Frank Evans (DD 754) - Naval Cruise Book

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A floating restaurant at Aberdeen Mary Sue ' s girls meet the crew. While in Hong Kong there were five scheduled tours -three of the island (Hong Kong) and two of the mainland (Kowloon). The tours included stops at the world famous Tiger Balm Gardens, a tram ride to the top of Victoria Peak and a visit to Aberdeen. We also got 6 glimpse of Red China, the country that doesn ' t exist. Hong Kong is a free port and we took full advantage though the things we bought were hardly free; the tailor-made clothes and shoes; and the multitude of cameras, elec- tronic equipment, silks, ivory goods, jade. . . emptied our pockets and filled our holds and every empty rack on the ship. And so we leave Hong Kong, richer yet poorer, as always. The country that doesn ' t exist . . . and paint the ship COUTEE ' s bicycle shop 46

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A Chinese familv on its sanrnan home A liberty boat Takashima Pearl Farm was another interesting place nearby. Here visitors were shown how cultured pearls are cultured. From Sasebo we headed south but were delayed briefly to search for two HORNET pilots who were killed in the crash of an S2D air craft near the southern end of Kyushu. It was a tragic accident, but it was the only serious one sustained by the HUK group during the cruise. The EVANS, along with the other ships of Anti-Submarine Warfare Group THREE , arrived at Hong Kong, British Crown Colony, shortly before noon on 22 February. Our dressed ships presented an impressive sight to those ashore, but this sight was no more impressive than the view we saw of Hong Kong and Kowloon. We were anchored in the harbor about one-half mile from Hong Kong. The harbor was a continual maze of traffic; boats, sampans, water taxis and ferries darted in and about day and night. A rickshaw stand The Stan Ferry E nr Ninnim -. -t •

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After Hong Kong our group participated in a huge amphibious exercise off Formosa. Our job was our specialty - ASW. Most of the 7th Fleet was in- volved in the exercise. The number of ships totaled over 80. In providing ASW protection for all these ships, the HUK Group boasted a perfect record for which it received the congratulations of COMSEVENTHFLT. From here it was back to Yokosuka for a short rest before our last operating period. This period was marked by several gunnery shoots. Our 5 inch gun crews loaded and fired over 500 rounds of ammunition during these shoots. After putting the ship back together and policing the empty brass, it was back to Yokosuka for a final cleanup before going home. And clean up we did. This last inport period saw us painting out the ship and polishing up our spaces. It was a time for last minute shopping. and for presentation of awards and for shipping over . . .