where the ship's personnel got much needed relaxation, but each time the ship returned, more personnel would report aboard for duty. And then, just as suddenly as the ship had entered into active service and underway training and before the training had been completed, it was ordered to Hbnolulu to take a squadron of jet aircraft frightj out to a sister ship, the USS Essex. The Antie- tam left San Diego for Pearl Harbor July 16, 1951. March 27 receiving alterations prescribed by the Bureau of Ships and undergoing repairs, overhaul and necessary dry- docking. From the date of recommissioning until May 10, 1951, the ship's complement was increased to forty-nine ofli- cers and eight hundred enlisted men. On Mav 14 the home port of the ship was changed to San Diego, California, and before the ship could take departure it had been ordered into the active fleet to be made ready for duty with the Pacific fleet in Korea. The Antietam arrived in San Diego May 24-. I After returning from Honolulu the Antietam proceeded to the San Francisco Naval Shipyard for alterations and repairs. The Air Group was based at Alameda while the slnp was dry- docked at San Francisco, and for both the ship s company and the air group there was a period of intense training as the crews were readied for sea. All of the new personnel who had reported aboard had to be welded 1nto a coordinated team, this was difficult, for more than a thousand men had reported to the ship in less than a month. And then came September 8, 1951, the date of departure? the ship had been moved to Alameda to receive the squad- rons, last goodbyes had been said, and at ten o clock in the morning the Antietam steamed out for an eight-month tour of duty. But not directly to the Korean theatre. First, came the Operational Readiness Inspection at Honolulu, long days filled with simulated combat tactics and operations to ready the ship and its pilots for action they would soon be expe- riencing against the Communist forces in Korea. For two sleepless weeks the Antietam worked to prove itself fit for combat duty, and on September 27, 1951, Admiral A. W. Radford congratulated Captain Dufek on the shipas successful performance, and wished all hands a successful cruise.

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WHITE UNIFORMS make first appearance for flight deck parade entering Pearl Harbor. UNDER RIGID SCRUTINY of a specialized team, Antietam demonstrated operations and tactical ability during Operational Readiness Inspection off the Hawaiian Islands. Pacific Fleet,s Commander-in-Chief, Admiral Rad- ford, addresses crew Qabovej prior to de- parture for Japan.