Currituck (AV 7) - Naval Cruise Book

Text from Pages 1 - 104 of the 1953 volume:

USS CURRITUCK (AV-7) ftuUe So ' 51 - ' 53 RECOMMISSIONING EARLY OPERATIONS OPERATION SHAKEDOWN Gtmo Haiti Trinidad Jamaica San Juan Panama OPERATION MAINBRACE Norway Scotland OPERATION SPRINGBOARD San Juan CHANGE OF COMMAND OPERATION CHURCHY Panama Panama Canal Shellback Initiation Balloon Exercises Refueling at Sea ACTIVITIES Sports Parties Religion SHIPS ORGANIZATION Divisions Shops INTRODUCTORY Places and events of the past tend to lose their outline in time and become enwrapped in a sentimental aura of unreality. In an effort to recapture by the magic of the camera the true form and spirit of the recent operations of the U.S.S. CURRITUCK, we have compiled this pictorial record— CRUISE BOOK, 1951-1953. Since her recommissioning in August 1951, the U.S.S. CURRITUCK has accom- plished a great deal. She carried the stars and stripes and a small cross-section of America across several seas and established in every port she visited a feeling of good will. But her greatest accomplishment, as the only large sea-plane tender in the Atlantic Fleet, has been the successful training of hundreds of Naval personnel in the fine art and science of seaplane tender operations. From her decks have gone to the civilian reserve and to other Naval activities a host of men well equipped to man several tenders of the CURRITUCK class in case of war. During the past two and one-half years we have shared many experiences — we have worked hard, at times we have been discouraged, but more often we have felt pride of accomplishment as we have reached our goals, one by one. In addition, we have seen interesting places and done interesting things which we will never forget. If this book can enable the reader to recall more clearly an experience or a friendship made on the CURRITUCK, it will have justified its existence. The Editors All Rights Reserved ALBERT LOVE ENTERPRISES 1090 Capitol Avenue ATLANTA, GEORGIA This is the Captain speaking. I have some things I would like to share with you concerning this cruise . . . With these words, Captain Black would open his fireside chat, to us, his crew. It is not unusual at a time like this to see a momentary cessation of activity throughout the ship as all ears are turned to the straight dope from the Captain. Captain Black came to us from the Joint Staff, Office of the Joint Chief of Staff, on May 28, 1953. Prior to that time, he had served as Executive officer of the Coral Sea, and of a CVE. He was an air group commander in WWII, and also a member of the staff of Commander Air Force, Pacific. He was a pilot in various carrier-based squadrons for seven years, and was attached to a patrol squadron for an ad- ditional two years. From there, he attended the Armed Forces Staff College, and the Naval War College, and served a tour of shore duty as Executive officer at NAS, Quonset Point, R. I. ... we are now departing on an extensive tour through the pages of your cruise book. I hope it will bring back to memory the exciting cruises, liberties in foreign ports, and many fine shipmates. In closing, I would like to say to All Hands, Well Done, and may all your cruises be as happy. J. D. BLACK Commanding Captain J. D. Black Commanding Officer COMMANDER EDWARD W. BISHOP Executive Officer Commander Bishop reported aboard the Currituck in the Galapagos Islands during Operation Churchy. Archie hails from New Haven, Connecticut, and is a graduate of Trinity College. He completed flight training at Pensacola in 1938, following which he served in patrol, observation, and training squadrons. After the war he wrote orders in OP-54 and then took command of FASRON 101. After a year of study at Line School in sunny Monterey during 1949, CDR Bishop served in various staff capacities coming to the Currituck from MATS Headquarters at Andrews Air Force Base. Former Captains And Execs CAPTAIN JOHN H. McELROY ; August l9U-n June 19i2 Captain John H. McElroy, our first skipper, brought the CURRITUCK out of mothballs and took command at the re-commissioning ceremonies, 1 August 1951. Captain Jack saw us through those difficult days of re-conditioning the CURRITUCK on our shakedown. He then led us skillfully through Operation Convex III and several lesser operations in the Caribbean. Captain McElroy is from Ala- bama and attended the Alabama Polytechnic Institute before entering the Navy. A member of the class of 1929 at the Naval Academy, he served in the following commands be- fore coming to the CURRITUCK. U.S.S. Cincinnati, U.S.S. Florida, VP 7, U.S.S. Lexington, VP 11, VD 2, VD 1, and the Bureau of Aeronautics. He has served as flight instructor at Pensacola, Chief of Staff, Fleet Air Wings Atlantic, and Director of Naval Photography. CAPTAIN HARVEY P. BURDEN 1} June 19 2-28 May I9i} Captain Harvey P. Burden was in command during the important operations, Mainbrace and Springboard, which brought the CURRITUCK to a high state of efficiency. Captain Burden was born in Texas, and is a member of the class of 1930 at the Naval Academy. He served aboard the U.S.S. Mississippi, and the U.S.S. Memphis, before be- coming a Naval aviator. In 1939, he took part in a forma- tion flight from San Diego to the Philippine Islands, an important Naval aviation first. His World War II years were divided between the U.S.S. Enterprise, and N.A.S. Corpus Christi, Texas. Between the end of World War II and the time he assumed command of the CURRITUCK, Captain Burden served as Executive Officer, Naval Air Technical Training Center, Norman, Oklahoma, until it was de-commissioned. Thence to Washington, D. C, with the Aeronautical Board and a year as Operations Officer, Staff of Commander Carrier Division 1. From ' 49 to ' 52, he was Commanding Officer, N.A.S. Birmingham, Ala., and a student at the Naval War College, Newport, R. I. COMMANDER WALTER S. REID Executive Officer I August 19U-2} April 19i2 Born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Cdr. Walter S. Reid was graduated from the U. S. Naval Academy with the class of 1937. He served aboard the U.S.S. Tuscaloosa, U.S.S. Wichita, and the U.S.S. Satterlee until 1940 when he en- tered flight training at Pensacola, Fla. During World War II, Cdr. Reid hunted subs with Black Cat Squadrons and was with HedRon 10 in Australia and the Admiralty Islands. Between the end of the war and his coming to the CURRI- TUCK, Cdr. Reid served at the Naval Proving Ground, Dahlgren, Va., in Guam with VU 10, at the Air Command Staff College in Alabama, and with the Bureau of Aeronau- tics. In 1946, he helped established a record flight as one of the pilots of the Truculent Turtle a P2V which flew non-stop from Perth, Australia to Columbus, Ohio, a dis- tance of 11,236 miles in 55 hours, 17 minutes. COMMANDER FRANK D. HEYER Executive Officer 2) April 1952-6 October 195} Cdr. Frank D, Heyer was born in Newark, N. J., and after attending Newark Acaderriiy he entered Rutgers University and was graduated in 1937. He then joined the Naval Aviation Program and in late 1938 was assigned to VP 11 at Pearl Harbor, and was stationed there until the Japanese attack. During World War II, Cdr. Heyer served with VP 92, N.A.S. Sanford, Florida, and N.A.S. Beaufort, South Carolina. In May 1945, he was sent to VPB 152 based on the Pelelieu Islands and Saipan. Since May 1946, he has served at the General Line School, Newport, R. I., with Staff Commander, Fleet Air Wings Atlantic, and with the Bureau of Naval Personnel. Cdr. Heyer was Executive Officer of the CURRITUCK when she participated in the following operations; Mainbrace, Springboard, and Churchy. History One of the Navy ' s most unusual auxiliaries, the CURRI- TUCK was built at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, with her keel laid in December of 1942. Named after Currituck Sound, near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, the vessel is 540 feet long and 71 feet wide with two giant airplane cranes. She has many of the facilities of a large aircraft carrier, except that the tender uses the surrounding water to launch and recover her planes. Seaplanes are designed primarily for patrol and anti- submarine warfare, with Navy ships like the CURRITUCK equipped to repair and service as many as 18 long range, radar equipped aircraft. During the last half of 1944, the 14,000 ton vessel was the Flagship for the Commander Aircraft, Seventh Fleet, serving in the New Guinea area as a combination tender and troop transport. She soon established a reputation as the Navy ' s floating hotel after 1700 battle-weary GI ' s sampled the ship ' s excellent food and spacious quarters. On the morning of 14 November the ship was attacked by Jap fighters and her gunners succeeded in shooting down one plane. Later on, in the Lingayen invasion, she was perilled by a combination of Jap bombers, midget subs, and suicide swimmers. But her closest call came from three Japanese prisoners of war who were brought on board. A careful search by their sailor guards revealed that each man was concealing a deadly charge of explosive, enough to blow the gasoline laden ship sky high! Successfully weathering the Okinawan typhoon, the CURRITUCK completed its first and only war- time cruise by returning to the United States after sixteen months overseas. During the winter of 1946-47, the seaplane tender partici- pated in Operation High Jump, Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd ' s second Antarctic expedition. She covered over three- quarters of the coastline of Antarctica, much of it uncharted territory, and continuously serviced three patrol bombers in the open sea. These hardy PBM ' s were used for photographic missions and the extreme cold necessitated a high degree of cooperation between ship and plane personnel. On her return from the scientific expedition, the CURRITUCK joined the Atlantic Reserve Fleet at the Philadelphia Naval Base on 30 April 1947, and was taken out of commission on 7 August 1947. With the outbreak of the Korean War, many ships of the reserve fleet were called back to active duty. The U.S.S. CURRITUCK (AV-7) was re-commissioned 1 August 1951, af the Philadelphia Naval Base. After months of hard work, the CURRITUCK shed its moth balls and emerged from its cocoon in an impressive recommissioning ceremony at the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 1 August 1951. A large crowd turned out on a very hot day. Guest and crew alike felt a thrill as the Stars and Stripes once more waved over the CURRITUCK. After the ceremony, dependents and dignitaries looked the ship over, and helped the ship ' s company eat several cakes. When it was all over, the Navy had gained a new sea-plane tender and many new friends. eoMt ia tut Captain reports aboard Colors Welcome Mayor Samuels Commissioning Orders read Behind the scene Prayer K r™ w KM r B£ ■ ..- .: .--.jf ' ? ftSR p ' ' Sl  - i -m Ml Ji ' l ' -i 1 i pkw ' s • ' •-. ■••■■. : A.. ; 1 ' 1 1 i Hi ■- f ' {1 J -ri- r. ' -. rtoSJi ■ F {iMjjp «i« -_ n ■ Commissioning Coice Cut tiiat caicel Guests welcomed Ladies first No seconds? OPERATION SHAKEDOWN Early in January 1952, the Queen was ready for shakedown and sailed for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Arrival inspections are never pleasant things, but this one was a nightmare. When it was over, everyone on board thought surely the Tuck would sink any minute. They say Guantanamo makes men out of boys, and everyone soon believed it to be true. It was underway early each morning for the operating area, drills and more drills, then back to anchor in the afternoon. But it wasn ' t all work. Anyone who has ever been to Guantanamo will always remember Hatue, Caimanera, the Red Barn, and the train ride to Guantanamo City, as well as the city itself. As the weeks went by, the Tuck and everyone aboard her improved. One day, a PBM that was landing near-by, crashed and caught fire. All boats immediately went to the rescue, and disregarding the flames, saved the people in the plane. The boat crews earned the Navy reward of well done. The mid-term battle problem went well and everyone was pleased with the progress that was shown. The ship went to San Juan to participate in Convex III and then after two weeks went back to Guantanamo to complete the shakedown training. (dtmo , . . -•iSL- ' fr -- ._,.— «««B ' !a ti«-!«5-!;-. ' Away fire and rescue party I Man overboard rescue Early Liberty Preparing to transfer ammo Torpedo run Standby Broadside No hits? First plane lioisted aboard Bringing plane to ship Towing exercise sdi entef Chapel of St. Teresa Salute Remember, I made the dates so I get the pretty one . . . j| CASINO ' ■■■ w . 3m mw k , - , tmSS .. .., iii iiS 1 ■  « • % •• One for the road Unloading Gtmo passengers Test hoses Operation sick bay UELCOME TO HAIT SiS - ' .. ., Bmmm 9 « Sj Si ' , j H I w wm iii|iirioM Saluta nmid ' P K P E ' J ■F f r- 1 ■ jj fe ik 1 j Hflfv S H HH IB Ji P ... ■ t .jki . M i i Traveling salesmen wa mok Norwegian SS GUNDINE oiir Fighting fire within GUNDINE  t ' ' Pursuing lire Bartering r M t ' M Mm. CdHt iC  ' ' Forward Pat Wymore (Errol Flynn ' s wife) Aft SOM. cuut . ' ' ' Who, me? School Children Close eyes! . . . Close! OPERATION MAINBRACE ft The NATO training exercise known by the code name Mainbrace took place from 13th of September 1952 to 25th September 1952. It was intended to exercise the shore-based Maritime air forces placed under the command of ComAirNorLant during the North Atlantic Command Operation in support of the northern flank of the Allied European Command. The U.S.S. CURRITUCK was placed under the Air Commander Northern Sub Area for the purpose of supporting VP-49 and VP-661, and No. 230 Squadron British RAF, who participated in reconnais- sance sorties off the coast of Norway in the North Atlantic. The main objective of our task group was to scout for and destroy the invading forces if possible. The CURRITUCK departed Norfolk on the 23rd of August 1952 and arrived off the coast of Norway on the 2nd of September 1952. A pilot was taken aboard and the ship traveled the fjords of Norway for ninety (90) miles to Trondheim. Upon arriving, we fired a twenty-one (21) gun salute, in honor of the country of Norway, and we in turn, received a salute from the Norwegians. We departed the next day and traveled up the fjords to Alstakay, Skogn, Norway, and anchored for our operations. Liberty parties were taken by bus to Trondheim and some men went to the nearby town of Skogn. The men enjoyed themselves and the Norwegian people were extremely friendly. We stayed in Norway and operated our squadrons for 20 days, before departing for Leith, Scotland. The Scotish weather made boat- ing impossible and we stayed on the ship for three (3) full days, unable to get ashore. When the men finally got ashore, they were cordially welcomed, especially by the Bonnie Scotch Lassies. Many a sailor hated to see our ship sail from our liberty port, Edinburgh, Scotland. A few men were fortunate enough to get leave and visited London and Paris during our stay. We departed the 7th of October 1952 for the good old USA, and arrived at our homeport of Norfolk on 17th of October 1952. Some Mainbrace Commanders British flyers Sunderland ' s talce-ofF Sampling Tuck ' s chow Browsing Lt. Watson ' s friends Here ' s yours — Trondheim .ZmmM . Jf tk Baer houf Steaks $1.10? I ' ll have two! I I ! I - . ' Downtown 111 ii :...: A nil I r ♦ v ' v v. During the first quarter of 1953, we spent most of our time in San Juan, Puerto Rico where, as part of operation Spring- board, we serviced VP squadrons 49, 34, 44, 45, and 661. All day, every day, all or part of the crew were busy with sea-plane tending operations, but we did manage to get ashore enough to enjoy San Juan ' s liberty and recreation. Tours of El Morro castle, division beach parties, visits to the luxurious Caribe Hilton Hotel, athletics, dancing, and stops at the local taverns were all on the agenda for most of the ship ' s company. The Naval Station personnel were generous and helpful in supplying our wants and needs. A sad note was sounded when, toward the end of our cruise in San Juan, a PBM attached to VP-34 was lost with its entire crew, while on patrol duty. Dodging San Juan Ferries Jato take-off Below decks inspection Open ranks ■1 _ 1 ■ s 1 [aJ 1. - ik 1 Tuck passing El Morro Castle Castle look-out tower Shell hit Caribe Hilton aa a MtmaKct On the morning of the 28th of May 1952 in a ceremony on the seaplane deck, Captain J. D. Black relieved Captain H. P. Burden as Commanding Officer of the CURRI- TUCK. Prior to the exchange of command ceremony, the Captains made an inspection of the ship and the crew. All hands wished Captain Burden a pleasant cruise at his next duty station, as Chief of Staff, ComFAir- Wings Atlantic. Captain Black welcomed aboard Ready for inspection, sir! Higli excellent i.Jb gjI aiaiii ' mmmum . PANAMA CANAL On her way to the Galapagos Islands, the CURRITUCK made the fifty mile trip from the Atlantic to the Pacific thru the Panama Canal. Locks at each end of fresh- water Gatun Lake raised and lowered the ship eighty five feet over the Continental Divide. All hands were topside most of the trip, watching the mules tow us smoothly from lock to lock, ob- serving the scenery and ships of many nations slip by, and taking hundreds of pictures. Liberty at Colon, Balboa, and Panama City, included shopping and looking the towns over. It was extremely hot and the low temperatures we encountered in the Galapagos Islands, due to the Humbolt Current, were a welcome change. Approaching the locks First lock Fill ' er up Up we go Camera bait Blackhand ' s Jolly Roger o B . O 0) E u c « d O a J=. :5 ?! ■?. a 2 o • e a o o , V) r c _ o e o e o o 6-S 3 J3 O u ' S t .y S H 2 ' S S , 2 I .y CT- Oh X J3 ■S -£ o C (LI ' « ' S l-S 2 •S-O.S-. W3 G rt J? S S P J3 « J5 6, 1) ♦- ' CO O iH o J 20 c - oS6o||I o =3 O O (u ao O J3 -T3 rt „iA) .a a, OOi op V •s y- J2 W) « 5 o 5 •- ' o c« £! a, o j: 6 3 ' a .- c-il U J3 -o H .a C : ' (U C - - V 3 43 3 S J3 - MX o ' e o I (U } S to J , c .a O u (O J (LI -o 13 6 y 2 X 53 o o I as (LI , eg .13 C } HH n CO S3 3 • -! t-( CO 3 O Q. 3 C . a, rt (LI c , CO u 6 ' rt :5S acf Sc e .... Davey Jones ' inspection RanlcesI Poliywogs Uniform, out of Royal Kops All slimy Pellywogs Chain Gang Praise all Shellbacks 7 — King Neptune Happy family Rugged loolcing? We ' re ready . . we ' re not Here they come Subpoena and Summons Oxlraowinary ke JcoijaL uttqli Gourl of the JccujLnq ain Region of the South Seas Domain of Neptvine Rex I ss. tS ? yjjfiom J ciij C ome C nese Jr resents Cjreetin s ana Jjeware Whereas, The good shipU .S.C.URRlJUCK bound for .? ?l- 7f J?0 . . .-r4wv 7 vi V. , is about to enter our domain; and whereas the aforesaid ship carries a large and loathsome cargo of landlubbers, beach-combers, guardo-rats, sea-lawyers, Jounge-lizards, parlor-dunnigans, plow-deserters, park-bench warmers, chicken-chasers, hay- tossers, four-flushers, cross-word puzzle bugs, dance-hall sheiks, drug-store cowboys, £isphalt arabs, and all other living creatures of the land, and last but not least, he-vamps, liberty- hounds, Philadelphia and Norfolk Commando ' s, masquerading as seamen, of which low scum you are a member, having never appeared before us; and Whereas, THE ROYAL HIGH COURT of the RAGESTG MAIN will convene on board the good hx £ ...j fr .C on this TM d y ot f-PT J . , 19. at Longitude ... .Oi,.KY. ' ..... and whereas, an inspection of our Royal Roster shows that it is high time your sad and wandering nautical soul appears before Our August Fresence; and Be It Known, That we hereby summon and command vou -f4 : . :. i ' . . . f: ' ??A J ...- l ? now a . X...S Ar P. ?.... U. S. Navy, to appear before the Royal High Court and Our August Presence on the eiforesaid date at sudi a time as may suit OUR pleasure. You will accept most heartily and with good grace the pains and penalties of the awful tortures that will be inflicted upon you to determine your fitness to be one of our Trusty Shellbacks cind answer to the following chEU ges. CHARGE I: — In that you have hitherto wilfully and maliciously failed to show rever- ence and allegiance to our Royal Person, and are therein and thereby a vile landlubber and pollywog. CHARGE n:-ln that you A . ?: .4 . . T . . . Y y :?.. .T .-.C . . . . . M 4 . C f . . 7.7 ! . ' JTUrX ' ? ' ' ' ' ' . . f . . ' . . ' . e. Disobey this Summons Under Pain of Our Swift and Terrible Displeasure. Our Vigilance is Ever Wakeful, Our Vengeance is Just and Sure. Given under our hand and seal. CNeplunus cQex CDaveij nes Scribe Ummmm Good! Tomorrow your hair will be sunshine bright Bless you my son. Traffic jam Stocks and bonds ' Tain ' t funny Bud Down and out Just a trim Nothing off tlie top Eggliead 7 to ' «i mcf, Co ? Heavy drinker On your mark I ' m hit Posief Is everybody happy? sloppy character r Markus Aerelius 4 Your bath is drawn Relax EEEIIIAAAH Backward swan Helping hand Perfect form nflifii Hi ■E!f Bl y . ' -t-j.my Catch him . . . . . missed •s ' S , ' . ' ■ ' ..1  ' r ■ %, . ' - , -vwwxs! ' r 1 TO 5ULX SMMI WIBIEISEVEI las MK JSE: - ;l) SOILIEMM MYSTISIH2IES OF THE ry Disoijej this order under peni ' ' - ' - N JM ' n i ' f er ' x t i?i .and • •«  ' ? HijL MME ' Ji Ji2 r TEPTT OmPISm ©IF THE Peep i Our Ro;yal Displeasure M .. 2 e7 tMvJ M r Ruler of the Raging Main i T ' Bj; Hi3 3ei aiTxt_AL- j. p ft k l % ' ' : ' f ' v 5N ? BALLOON EXERCISES We ' re going lo the Galapagoj Islands — sounds real romantic — waving palms, swaying sarongs, beaches bathed in moon-light — oh! boy! What a let downt We found about fifty volcanic islands, wierdty shaped, which are called by some the ash heap of the Pacific. Instead of palms, we found cactus and brown grass, instead of sarongs — of all things — iguanas I In the vicinity of the Galapagos Islands, we served as a mobile base for the study of cosmic radiation. Thirteen large plastic balloons, eighty-five feet in diameter carried radiation detectors of almost every type known to the physicist some 90,000 feet into the stratosphere. The data which was gathered is a substantial contribution to the scientists knowledge of cosmic rays and high energy nuclear physics. PBM ' s of VP-4J, the U.S.S. RODMAN (DMS-21), and the U.S.S. ELLYSON (DMS-21), were engaged in tracking and recovering the balloons and their gondolas, which returned to the sea in some cases hundreds of miles away. The following scientists and engineers participated in operation CHURCHY : LCDR Malcolm D. Ross, USNR, representing the Office of Naval Research; Clifton Merrell and Milton Koivu of General Mills, Inc.; Bertram Stiller and Nathan Seeman of the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D. C; Hugo Neuburg, Robert Soberman, and Roy Elkind of New York University; Robert Danietson, Kinsey Ander- son, and Laurence Peterson of the University of Minnesota; and Dr. Gordon McClure of the Bartol Research Foundation, Swarthmore, Pa. Fishing in the islands was unbelievable — a fisherman ' s dream come true. Within one minute after the anchor dropped, lines were over the side and all hands were pulling aboard three to ten pound fish. The fish, many of which were strange to us, swallowed any sort of bait — even prunes. Fishing parties went out in boats daily and brought back a wide variety of sea food. All in all, we managed to have fun in spite of our desolate surroundings. The cruise was educational to us and valuable to science. m % I } ftm- ' ■ p- ffCHy , ■SkS K S m!- Fueling a DMS Galapagos Volcano Unpacking Balloon Lot ' er roll What is it? Give tier tlie gas Helium crew More gas Get that gear attached It ' s getting bigger Ripping the sleeve Hold it down, Hugol Let it go Laid out t A Zmr- ' ' -- - STATISTICS Length Beam Displacement Draft Speed - Number of Decks Complement , . 540 feet, 7 inches .— 71 feet, 7 inches 14,000 tons 20 feet 18.5 knots 875 officers men ■■■■■PPK ' P5 Where is it? Up, up and away Tfot atl w onA c 6.m t A€U %eat - _ . ! ■ 1 ki J ' M M J hM ' B 4-. fri 1 o fu.— r i ■ ■i P ' i Ji |N| Oii Pt k . r w Captain ' s catch Beard contest Something ' s fishy here Operation complete, well done REFUELING AT SEA On 14 September 1953, the Tuck replenished and re- fueled the U.S.S. Ellyson, DMS 19, at sea. This was a first for the Currituck since her recommissioning. How- ever, from the way both exercises came off, you ' d have thought the ship refueled and replenished every day in the week. The following quotation is from a dispatch from the CO. of the Ellyson to the Tuck: An excellent per- formance regardless of lack of previous refueling ex- perience. I have never experienced an easier fueling in 6 years in destroyer types. Station keeping is so simple that watch officers are rotated on the conn for this valuable experience. jiA J-Xn a SPORTS Golf, Softball, baseball, fencing, bowling, fishing, volleyball, swim- ming, — you name it — we did it! We had some outstanding athletes aboard — Cdr. Heyer, who would be disappointed if he shot a 76 in golf; Chief Morel, who is one of the outstanding fencers in the country; Paul H. Spencer, SN, who pitched a no-hitter in a Softball game in San Juan, striking out 21 men; Chief Markus, who bowled an average of 197 in 18 games in the Sixth Naval District tournament; and so on. Our teams all did well and a high percentage of our crew have engaged in athletics from time to time. This way? Softball Baseball Walking the plank Bowlin0 champs Run him through Lefs go here comes another fly ball Don ' t just stand there jump Champs V2 Division Spilce it PARTIES Christmas Dance 1951 CURRITUCK men like to dance — and we have had some good dances. There was that Christmas dance on the hanger deck in Philadelphia in 19J1; that Jamaica Jam Session in Kingston; and the big dance in Camden when we expected J 00 and 800 showed up! At several of our dances the ship ' s own band furnished the music. Unlike most ships with bands on their allowance, our men practiced on their own time, but they still gave out with solid dancing music to the delight of all concerned. The American sailors love children and the men of the CURRITUCK were no exception. The crew gave many parties aboard ship for children, their own, and at Christmas time, orphans. These were always a success — the children received ice cream and presents, took in movies, and made tours of the ship. We in turn, received that wondrful feeling that always comes from helping the less fortunate. We must mention Chief Morel ' s hypnotism sessions on the hanger deck in which many of us wound up with a sent look on our faces. And finally — beach parties — too many to list, where beer, soft drinks, and sandwiches were consumed on the sands of many a tropical isle. Jamaica Jive Kingston Dance Permission, hie, to bring a Marine friend aboard, hie, sir!!! The Blues No girls, we ' re going ' Pizntcc (n cicOiCH Take over Captain Christmas Party Philiy orphans San Juan Children Well, you pitched another no-hitter again this year, Captain — that means we go to Philiy for the yard period doesn ' t it, sir!!! een. ' Pantce i Sm e%4 Swing Low, Sweet cheerio Up and over What ' ll you have? The gang ' s all here Pink elephants? After hours OPEN HOUSE I Our ship visited Gimden, New Jersey, to celebrate Armed Forces Day, and held open house for the period of 15-18 May 1953. The ship arrived at the Marine Terminal at Camden in the afternoon of 15 May, and was welcomed by a reception group comprised of the Armed Forces Day Committee, and representatives of local business and industry. Mr. G. Raymond Wood, Chairman of the Armed Forces Day Committee, presented keys of the city to Captain H. P. Burden, USN, our former skipper, on behalf of Mayor Brunner. On Saturday and Sunday afternoons, almost three thousand citizens of Camden took advantage of Open House and followed our guides on a tour to most parts of the ship. The crew were the guests Friday and Saturday nights, at a dance held in the Camden YMCA. Good music, pretty girls, and delicious food made both dances a huge success. Many men commented on the friendly attitude and courtesies extended by the good people of Camden. Now flattery will get you nowhere! Wish I was a sailor See tlie Centrifugai Pneumacator Combo Tliere I am ' Ptotc cuit . . . . The TuCk ' s crew is made up of men from all parts of the United States. Four races and three major religions are represented. Proportionately, we are 59% Protestant, 39% Roman Catholic, 1 % Jewish, and I % other religions. Dur- ing the past two years, men of all faiths have had many opportunities to worship either aboard ship or in the ports we have visited. Jewish and Roman Catholic men have, themselves, conducted many devotional services aboard and have attended churches and synagogues in foreign lands and at home. The Chaplains have conducted Divine Worship regularily on Sundays and Special Days, and from time to time, have led Religious Instruction classes. An important part of the religious program has been the Character Guidance Lectures, which as a part of the over-all training program, have emphasized the value of high standards of thinking and living both aboard ship and ashore. Discussion group Protestant worsliip Archbishop O ' Horo St. John ' s church in Philly SHIP ' S mmwm SuPPiy l wop-fto jtoptftATioJsrffSK Department Heads LCDR W. D. BAIRD Operations Officer LCDR J. B. DeWILDE Supply Officer LT. W. R. JAMES Engineer Officer LTJG E. W. TITUS Medical Officer Q -0 N DIVISION Standing, left to rigbtt Sledge, O. (N), SN; Meier, E. C, QM3; Colley, E. J., SN; Edwards, B. D., YNSN; Elwell, A. R., QMSN; Buss, R. N., YN3; Horner, N. J., SN. . . . Seated, left to right: Turner, W. R., QMS; Simler, J. V, YN3; Lt. Neil Craig; Hamilton, J. W., QMC; Dutey, H. P., QM3; Hager, R. J., QM3. The Quartermaster Division is one of the most important divisions aboard. The name Quartermaster first came from soldiers that were assigned as masters of quarters of troops embarked on transports. Later it became the custom to retain these men aboard ship. Eventually they were integrated into the crew. One of the first duties of a Quartermaster was steering the ship. Gradually the Quartermaster was given additional duties on the bridge such as signaling and later navigation. The modern Quartermaster is the secretary, assistant and general right-hand man of the watch officer and the navigator in everything pertaining to navigation and visual signaling. It is one of the most interesting careers aboard ship. The Quartermaster is around the conn most of the time and in the very center of things aboard ship. The Quartermaster spends almost all of his time directly in the limelight, in view of the top ranking officers on the ship. X DIVISION ' ft , : r I ' ' T ' 1st Row (I to r)-H. D. Oslund, SN; R. J. Ritts, SN; E. H. Skare, PI3; E. F. Callon, SN. . . . 2nd Row (I to r)-F. A. Squeo, LIS; W. Markus, PNC; Ens. E. W. Bitter; R. C. Govotski, PN3; B. Pochtar, YNT3. . . . 3rd Row (I to r)— J. H. Whitefield, SN; G. M. Munroe, SN; T. F. Schwab, LI3; T. P. Carroll, LI3; G. J. Wedig, SN. Take the Captain ' s Office, Personnel Office, Print Shop, and the Chaplain ' s Office (Library), link them together and we have X Division — a twenty man division supervised by Ens. E. W. Bitter. Assigned the responsibility of officers ' and enlisted mens ' service records and correspondence are the Captain ' s and Personnel Office per- sonnel. It is the job of these men to keep up-to-date information pertaining to each man ' s life and job while that man is serving on board the CURRITUCK. Working to help make the ship self-sufficient concerning printed matter, are the men of the Print Shop. Several times during the year the printers and lithographers give a boost to the morale of the crew by printing up such jobs as special holiday menus, dance cards, and the ship ' s paper. Last, but not least, we have the Chaplain ' s Office and Library. Here are offered religious activities and an assortment of around 2,000 books to choose from for the crew ' s reading pleasure and enjoyment. Personal problems may be freely talked over with the Chaplain and although the solution may sometimes not be sighted, a helping hand will always be rendered. MASTER AT ARMS ■ ■l fl P J %17 | W ff k H W k JB «g f T •.T -..J «. 14 i . • ; 1 • • ' is 5 i ij £ 5 1 standing. Left to Right: D. C. Paradise, BM1; 6. J. Korner, MM2; G. A. Askew, TMC; I. H. Seitz, AD1; C. Pittman, Jr., AD2. . . . Squatting, left  o Right: C. E. Greer, SH2; 6. B. Royce, TM1; E. L. Grey, AD1. H DIVISION Bock Row: Grades, F. N., HM3; Yoder, P. L., HM3; Pelfery, C. E., SN; Sanders, J. B., HM3; Roberts, S. W., DT3; Blackistone, R. R., HM3. . . . Seated: Sesto, J. J., HM1; Titus, E. W., LTJG; Stowell, R. H., LCDR; Holder, A. S., HMC; Gobin, J. R., HM2. . . . Front Row: Kravat, J. D., HM3; Salvi, J., SN; Cossinori, R., DT3. The role of the Medical Department aboard the U.S.S. CURRITUCK is to efficiently protect and promote the general health and welfare of all ship ' s personnel, and to care for the sick and injured according to the highest standards of the medical profession. We endeavor to return to health and duty all those under our care in as short a time as is possible from a sound medical standpoint. The motto of the Hospital Corps is, to keep as many men at as many guns as many days as possible. The Medical Officer is responsible for all matters pertaining to the health of the personnel, prevention and control of disease, care of the sick and injured, sanitary and food inspections, physical examinations and proper maintenance of records in regards to such matters. These are only a few of his many duties and responsibilities. The Chief Hospital Corpsman is the Administrative Assistant to the Medical Officer. The Medical Department has a pharmacy, laboratory, x-ray, operat- ing room, doctor ' s office, surgical dressing room, clerical office, galley, and a 17 bed ward. We also have a small isolation ward for those patients affliaed with a contagious disease. Included within H Division is a fine Dental Department with two complete dental units and a dental x-ray machine. The depart- ment is equipped to do oral surgery but has no facilities for prosthetics. The Dental Officer has as his assistants two dental technicians and one dental striker. OC DIVISION ■■m l M S 48 r 1 1 ? 1 !!■■■ I First Row: Duckworth, D. A., TE3; Isselhardt, R. L., SN; Shampel, C. W., RMSN; Menges, R. J., RMS; Weikel, T. L., AL3; Williams, R. M., TE3. . . . Second Row: Himes, F. O., TE1; LTJG S. B. Smith; Lt. F. M. Lacey; Ens. J. S. Tasker; Aldrich, C. E., ALC; Woiculewicz, Z. J., RM1. . . . Third Row: Thibo, E. D., SN; Hood, P. O., QMSN; Kolockovsky, S. J., TESN; Roberts, J. B., AL3; Dennison, L. M., RM2; Von Orden, C. H., TE3; Koprowski, D., RMSN; Murphy, R. D., QMSN; Welch, C. B., SA; Demetrius, J. A., TESN. . . . Fourth Row: Torion, E. T., RMSN; Keefe, R. F., TE3; Bottinelli, M. P., RMSN; Harkness, E. W., RM3; Mele, F. D., RMS. The role of the Medical Department aboard the U.S.S. CURRITUCK is to efficiently protect and promote the general health and welfare of all ship ' s personnel, and to care for the sick and injured according to the highest standards of the medical profession. We endeavor to return to health and duty all those under our care in as short a time as is possible from a sound medical standpoint. The motto of the Hospital Corps is, to keep as many men at as many guns as many days as possible. The Medical Officer is responsible for all matters pertaining to the health of the personnel, prevention and control of disease, care of the sick and injured, sanitary and food inspections, physical examinations and proper maintenance of records in regards to such matters. These are only a few of his many duties and responsibilities. The Chief Hospital Corpsman is the Administrative Assistant to the Medical Officer. The Medical Department has a pharmacy, laboratory, x-ray, operat- ing room, doctors office, surgical dressing room, clerical office, galley, and a 17 bed ward. We also have a small isolation ward for those patients afflicted with a contagious disease. Included within H Division is a fine Dental Department with two complete dental units and a dental x-ray machine. The depart- ment is equipped to do oral surgery but has no facilities for prosthetics. The Dental Officer has as his assistants two dental technicians and one dental striker. OT DIVISION First Row, left fo Right: Tasker, B. C, ET3; Dillenbeck, R. L., ET3; Chrele, J. M. McCaskill; Conlon, W. F., ET3; Juillerat, M. E., ET3. . . . Second Row, Left to Right: Kodott, E. A., SN; Murphy, L. P., ET3; Reubelt, R. B., SN. It is the primary duty of the OT Division to maintain and repair all ship ' s Radio, Radar and Sonar equipment. This division is also charged with the responsibility of maintaining a trans- mitter watch in Radio II for the purpose of tuning and calibrat- ing transmitters in connection with the every day communication watches established by the ship or command. Ol DIVISION First Row, Left to Right: Carroll, R. T., YNSN; Purcilly, C. A., ACAN Von Loon, K., RD3; Griffin, N. N., AN; Conroy, T. J., YN3. . . Second Row, Lett to Right: Parks, D. O., RD3; Examilotis, D., RD2 Lt. C. M. Bueler; Thompson, IM. R., AG1; Duncan, P. J., AGS. . . Third Row, Left to Right: Machson, H I., AGAN; Roush, B. R., PHAN; Nash, R. L., RD3; Penrod, K. M., RD3; Howley, J. F., RD3; Depetrillo, A. J., AGAN; Hess, D. R., RDSN; Wilcox, I. S., PHAN. . . . Fourth Row, left to Right: Townsend, R. B., AGAN; Patten, K. M., AGAN; Wingard, D. E., AGAN; Fessler, D. L., AG3; Curtis, L. C, AGAN; Yetter, R. A., PH3. The OI Division of the Operations Department is made up of three distinct groups, all engaged in gathering information and intelligence to assist the operation of the ship. The three groups are; Combat Information Center, Aerology Laboratory and Photographic Laboratory. Combat Information Center, or CIC, primarily obtains information by electronic or visual means, evaluates this information and passes it to the Captain as intelligence to assist him in control of the ship and aircraft. The Aerology Laboratory makes weather observations and analysis, conducts briefings for embarked squadron personnel and generally keeps the ship informed on the present and future weather. The Photographic Laboratory takes, develops and prints all official photographs aboard the ship, and assists squadron personnel in developing and printing aerial photo- graphs. We have this group to thank for many of the fine pictures in the cruise book. E DIVISION Bottom Row: Mascolo, D. L., IC3; Donald, H. D., ICFN; Romeo, A. F., ICFN; Rohrbough, N. L., EMFN. . . . 2nd Row: McGowan, J. E., IC2; Gottstine, R. H., EM2; Rasmus, R. R., EMC; Miller, L. E., ICC; Paquette, G. A., EM2. . . . 3rd Row: Smith, G. F., EM3; Vienneau, R. J., EM3; McLaughlin, R. W., EMS; Coffee, D. R., ICFN; Potko, J. S., EM2; Kerker, J. J., EM3; Groff, H. G., EM3; Shockey, H. R., EM3; Roy, D. F., iC2. The E Division is comjxjsed of interior communication electricians and electrian mates. They are responsible for the installation, repair, and maintainence of most of the electrical equipment aboard the CURRITUCK. Interior communications comprises all methods of trans- mitting orders and information between stations within the ship. Some of the equipment used for this purpose are the sound powered phones which provide the main means of communication during battle, the gyro compass, ship service telephones, underwater log which gives speed of the ship, the fire alarm switchboard, and various other circuits too num- erous to relate here. The electrician mates maintain all the power and lighting throughout the ship. Their biggest job is the standing of watches on the power and distribution switchboards, which supply all the power throughout the ship. Another of their duties is the repair and maintenance of motors and generators used for numerous purposes. They also take care of all the electrical equipment in small craft, along with the batteries which are used for battle lanterns, small craft, ship service telephones, and for emergency power for the gyro compass. As you can see, we have a big job, but we are a 4.0 division. M DIVISION Bottom Row: Deckard, J. N., MM3; Stensland, O. J., MM3; Cable, E. G., FN; Beltis, W. H., FA; Powers, A. G., FN; Spearman, L. A., MM3; Civitello, J., MM3; Gareau, R., MM3. . . . 7nd Row: Nikolaus, J. K., MM3; Poole, A. B., MM1; Hall, M. J., MM1; LTJG W. L. O ' Neill; Dietrich, F. J., MMC; Farmer, F. N., MM2; Schmidt, D. D., MM3. ... 3rd Row: Salsbury, H. A., FA; Kreager, R. L., MMFN; Whitcher, R. D., FN; Goldinger, K. L., FN; Amarol, E. T., FN; Collins, L., MM3; Hartwick, B. J., FN; Van Goethem, A. V., MM3; Sisk, J. F., ME3; Beechey, G. F., MM3; Lawrence, J. C, MM3; Schwegmonn, F. G., MM3; Mumma, D. H., FN; Moyer, W. F., FN; Parent, A. J., MM3. . . . 4th Row: Berlinski, W. F., MM3; Barnard, R. L., MM3; Kalin, A. J., FA; DePaolo, P. A., MM3; Armstrong, R. M., MMFN. M Division is that branch of the Engineering Department that is responsible for the main propulsion machinery. The division is comprized of machinist mates and of course the indispensable machinist mate strikers. These few men are charged with the onerous task of operating and maintaining the main engines and the auxiliaries, without which, the ship would be useless. In addition to the propulsion equipment, there are numerous other auxiliaries that are operated and maintained by this black gang which are equally essential. The work of the machinist mate is never completed, night and day whether in port or underway, this group will always be found on the floor plates. Every operation undertaken by the ship, regardless of the magnitude, is directly dependent upon the machinist mates and it is largely because of this fact that the Mighty Tuck was recently honored with the ComAirLant efficiency E . B DIVISION Bottom Row: Rollins, E. C, BT3; McDonald, E. R., FN; Ainsley, R. P., FN; Goodwin, W. C, BT3; Hawkins, H. F., FN. . . . 2nd Row: Evans, E. D., BT3; Davis, E. P., BT1; Chmach, L. C, SIFFIN; Raul, W., BTC; Lufkin, T. G., BT3; Peck H. f., BT2. ... 3rd Row: McKamey, C. A., FN; Folan, D. J., FN; Whiteside, G. H., FN; Repsher, D. L., BT3; Warner, H. H., BT3; Sumski, S. R., BT3. . . . 4th Row: Kinnison, M. L., FN; Donovan, D. J., BT3; Roark, G. E., FN; Brookover, D. R., FN; Cockman, J. D., FN. The Boiler Division on the U.S.S. CURRITUCK (AV-7) has numerous jobs to perform. We test all water aboard the ship; boiler feed water and drinking water. We ' re responsible for fueling the ship at sea and in port. We produce steam to run the main engines and also supply steam to run the turbo- generators which supplies the ship with power for light and electric equipment. We take care of the trim or list of the ship to make sure it ' s on an even keel. The maintenance and repairs of all boiler parts and fireroom equipment also lies with us. The B Division is one of the most important divisions of the artifice branch because without steam from the steam generators or boilers, the ship would be useless. The steam from the boilers supply all steam to run all turbines, main engines and turbo-generators. We supply steam ' to the evap- orators for making drin king water and boiler water. Steam supplies heat to keep the living spaces warm and steam for cooking, baking and laundry purposes. A DIVISION Bottom Row: Ham, R., FA; Maxwell, J. T., EN3; Strickland, R. E., EN3; Wehner, D. E., FN; Eichman, C. C, MM3; Blackwell, C. L., MM3; Eaton, D. L., FN. . . . Second Row: Schuiz, L., MM3; Belden, E. F., MM2; LTJG F. T. Nemits; Haygood, B. E., EN1; Gadaleto, F. A., EN3. . . . Third Row: Conley, R. E., MM3; Anthony, L. P., FN; Laurette, P. A., YNSN; Currier, C. H., MM3; Gaudette, F. D., MM3; Lavoie, L. W., FN; Badgeley, D. G., EN3; Meissner, C. W., FN; Zwicky, F. C, EN3; Anderson, A. R., FN; Shumate, T. M., MRS; Pulsifer, A. J., MM3; Morrissey, P. P., ENS. . . . Fourth Row: Stables, J. W., ENS; Kolstee, J. M., FN; Meland, W. M., FN; Kissling, M. L., FN; Hughes, D. J., YNS; Gregory, H. H., YN3. . . . Men Absent from Picture: Goodger, H. H., MMC; Ourada, R. J., MM1; Hargis S. F., MMC; Siegel, L. H., MM3; Molony, S. H., ENS; Logs- don, J. L., FN; Bishop, L. E., FN; Arthur, W. K., FN; Guest, J. R., FN. The A in A Division stands for auxiliaries. The functions of A Division are therefore explained by the title; that is, the care and maintenance of all auxiliary machinery on board ship. Some of the services that A Division maintains are the following: operates the evaporators for the making of fresh water; operates and maintains air compressors for ship ' s service; maintains laundry and all steam heat equipment; op- erates machine shop; repairs and runs ship ' s boat engines (outside the Air Department); repairs the cranes, steering gear and anchor windlass; operates and maintains the ship ' s refrigeration plant and air conditioning units. A Division is an imponant part of the ship ' s team. R DIVISION Bottom Row: Smith, R. L., DCS; Lowe, J. B., DCS; Ruvolo, A., FP3; Curry, J. D., FA; Hombley, D. S., DCGFA; and MacPherson, W. W., MEFN. . . . 2nd Row: Diliberto, T. A., MEC; Bandy, J. G., MEC; Chcarp, W. L., Clendening; Gunter, H., DCC; and Klemash, S. H., FPC. ... 3rd Row: Bedoian, J., DC1; Biles, J. E., MEFN; Perry, E. R., DCS; Miler, E. R., FP2; Shaffer. C. J., FPS; Teats, A., DCS; Minter, D. C, DCWS; and David, T. R., DC1. ... 4th Row: Deutsch, J. H., ME3; Arsenault, D. H., FPS; Miller, H. E., DCS; Champlin, J. R., ME3; Frieh, J. J., MES; and Clark, C. M., MEFN. . . . Personnel missing from group picture: Soney, A., DCWC; Medley A. J., FPC; Kolowy, J., DC2; Elmasion, M., MES; Sorensen, R. P., ME1; Ander- son, C. L., MEFN; lervolino, R. A., FN; Finotti, D. G., FN. The R Division is the ship ' s repair force and the ratings of the men within are Damage Controlmen, Metalsmiths and Pipefitters. The responsibilities of the Division and personnel are to maintain repairs to the Hull, Hull Fittings, Piping Systems, Boat Hulls and to render assistance to other divisions on the upkeep, maintenance and repair of their equipment. In addition, they must maintain watertight integrity of the ship and to conduct tests, inspections and repairs necessary to keep it so. Also the R Division has the responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of all Fire Fighting, Damage Control and ABC equipment and has a complete knowledge of the equipment as to its capacities, limitations and applica- tions. In order to properly carry out their duties, they have been provided with a Shipfitter Shop, Pipe and Copper Shop, Blacksmith Shop, Welding Shop, Carpenter Shop, Gas Mask Repair Shop and Carbon Dioxide Transfer Room. All these spaces are adequately equipped with the necessary power and hand equipment to permit them to carry out their work. F DIVISION First Row, 1. to R: Bell, D. H., FTSN; Putx, F. K., FTSN; Phillips, C. J., Jr., SN; Croyle, L. H., SN; Smyth, W. G., GNSN; Hartshorn, C. L., SN. . . . Second Row: Crawford, L. C, GM1; Mahaffey, J. D., CMC; Lt. H. C. Robinson, Gunnery Officer; Ens. B. S. Wellman, Ass ' t. Gunnery Officer; H. C. Minnie, FCC; Imholte, R. O., GM1. . . . Third Row: Trovato, C. W., GM3; Meyers, R. L., FT3; Coker, J. E., FT2; Cotter, W. R., GM3; Keehn, E. N., GM3; Hull, R. D., GM3; Hartung, A. C, GM1; Freiermuth, G. W., GM2; Gardner, J. A., GM3; Hayes, R. U., FT3; Joslin, J. J., FTSN; Williams, R. (n), SN; Loesch, T. R., GM3. . . . Fourth Row: Mackin, J. F., GM3; Karwoski, A., GM2; Strawinsky, A. C, YNSN; Morgan, R. L., SN; Grey, D. E., SN. The men of F Division are responsible for the maintenance, repair, and operation of the ship ' s defensive fire-power, the guns. They are also the same people who through patience and fortitude, hew finished gun crews from the rough timber of other divisions aboard. The ship was constructed to serve as a sea-going mother hen for the Navy ' s seaplanes. To carry out this assignment with finesse, it is desirable that she stay afloat even in the face of enemy attack. In the future as in the past, it will be due to the men and guns kept in top condition by F Divi- sion, that the CURRITUCK will stay afloat to carry out her mission. S DIVISION First Row, Left to Right: Cortier, R. H., SHSN; Huguenin, J., TN; Turner, P. C, TN; Petrone, E. E., SN; Bielak, F., SKSN; Godlewski, J. C, SHI; Gill, T. C, AK3; Collins, J. W., SK3; Friano, C, SN; Colongelo, R. G., CS3. . . . Second Row, Left to Right: Bort, R. A., AK3; O ' Neill, J. T., SHI; Hardy, A., AKC; Ensign S. Hartogensis; Pact R. G. Glatz; Martinez, A. A., DKC; Gottsche, N. W., CSS; Moloney, N. J., CSS; Keener, D. C, SN. . . . Third Row, Left to Right: Putzier, M. D., AKAN; Stewart, K. T., TN; Lester, L., SD2; Murphy, J. M., SN; Cartrett, O. C, SN; Culmon, W. A., DKSN; Bradford, J W , CSSN; Kohanek, J. J., AN; Vines, E. G., SH3; Link, J. F., AKAN; Hoist, F. L., CSSN; Duncanson, R. J., DK3; Wat- son, J. L., SN; Colonna, F. S., DKSN; Moore, J. M., AK3; Bruckman, P. E., SN; Komada, R., SH2; Dial, H. P., SD3; Morton, R. S., SD2. . . . Last Row, Left to Right: Wilson, O., SD1; Hall, J. O., CS1; Gawlik, J. S., CS3; Forsythe, R. E., AK3; Malone, R. D., SN. First Row, Left to Right: Forsberg, E. N., SK3; Streeter, D. C, SK3; Moseley, J. H., TN; Kenyon, D., SN; Feck, W. F., AK2; Close, D. L., TN; Barge, W. E., TN. . . . Second Row, Left to Right: Jackson, E. L., AKC; Erwin, H. T., SHC; LCDR J. B. DeWilde; CHPCLK H. C. Wondergem; Powell, L E , CSC; Harper, R. O., SH3; DeAngelo, F. A., CSS. . . . Third Row, Left to Right: Porter, N., SD3; Ayala, G. F., CSS; Coates, W. J., TA; Walker, J., SD3; Felt, S., SHS; Mayer, G., SK3; Murry, J., SD1; Garrett, V. L., SKI; Kniceley, J. S., SKSN; Proctor, M. L., SH2; Kodya, R. L., CS1. . . . Last Row, Left to Right: Hagelin, R. W., SKS; lacovone, C, SN; Talcott, C. W., SN; Judge, W. P., SKS; Gibson, T. P., SHSN; Bell, A. E., AK. The Supply Department, under LCDR J. B. DeWilde, is divided into three sections: Stores, Commissary and Ship ' s Service, and Disbursing. The Stores Group is responsible for the procurement, re- ceipt, stowage, issue, and accountability for General Stores, Equipage, Repair Parts, Fuel, and Aviation Spare Parts. A supply of general stores material is maintained to sustain the operations of the ship for a period of six months, and the supply of aviation spare parts will support a squadron of seaplanes for extended operations. The Commissary and Ship ' s Service Group operates the general mess, serving over 2,000 hot meals daily to the crew, operates the Ship ' s Store, which stocks everything from razor blades to perfume, and maintains a soda fountain and a cloth- ing store. This group also provides a barber shop, a cobbler shop, a tailor shop, and laundry service, all free of charge to the crew. The Disbursing Group maintains pay records for men on board and holds pay day. Barber Shop Laundry mm ' ' ' Soda Fountain Ship ' s Service 1st DIVISION First Row: Kipp, F. D., SN; Bond, W. G., SA; Trauger, L. F., SA; Corolin, F. W., SA; Taylor, B. S., SA; Hirschfeld, B. I., SA. . . . Second Row: Harris, R. W., BM3; Cunningham, G. N., BM3; CHBOSN L. R. Swanner; Kasprzynsici, J. J., BM2; Jones, J. S., BM3. . . . Third Row: Higgins, K. T., SN; Sprouse, R. R., SN; Cokas, C. G., SA; Kaiser, D. J., SN; Ashley, W. A., SA. . . . Top Row: Nopoli, A. C, SA; Mangels, D. E., SA; Hess, P. O., SN; Roney, R. T., SA; Cupek, R. R., SN; Leanna, A. J., SA. First Row: Murphy, C. A., SA; Wheatcroft, G. R., SN; Farese, R. L., SA; Price, E. F., SN; Willard, G. A., SN; Young, L. C, SA; Simler, J. C, SA. . . . Second Row: (Standing) Bickers, H. E., SN; (SiHing) Legg, C. J., SN; Dowden, W. F., BM3; Sweeney, T. B., BMC; Laramee, G. R., BM1; St. John, W. H., BM3; (Standing) Marusich, J. A., SA. . . . Third Row: Lewis, R. A., SA; Hines, R., SN; Brown, M. E., SN; demons, A. H., SA; Smith, S. S., SA; McKelligett, F. E., SN; Aschoff, R. H., SA; Gagne, J. R., SN; Bond, W. M., SN. . . . Top Row: Corns, J. R., SA; McFall, H. J., SA; Sampson, G. R., SN; Lyons, W. A., SN; Boyle, J. B., SA; Milbourn, C. F., SA. As you all probably know, keeping everything shipshape is the responsibility of the Deck Department. This department is divided up into two divisions, the First and Second. The Gun- nery Division or F Division is also under the Deck Depart- ment, but is acknowledged as a separate division in this book. Lieutenant John C. Watson, Jr., U.S. Naval Reserve is the First Lieutenant and Head of Department. Lieutenant (junior grade) Stephen B. Smith, U.S. Naval Reserve is an Assistant First Lieutenant and Second Division Officer. Chief Boatswain Linden R. Swanner, U.S. Navy is the First Division Officer. The First Division is resf onsible for the maintenance of the foreward part of the ship. Its main duties are to keep the weatherdecks, port and starboard sides, 01 and 02 levels, star- board side, main deck, and the forecastle in A-1 condition. Although cleaning and painting decks takes up most of their time, our first division men take care of the 1 Personnel Boat, 1 Motor Whale Boat and the Captain ' s Gig. The work accomplished by the First Division is supervised by Theodore B. Sweeney, BI C, USN and Gerard R. Laramee, BMl, USN. 2ncl DIVISION First Row: O ' Neil, M. E., SA; Daigle, R. i., SA; Burns, R. J., SN; GrandstafF, P. E., SA; Thomas, G. W., SA; Lauzau, R. R., SN; McNulty, J. J., SA. . . . Second Row: Poprik, J. H., YN3; Wagner, R. W., BM3; Kirouac, D. R., BM2; Lt. J. C. Watson, Jr.; Loughery, E. A., BM2; Giacomelli, M., BM3; Hall, W. E., SN. . . . Third Row: Leach, F. D., SA; Sullivan, R. J., SA; Wright, J. A., SN; Wisniewski, R. G., SA; Anderson, B. C, SN; Pieprzak, R. L., SN. . . . Top Row: Hall, M. E., SA; Taliaferro, J. W., SN; Gravener, F. G., SN; ' Curry, E. M., SA; Hagy, A. C, DCFA, Hunt, J. R., SA; Williams, W., SA. First Row: St. Dennis, J. L., SA; Buell, C. L., SN; Mack, R. N., SA; McCurry, J. L., SA; Cutrcra, J. J., SA; Dudley, D. C, SN; Nugent, P. E., SN. . . . Second Row: Birckhead, L. C, SN; Fields, R. E., BM3; Tanner, H., BM3; Brewer, J. T., BMC; Thomas, G., BM1; Dodge, D. M., BM3; Craver, I. P., SN. . . . Third Row: Parkhurst, C. L., SA; DiCarlo, L., SN; Dietle, R. G., SA; Kelley, J. S., SA; Miller, R. C, SN; Piatt, R. E., SN; Butterworth, W. N., BMSN; Schroll, III, A. H., SA. . . . Top Row: Dimino, C. J., SN; Pollard, J. R., SA; Hochheimer, R., SN; Peterson, R. D., SA; Massey, E. E., SA; Crawford, D. A., SA. The Second Division is responsible for the upkeep of the boat deck, Officer ' s passageways on the main and second decks, main weatherdeck, port side, and numerous other compart- ments. Along with this, the second division has three boats to keep in top condition: the 2 Personnel Boat, 2 Motor Whale Boat, and 4 1 Motor Launch. Like the First Division, this division owes its success to two sturdy leaders, James T. Brewer, BMC, USN, and Gordon Thomas, BMl, USN. Other spaces cleaned and operated by the Deck Force are the paint locker, sail locker, and Bos ' n locker. When entering port the deck department is busy rigging accommodation ladders, lowering boats, dropping the anchor, or tying up the ship along side a pier, while most everyone else is getting ready for liberty. The Deck Department ' s duty section is never at rest. The duty section has numerous watches, some of which are Boat- swain ' s mate of the Watch, Boat crews. Quarterdeck Mes- sengers, Captain ' s and Executive Officer ' s orderly, security watch, etc. The combined eflForts of both the First and Second Divi- sions makes the Deck Department an efficient and smoothly- run department. V-1 DIVISION 1st Row, Kneeling, Left to Right: Seymour, J. J., ADAN; Garness, R. W., AN; King, F. J., ADS; Garten, O. R., AN; Borem, D. E., ADAN; Leonard, A. M., AN; Baer, W. C, ADAN; Dyer, F. D., AN; Kennedy, R. N., AN. . . . 2nd Row, Sitting, Left to Right: Ray, L. A., AD3; Whitte- more, W. H., AD2; Boyle, J. A., AB2; Ace, R. F., MACH; (Division Offi- cer) Coppes, B. E., AD2; Morgan, J. W., AD3; Downs, M. E., AD3 3rd Row, Standing, Left to Right: Harmer, R. E., AN; Hyland, G. A., AD3; Brown, R. A., AD3; Schmidt, R. A., AD2; Hudson, J. D., AD2; Christie, M. H., AMAN; Henderson, F. J., ABAN; Aniciam, L. M., ATAN; Jellison, J. W., ADS; Simon, J. J., ADS; Taylor, J. V., ADS. ... 4th Row, Standing, Left to Right: Farr, A. J., ABAN; Echols, H. E., AN; Barton, E. R., AN; Baldo, R. D., ABAN; Vicars, R. O., ADS; Forgey, E. R., AN; Simon, J. J., AN; Collins, R. A., AN. 1st Row, Kneeling, Left to Right: Cote, R. A., ADAN; Radcliff, F. R., ADS; Beck, G. L., AN; Ray, C. iM., ADAN. . . . 2nd Row, Sitting, Left to Right: Rodgers, E. L., AD1; Zacek, T. J., AB1; Kelley, A. L., ABC; Brandon, J. C, AD1; Standish, R. E., ADS. . . . Srd Row, Stand- ing, Left to Right: Noeldechen, H., ADS; Bruckbauer, Jr., F. J., AN; Petrik, D. C, ABAN; Teets, W. S., AMAN; Nichols, J. M., ADAN; Nehls, F. M., AN. 1st Row, Sifting, Left to Right: Fisher, N. R., ABAN; Agosto, A. S., ABAN; MacPherson, Jr., C. L., ABAN; Knapp, P. R., ABAN; Cowles, R. H., ABAN. . . . 2nd Row, left to Right: Furlong, R. J., ABAN; Mann, Jr., H. W., ADAN; Lech, J. S., ADAN; Pasho, D. J., ABAN; Woodcock, H. D., AN. Check an average afternoon during operations on the CURRITUCK: All V-1 Personnel are busily engaged in the job the ship was designed to do: Tending aircraft . . . On the seaplane deck and after crane, the men are preparing to hoist aboard a seaplane for a routine check. The speaker sounds Smoking lamp is out as the gas crew man their stations to fuel one re-fueling boat. In the harbor, the six rearming boats ore speeding to and fro in their doily chores as water taxi and tug for maintenance on aircraft, and safety duties, in the sea lane, a buoy crew is checking the sea-drone in prepara- tion for night flights, as the crash boat stands by awaiting the arrivol of incoming aircraft. In our pump rooms, the gas crew is checking the safety valves, etc., in our complex av-gas and avoil systems. All hands are busy on our floating air base. With completion of the operations, comes the endless job of maintenance on our spaces, machinery, and equipment, so that our next operation can be as efficiently executed as the last. These are the men of the V-1 DIVISION, doing their job; THE JOB THAT MAKES THE CURRITUCK A SEAPLANE TENDER. V-2 DIVISION First Row: Gilley, K. E., AN; Tobin, D. C, AM3; Rief, D. P., AM3; Glavas, R. J., AM2; SeidI, L. L., AD2; Dunleavy, D. P., AN; Nelson, W. S., AM3. . . . Second Row: Higgins, S., ADC; Snyder, E., ADC- Murray, R. D., LT; Conlan, R. J., ADC; Modsen, R., ADC. . . . Third Row: Grey, E. L., AD1; Farrow, J. C, AD1; Gabel, P. H., AD3; Watkins, R. E., AM2; Moystead, I. K., AN; Andruska, D. L., AM3; Haehle, T. C, AN; Manfra, G. M., AD3. . . . Fourth Row: Allen, V. H., AE3; Callahan, G. E., AD2; Janquitto, N. R., YNSN; Jacobsen, C. J., AD1; Roberts, F. D., AE3; Tetzlaff, R. A., PR1; Miscikowski, M. S., AD1; Stewart, R. L., AE3. First Row: Nemeth, F. A., AD1; Hopson, W. J., ADS; Godwin, H. E., AMI; Yelaco, O., AD2; Jones, R. E., ADS; Zang, J. E., AD2; Thomp- son, W. R., AN; Richerson, K., AD2; Simmons, C. R., ATS; Hankins, W. H., AT2. . . . Second Row: Wease, W. C, AD1; McMurroy, J. M., AMC; LepoVitz, V. T., AMC; Peyronel, M., ATC; Gould, O. L., ATC; Corrin, C. F., AD1. . . . Third Row: Rendant, H J., AN; Wosick, L. E., ADS; Garner, J. C, AD1; Waienga, E. L., AE1; Saunders, J. E., ADS; Williams, J. J., AD1; Wapp, W. M., AN; Rakestraw, J. S., AMI; Richie, J., AN; Harte, K. W., AES; Eittreim, I. R., ATS; Mc- Kittrick, T. R., ATS. . . . Fourth Row: Bowen, W. F., ADS; Koehler, B. L., ADS; Neaman, R. M, ADS; Luke, R. 1., AD1; Moody, R., AE2; LaBaw, E. N., AM3; Truxall, E. L., AMS; WofFord, J. F., ADS; Rush- ing, C. M., AD1; Robertson, 6., ATS; Garrison, C. M., AN. The V-2 Division comprises the Air Maintenance organization of the Air Department. It ' s primary mission is to maintain and repair assigned squadron aircraft. In order to fulfill the primary mission, loads of talent is required, plus shop facilities in which to do the work. We have both. Since the ship is designed for and the duties include tend- ing seaplanes, the V-2 Division, under the Air Department, is the core of all tending operations. The Division works round the clock while tending aircraft and the quantity and quality of work turned out exemplifies the Can Do attitude of all Air Dales. The men are justly proud of their organ- ization. V-3 DIVISION I St Aow, L. to R.: McKenney, L. E., TMSN; Oelori, W., AOAN; Thomas, D. W., AOAN; Ellis, K. M., A02; Trovers, E. F., A03; Hanson, N. O., A02; Goodman, I. H., A03. . . . 2nd Row, 1. to R.: Ferrell, E. L., A01; Baty, W. W., A01; Gauthier, P. 6., AOC; Pangle, J. W., GUN; Snipes, J. B., AOC; Flannery, P. J., A01; Kowalski, R. W., A02. . . . 3rd Row, L. to R.: Foster, 6. C, A02; Crews, R. W., A03; Lloyd, J. M., A03; Waltemath, R. E., AOAN; Porter, M. N., AOAN; Dillon, J. M., A02; Sundburg, W. O., AOAN; Austin, A. O., A03; Grant, J. E., A03; Ketcham, T. F., A02; Black, R. E., AOAN. ... 4th Row, 1. to R.: Long, B. W., AOAN; McClellon, R. J., AOAN; long, J. R., AOAN; Larkin, C. A., AOAN; Fletcher, L. F., AOAN. The V-3 Division is directly responsible for all phases in handling of Aircraft Munitions aboard ship. This includes the maintenance and upkeep of assigned shipboard maga- zines and armory, the rendering of assistance to squadron personnel in servicing aircraft, and the provision of suitable shop facilities when aircraft are operating with the ship. The division, in addition, delivers ammunition, bombs, rockets, mines, etc., to the aircraft and supervises the arming and re- arming of aircraft. ff mft ;4cut€lfulM 0 t S Vice-Admiral J. J. Ballentine Vice-Admiral J. J. Ballentine, Commander Air Force, U. S. Atlantic Fleet, came aboard with Captain H. P. Burden, Chief of Staff, Commander Fleet Air Wings Atlantic, (our former skipper) and presented the Battle Efficiency E to the U.S.S. CURRITUCK in a brief ceremony at the Nor- folk Naval Base Piers on 2 October 1953. Our ship placed first in the seaplane tender class, in the annual competition for the E . This award signifies that our ship performed the competitive exercises in gunnery, communications, ORI, etc., in an outstanding manner. Rear Admiral D. S. Cornwell Rear Admiral D. S. Cornwell, USN, upon relieving Rear Admiral G. B. H. Hall as ComFAirWingsLant and Com- FAir Wing Five, paid an official visit to the CURRITUCK. The Admiral was piped aboard and welcomed by Captain J. D. Black. Admiral Cornwell toured the ship and stayed aboard a few hours visiting with Captain Black. The ship was honored by and appreciated the friendly visit of its Commander. ( xcii e S o 2t i Harvey D. Oslund, PISN Editor, Layout Chaplain S. L. Roberts Editor-in-Chief Lt. N. Craig Managing Editor FROM THE EDITOR In this book we have tried to portray the visual impressions of two years aboard the U.S.S. CURRITUCK with an emphasis on our most recent cruises. Through the media of the camera, we have made every effort to capture the highlights of our operations including impressions of our life aboard the CURRITUCK — its humor, its boredom, its hours of tiring labor, its periods of amusement, relaxation, and seriousness. In addition to those pictured, we want to gratefully acknowl- edge the assistance of Lt. J. C. Watson, LTJG F. T. Nemitz, and George P. Mordecai, YNSN. We hope that you, as a member of the CURRITUCK team, have enjoyed this presentation, and to you we say ' Bon Voyage. S. L. Roberts Thomas P. Carroll, LI 3 Copy Editor Stanley (N) Rabinowitz, SN Artist Billy R. Rouch, PHAN Photography Ml , V vl; X. 4