Pine Island (AV 12) - Naval Cruise Book

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PHILIPPINES

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AUGUST Monday morning 3 August, the ship got underway for lwakuni, Japan, Iwakuni lies on the northern Sl'101'G of F116 IHIHHC1 Sea Of Japan. The lnland Sea is entered from the south by way of the Bungo Strait. The tide and current action in this strait is high and strong The sea con- tains thOUS2-1HC1S Of Small iS1H11Cl-S and land pinnacles and thus navigation must be precise and constant to insure safe passage. We arrived in lwakuni early Wednesday morning fora three day stay and after anchoring liberty commenced for two thirds of the crew. Due to the situation in Vietnam, we got under- way the following morning for Sangley Point in the Philippines, Two days before we were to arrive at Sangley, we changed course and headed for Aparri, a small town located in Northern Luzon at the mouth of the Cagayan River on Babugan Channel, 50 miles north of Tuguegarao. After being anchored for one day off the coast of Aparri, we picked up our seadrome, which had been laid for seaplane operations, and got underway for Subic Bay, Philippine Islands, We arrived there on the morning of the 12th and tied up at the Naval Supply Depot pier where we commenced loading supplies, fuel and am- munition aboard. V Well supplied, the ship again headed out to sea and followed a westward course. At the end of our journey, we anchored in Tourane Bay off the coast of South Vietnam. This bay serves the city of Da Nang which is the second largest city in Vietnam and exhibits unique charm which results from the blending of French architecture and culture in an oriental setting. Every morning Tourane Bay was alive with many hundreds of junks going out to sea to fish. On Sunday mor ning, 23 August, the Patrol Force Seventh Fleet Staff held a change of command ceremony on the ship's hangar deck. Rear Admiral Robert A. Macpherson was re- lieved by Rear Admiral Richard L, Fowler. Aftera ten day stay in South Vietnam, we departed for the Philippines on 25 August. Enroute, we rendezvoused at sea with the USS MANATEE QAO-585, a Navy oiler, and refueled our ship while at darken ship, This was the fi1'SI time since World War H that a seaplane tender had been refueled under these conditions. We arrived at Lingayen Gulf, outside the city of Dagupali, Philippine Islands OH Thurfday morning 27 August, We anchored and made preparations for two days of seaplane operations about 4,000 yards off the sandy beach. The me mbe rs of the crew enjoyed liberty in a port which no other naval ship had visited for many years. TWO days later We left the Philippines for Buckner Bay Okinawa After an absence of . - we arrive twenty eight days, steaming many miles, and visiting three different countries Buckner Bay on 31 August and anchored for a well deserved res .. -, ', 'dat t.

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