Nassau (LHA 4) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 28 text:

NASSAU arrived in Rota, Spain on 9 February to inchop with the USS SAIPAN. It was the Hrst time the two massive LHA's were to- gether other than in their home- port, and they made an impressive sight Iabovej. During the three-day process and port call of inchopping, the two ships traded equipment, sup- plies and information that each would need to continue their mis- sions. NASSAU embarked some new crewmembers from the Naval Sta- tion in Rota and took on a sizeable quantity of mail Irightj before get- ting underway for her Hrst am- phibious exercise in Spain. Rota signals the start of long hours at flight quarters, landing operations and thousands of miles of steaming before the cruise be- gins to end.

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HZw3. 'x ME...W..L''...W55..'1.,1 ff','f? Ziifkttv-..' Y1m f 2i:3:-QL CDR Gander, Air Boss, who departed the ship March 12th, reads at the prayer breakfast Since 1919, the Navy's most technical advance- ments were made in the Held of aviation. A large Navy flying boat made the Hrst transatlantic flight in May of 1919. In 1922, the first Navy aircraft carrier, USS LANGLEY was com- missioned after several tests, talce-offs and land- ings were made from ma- keshift flight decks aboard modiHed ships. While the LANGLEY was a converted coal ship, the first ship de- signed from the keel up as a carrier was the USS RANGER. The Navy has greatly de- veloped its aviation capaci- ties. The LHA is a prime example. NASSAU's helo, Pet 838, flies search and rescue J, -Lfaauym.. -Q urea -,nears-.A 'vars-we-sa:..21..1eu,m.-f,,. ,.,N,.....-..-.N...--------- 'Jil !OFFICERS A D CHIFFS 1st rom left to right - CDR Clay Ill Knew Air Bossj, LCDR Jewell, ABCS McConnell 2nd rom left to right - I.Tjg Cerezo, ABHC Weber, CDR Chamberlain C Q 3 Air Department Staff? from left - ABHC W b , LT' C ' ENS M lc T l LCDR jewell, ABC5 McConnell, ABFC Duby, LCDR T-lansdr? H6201 ar ussenl CDR Clay' LCDR Cement,