New Jersey (BB 62) - Naval Cruise Book

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w H1 At 1800 ,on Friday, 8 April l955, one long note on the bugle was heard over the llVlC system aboard the New lersey indicating that the first starboard line was secure to the pier at the Basin in Mayport, Florida. The ship had completed a five day operating cruise from Norfolk, during which time we had as our guests fifty boy scouts from the Atlanta, Geor- gia, Area Boy Scout Council and six cadets from the Pennsylvania Military College of Chester, Pennsylvania. Along with the New Iersey in the Mayport Basin over this Easter weekend were the USS Worcester CCL-1443, the USS Bush CDD-873D and two submarines, the USS Burfish and the USS Tigrone. Open house was held at the Basin over the weekend and Saturday saw approximately l2,000 people at the base, 7,000 of whom passed over the quarterdeck of the New ler- sey. Easter Sunday brought an even greater attendance, 20,000 people visited the base and of that number approximately ll,000 visited this battleship. Along with our many other visitors was Mr. W. B. Franke, Under Secre- tary of the Navy who came aboard for an in- formal inspection tour. On both days, the Navy Blue Angels, flying t 't l x it '43-,L 'x

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region of the Western Hemisphere to become known to the old world will long remain with the crew of the New Iersey. Many of the men, during their sightseeing, saw the first cathed- ral built by the Spanish in the New World and the tomb of Columbus which lies within. The Alcazar de Colon, or Columbus Castle, con- structed during the years 1510-1515 was the residence of the Columbus family for many years. Other points of interest were the statue of Christopher Columbus and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the Dominican Republic. Many of the athletic facilities of the city were made available to the men of the New lersey. Ball teams had the opportunity of play- ing against teams of their Caribbean neigh- bors, providing fine exhibitions for the crowds that came to watch. hh 3 Most everyone whovisited the city spent some of his time shopping in the Mercado-, or central market place of the city. Here they mingled with the people of the city and had an opportunity to learn of a culture and cus- toms quite different from their own. - The Dominican Republic was the first for- eign land to be visited by the New Iersey in 1955 and was only the beginning of a long list of important and interesting countries and cities to which the crew were destined to travel in the months to come.

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Cougar jets, put on a thrilling exhibition of precision flying, doing various types of rolls, loops, and speed runs while flying in close formation. Upon completion of their show, a simulated helicopter rescue was demonstrated from the top of turret one of this ship, here the visitors were able to see the technique em- ployed by helicopters in air-sea rescue. The city of lacksonville proved a gracious host and planned several types of entertain- ment for the crew through the efforts of the lunior Chamber of Commerce. Included were a dance at the lacksonville Beach Community Center, a beauty contest with crew members ARM. x- Wi, as judges, and sun rise services on Easter morning. On Easter Sunday from 0930 to l530, station WPDQ presented a radio program from aboard the ship. Dick Fellows, as Master of Ceremonies, interviewed civilian visitors as well as many crew members during the pro- gram. At 0800 on Monday, ll April, the New ler- sey was again underway after a pleasant Easter weekend in the Sunshine State.