Bairoko (CVE 115) - Naval Cruise Book

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P YW! L It G INF F -ao, U 0 f I,'l ,ff , . AM I , lffjf l.74v,- YGZ41 f A ':- '- yu Ill ,glitz . WE,-Q .514-'.' '-932' Il was 5 kg L1 P1775 l!5:f ' wi f G lv 6 , ff. 1212: 5. . .41 '5' 111' ' . ,- :aff o ,153 L' ' 'Leaf' ' 4 22.1 -.4241 I ldff? .gif w T Q X T W , - 1 J-.2-. ff , ftwrr, ,i PQ eg g W 1 , X X X T rf' fix XX IA kt? R X I 1, Q E r, T V X hx -:1 Tr N Q15 eu' f Q-asv: .. - The Boiroko's motto, TI-IE BAIROKO IS THE BEST, portroys my feel- ings for better thorm I could ever express. Cdr. M. C. Reeves, USN Executive Officer

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CAPTAIN W. F. RABORN JR., USN COMMANDING OFFICER : msn N .jp ' -Q J X ., X X x :Nb tw N Q R, X av ,xx N JN, mx- TQ ' QQ ,Exxjzlv-+ R ut, pig., f' -fX-X5 15, .A- . ,U , .Q -1+ if '.,.x,, 1, , 1 ug? N. 'R 1 wy bmw' - 'wx :ht gg, , xtg fxA .XL'i5?a.Qg ff! 1 4 Quai 'Q . .,.:,,1., sw' .V Q,-S -' '- . ..,:fg?Q3, Q, 1, .X-sk ' ..'-, .m.,-j - 'KW , Q5 , gg fzfj? ,N . vi, , Q A 7 , X, sn ' 'n g xl 3 'G hx. F fgwxw SU! S Gif mx' 2. , 3- iw, 9.41, . 141. 1 Q, na F? Zi av '42 ff

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' if? fczfedaga The USS BAIROKO CCVE-1151 wos ncimed ofter the World Wor ll fight- ing which took ploce oround Boiroko Horbor, on the north cocist of New Georgio Islond of the Solomon lslonds. The seizure of the Boiroko Horbor on 25 August, 1943, morked the end of the vicious fifty-seven-doy compoign for the recopture of New Georgio. The USS BAIROKO is the ex-Portoge Boy of the CVE 105-120 closs. The vessel wos built by the Todd Pocific Shipyords, Tocomo, Woshington. It wos lounched on 25 Jonuciry 1945 ond sponsored by Mrs. J. J. Bollentine, wife of the then Reor Admirol J. J. Bollentine, USN. The ship wos first commis- sioned on 16 July 1945. On 18 October 1945, the ship deported Son Diego for service with the Pocific Fleet. During her short but octive ccireer, the Boiroko porticipoted in the Chino Occupotion, tronsported oircroft ocross the vcist Pocific Ocecin sev- erol times, conducted mony weeks of l-lunter-Killer operotions, ond engciged in oll Fleet exercises ond moneuvers. ln oddition, severcil Morine fighter squodrons completed ccirrier quolificotion troining ciboord the Bciiroko, ond she olso porticipoted in the fomous otomic bomb test ot Eniwetok Atoll. The Boiroko's lost yecir with the cictive Fleet wos porticulorly outstond- ing, os it is believed thot she steomed o greoter distonce thon ony other type unit of the Pocific Fleet ond met oll commitments on schedule. On 15 December of 1949 the USS Boiroko reported to the Pcicific Re- serve Fleet for inoctivotion, which wos completed on the fourteenth doy of April 1950. The Boiroko wos reoctivcited ond recommissioned on 12 September 1950 ot Alomedo, Colifornio, ond this book depicts the highlights of her crew's octivities from thot time until 15 August 1951. The bulk of thot time wos spent in the oreo of Yokosuko, Jcipon, on Anti-Submorine Worfore duty, where the crew become ocquciinted with the orientol woys of life ond got o close view of some of the scenic wonders of Jopon. ln the course of one operotionol phose, the Boiroko sow duty with British destroyers, during which she visited Okinowo for o few doys. At 1700 on 5 August 1951, the Boiroko upped the gongwoy ond set o course for the Stotes. She moored ot North lslond's King Pier ot 1530 on 15 August ond wos welcomed by o tremendous throng of wives, fomilies ond sweetheorts-thus ended o hoppy cruise with ci delightful finole.