Pine Island (AV 12) - Naval Cruise Book

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3 3 If R N 1, v i l E

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T UN June was a busy month for all of us. Our time in the states was drawing to a close and many things had yet to be done. The first week was spent at White Cove, Santa Catalina Island, operating with sea- planes from VP-40 and testing ourselves prior to our deployment. The rest of June was spent in intensive preparation for our coming deployment. Supplies and provisions were taken aboard, and ammunition was loaded. In addition, much hard work was necessary at home to provide for our families during our six mgmgh absence. June 26th came all too soon, and as we pulled away from North Island, we were saddened to leave our families and loved ones behind, but also looked forward to an interesting and exciting trip to the Far East. We went first to San Francisco where we picked up a new P-boat, then headed out under the Golden Gate bound for Japan and the Far East. The sea was very rough, but we soon found our sea legs.

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108 JULY Land was truly a welcome sight when we arrived in Yokosuka, Japan, Sunday afternoon, 12 July. With the aid of several pusher boats and tugs, we tied up alongside our sister ship, the USS CURRITUCK QAV-75. Monday, 13 July, both ships were engrossed in the task of transferring the staff of Commander Patrol Forces SEVENTH Fleet from the Wild Goose to the Piney Maru, For the remainder of the cruise, we were to serve as the flagship for Rear Admiral Robert A, MacPherson who is Commander Patrol Forces SEVENTH Fleet and Commander Fleet Air Wing ONE. Our several restful days in Yokosuka were highlighted and climaxed with three tours. Tuesday and Thursday, we had a first hand look at the world's largest city in both day and night atmospheres. The first stop on the Tokyo Day tour was the famous Tokyo Tower, a 1,093 foot steel structure shaped like the Paris Eifel Tower, built for radio-television broadcasting and sight-seeing. Following the tour to the tower, we had lunch at the world famous Japanese Restaurant Suehiros. Here there was achoice of both western or oriental meals. Those choosing the former meal, had delicious Kobe beef steak, while those pre- ferring Japanese food enjoyed sukiyaki, Japan's most famous dish. During the afternoon, the tour made stops at the Imperial Palace, home of the Japanese Emperor, and the beau- tiful Yasukimi Shrine QShintoj, Highlighting a wonderful day was a show at the Kokusai Theater, featuring ZOO actresses, colorful costumes and elaborate stage settings, The Tokyo Night tour featured dinnerat Suehiro's and visits to several of Tokyo's popular nightspots. The third tour offered was the Hakone National Park tour. As the tour began, the bus took the men along sandy beaches, through flatlands rich in vegetation to the town of Odawara, which is noted for its local production of bamboo wares and wood carvings. Leaving this seaside town, the bus began a steady climb into the mountains, At the summit lies Lake Ashinoko Qoften called Lake Hakonej, Although it was cloudy, we could still see Mount Fuji, with all its breathtaking beauty from this point. Following lunch at the Gohra Hotel, the bus made a trip around the lake and later visited the Hakone Shinto Shrine, said to have been founded in 757. I Saturday morning, 18 July, we cast off our lines and got underway for our overseas home port, Buckner Bay, Okinawa. One of the first tasks we accomplished upon arrival on 21 July, was the laying of our seadrome, which is basically a seaplane landing field. We do this by anchoring several special buoys in a straight line for a distance of about 2 miles. Our primary mission in Okinawa is to service the big P5M Marlin seaplanes that fly in from various bases in the Far East. The PINE ISLAND refuels, rearms and provides engine repairs and other maintenance as needed. The end of July found us at anchor in Buckner Bay a little bit the worse for wear due to the heat but nevertheless anxiously awaiting our next trip to a new and different place.