Bairoko (CVE 115) - Naval Cruise Book

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T ' LAYING OF THE KEELN T THE amazing story of shipbuilding at Todd Pacific Shipyards, Tacoma, dates back to World War l. The story opens with the filling in of the old tideflats on the upper reaches ' of Commencement Bayduring the year l9l7. Twelve months later ships were sliding down its launch- ing ways. Thus a shipbuilding industry was born. During the year of 1926 came a period. of inactivity which closed the yards. The 'outbreak .of war in Europe marked theirrebirth. Today, 22,000 men and women are joined together at Todd Pacific'to build fighting vessels for the United States Navy. Their efforts have prompted stirring words of praise, but no more fitting commendation maybe given thanthe Army-Navy E flag, with three stars, which, flies on high from the Yard .flagstaff with Old Glory. We of the U.S.S. Bairoko, who have come to know these splendid people, are fully confident they willfkeep' it there until the war has been won. ' 2 On Iuly,25, l944, approximately one year ago, a keel for a new aircraft carrier was laid down at the waters edge of the Todd Pacific Tacoma yard. Known only to the shipyard personnel as Hull No. 65, THE KEEL IS LAID I E -3-llllil the vessel rapidly took shape. Over a mil- lion manfhours of work were performed to make her sturdy and strong. Under the proud eyes of those who' designed her and the hands of the professional men and women of this yard who built her, satis- factory progress was made. Finally came the day when construction 'was com- pleted, and the huge hulk was raised from the bilge cribs. and supporting tim- bers and transferred to the sliding ways. A launching platform was built and all was in readiness for the launching of the newest war vessel. ' So it was on lanuary 25, l945, a huge crowd gathered to watch the launching of' the new vessel. High on the gaily- festooned platform the-sponsor, Mrs. I. I. Ballentine, wife of Rear Admiral Ballentine who is now on duty with the Pacific Fleet, waited for the signal. The moment came, the trigger was released, the christening bottle crashed, the ship's name, U.S.S. . SHE TAKES SHAPE u. ya

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XZ X 'ff ft ff, B A I R 0 K 0 . ' r fa . In ' V BAIROKO HARBoR is a Smart inter on the North caasraaf New Georgia, one of the Solomon lslands. A Spanish navigator, coming upon these islands in l567, and hopefully believing he had finally touched on the fabled and wealthy lands of -the lndies named the group llas de Solomon. Subsequent English explorers claimed part of the group for Britain, and at the outbreak of the war New Georgia was under the English flag. p g g During the early part of l942, in their effort to cut the Allied sup- ply line to Australia, the lapanese seized the Solomons and began the construction of a series of air fields throughout the islands-at Vila on Kolombangara, at Munda on New Georgia, and on Guadalcanal. Vila and Munda were mutually supporting fields. Bairoko l-larbor lay be- tween these two airfields and was the port of supply for Munda. By the spring of l943 Guadalcanal was secure, and we had suf- ficient men and material to open the offensive against New Georgia. On lune 30, l943, Rendova lsland was seized and Munda then placed under artillery fire. Marines and lnfantry landed on New Georgia. ln the heat and muck of the tropical jungle they met a bitter Nip foe enraged at the loss of Guadalcanal. Resistance was particularly strong near Bairoko l-farbor. After six weeks of desperate jungle fight- ing the Munda airstrip was overrun, but Bairoko l-larbor did not fall until August 25th. lts seizure marked the end of the fifty-seven day campaign for New Georgia. Bairoko signified the end of this early Pacific campaign-so the name of our ship is a symbol for that final victory in which she will soon participate. 4

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...AND THE SHIP IS LAUNCHED Bairoko, rang out over the cheers of the crowd-a new ship, our ship, was born. After the Ways of the ancient Romans who looked for an omen of good fortune before launching a War-vessel, many of the crowd Who Watched our ship slide from the Ways and churn loelligerently into the salty Waters of the Sound on her maiden voyage, raised their eyes to the heavens over- head. As a propitious answer, the usually cloudy sky of Ianuary began clearing and the rays of the sun spotlighted the Bairoko's first hesitant start, then eager rush to taste the Waters of Commence- ment Bay. LAUNCHING PARTY-Back row fleit to righti Mrs. G. L. Richard, Mr. Cebert Baillarqeon Mrs. L. K. Rice, Capt. I. F. Greenslade, U.S.N. Mrs. A. M. Hopkins, Lt. A. M. Hopkins, U.S.N.R., Mrs. I. F. Greenslade, Mrs. Cebert Baillargeon Capt. L. K. Rice, U.S.N. Front row: Rear Admiral I. I. Ballentine, U.S.N., Mrs. Ballentine the sponsor, Mrs. E. P. Sauer, Capt. E. P Sauer, U.S.N. ON HER WAY'