Bunker Hill (CV 17) - Naval Cruise Book

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'M L I 'Wi-L as V . VG Q 5, ENGINp ERING ,u-,,,,..,w...t..,.......a.... ..,,. U., f53gf'g'Qf,1fu' ' ax X, i---E-..,......,,,,..--dw Qi:-jjj , ,Q - Q- ---' w' ,A .M sw I e xv f f ' Q ' Q- .ns Y , 4 Et if awww' K W ..-' 1 . , ..,.,.- . , 1. . . ' 4 , . -'f' Q rv ,ev 5 K ,M M ,.... A ,tal , jf- Xl , , Y' , :li ,fbi ii h fl N L The performed record breaking achievem6TlfS Daibf communiques from the sea fronts to the newspapers hack home have carried story after story which hegan as follows: A Fast Carrier Task Force . . . .... . ,V , , .. - .,.a-.T.,...f.u.,.q.,.,,lun-n-uncut' Y Y 1 W --frm , WY WY,-, , T .-,,,,,,.,l,,,,c,,q,,,,...,.- -:yawn QL,f1,U5f41ef:aa:-ma::fAf.u:.r.:v:4wA -0: AA-Q: :A-N --1---f was af- ---W f-N ne of the vaster differences between this war and any other has been the factor known as speed In the Bunker Hill, for a year the spearhead on fast carrier attacks, the speed and drive were furnished by the en- gineers, whose equipment and ability to handle this equipment were the forces that drove us over tens of thousands of sea miles. Powerful engines, excellently maintained and expertly controlled took us into the Battle . . . time and time again . . . and brought us back again. While the propulsion of the ship is its primary consideration, the Engineering De- partment embodies other duties of far-reach- ing importance. Its giant evaporators distill the enormous quantities of water used daily for all purposes, its generators produce the thousands of kilowatts which are sent out from the central distribution panels through miles of electrical cable to every part of the ship, its refrigeration makes it possible to have fresh meat, fruit and vegetables no matter how long at sea, its ship's service and sound-powered phones link remote sec- tions of a sea giantess . . . to name but a few of the department's manifold duties. The helm of this tremendously complCX structure is the Chief Engineer. His is the task of maintaining all machinery on a 24- hour-a-day operating status, and having the boilers and main engines ready for full power at an instant's notice. That the Chief EH- gineer is usually one of the first officers as- signed to a ship in commission and fitting out is an index of the importance attached to his job. Our first Chief Engineer was capable, quiet Commander F. F. Agens, USN, and too much credit cannot be given him fm- the splendid work he did in organizing an Engineering Department that will take back seat to HOM- He stayed with the Bunker Hill long elwlmh to see us weather several engagements with the enemY, and on more than one occviw

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w -.....,.............,..,....a. . V .,..-................ ... . -. - --.-a.--- - M.,-,f ......, -M hi V u-in-1--11---1-. 4 V -' H - 1- ff - J 'v - ...,- .4' ' la Yeoman Hill, duplicated that performance by also making Ensign and returning to duty aboard another carrier. Ship's Clerk Garrett succeeded Koster and Chief Massa became his assistant. The ship's printers are a willing and skill- ful crew who have earned a high reputation in the fleet for the excellent craftsmanship of THE MON UMEN T, the ship's weekly paper. Printer First Class Chandler and his gang de- serve much credit for that, as well as for the eliicient handling of the large amount of work required by the ship in the printing . .YYY Y-.-:.A:...Tm, 4 ,riff ---- .-.....-,.2.....--...af -Z-:.,...... 5- ...... .T..T,-.Z1 ,tx ' ' U . ..'. Q- 1.2142 .ii--.. .... ,... , ., LM., ,..,..,..--M w -,.- , - --- ----f---M ,,.. . ., ., --a. . f - -. -- - --- - ---f --- ..Ma-.A.,-. . -- - - - - V.. , ...... ---. M, . ,, . , ,, .. .. . . .M , . ...-a.......c-............., ...V K .. .... .,.., ,, . . 1 .-.la .--.fl-----:L--:::3...:.-..-....a...r-. -..'U'..... '. .... 31Z'..LT..T'.. , .. TI,T,'TfT', ,'TT.'T. ,Qf 'i'l.ffflZ'L'1flT.f v ,W ,, V .1 ,nw , . . - A I, -I M--... .. -J, N --J - A -an ,, USN 144 If y W If-A N. V A ...fx A up . ' 1 I' .fi-4 ' , e 1' , ' .ff ' line. Lieutenant Bill Berry was the K-3 Division Gflicer, assisted by Lieutenant Cjgl R. O. Herstine, both communication veter- ans. The lirst print shop officer, Lieutenant Qjgj C. W. Johnson, Spent his last day of duty aboard the ship in May. He received orders to new construction of another carrier in this class, the USS Bon Homme Richard. One of the most important jobs in the Communication Department is Ship's Secre- tary. Actually a part of K-3, the extent of the work and responsibility rates it as a separate unit. Lieutenant A. J. O'Connor gave the job its beginning, his experience aboard the old Wasp nominated him for the original assignment to the job. However, when Lieutenant Cjgb John Gott reported for duty in Quincy, it was decided that he would assume the duties of Ship's Secretary. The task of overseeing the work of the Executive Oflicer's ofiice falls under the title of Executive OHicer's Aide. A mid-year ad- dition to the Ship's company, Lieutenant R. M. Blake, handled this work, also considered a part of the Communication Department. He came aboard after a long stay on the beach at Munda, succeeding Al O'Connor who held the job temporarily after the original Aide, Ensign Roger Prouty, left the ship for new duty. The daily press news is also a service fur- nished the ship by Communication Depart- ment personnel. Lieutenant Cjgl Flynn and Ensign McVickers, who alternately edited it, will tell you that it was thoroughly maligned almost daily. This they consider a high compliment, however, for it means that the paper is closely read. Each day radiomen copied the best parts of several press broad- casts which emanated from the West Coast. The exploits of the Bunker Hill Ship's Post ofiice have long been known by most. This service also fell under the cognizance of the Communication Department. An estimate has been made that from time of commissioning through the first combat year, more than 100,000 letters monthly were mailed by the oliicers and enlisted men, and that they received an average of nearly a quarter of a million letters each month. A record was established for a single delivery on December 10, 1943, when the ship re- ceived 56 mail pouches, each containing ap- proximately 8,000 letters, and 625 bags of parcel post, magazines and newspapers. The Post Office handled 31,000,000 worth of money orders during the past year, a sum greater, on a percentage basis, than that credited to the New York City Post Oliice. Stamp sales amounted to S75,000, with 570,000 of this involving air mail. In one day, the Post Office sold 343,000 worth of money orders, a mark which still stands. On an average day, 54,000 in money orders and stamps are dispensed.

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new the pride of accomplishment when the amines were called upon to deliver , , , Ind did. His record must have impressed the Bureau, for in December he was called back to put mother carrier of this class in commission, after which he was attached to SupShips at Bethlehem Steel in Quincy, Massachusetts, where his know how will be used to full advantage. As a general rule when a key man is removed his replace- ment poses a difiicult problem. In the case of the Chief Engin- eer, however, there was no deliberation on this score. As if it were custom-made for him, Commander D. F. Kinert, USN, stepped into the spot vacated by his pred- ecessor. Having un- derstudied Commander Agens while holding down the job of Assistant Engineering Officer, Commander Kinert was thoroughly familiar with the doctrines and policies in effect, and was well qualified to take over the reins, guiding the hundred-odd thousand horsepower which drives the ship. Sufiice it to say the Engineering Department still ranks number one among the carriers of this class. The job of Assistant Engineering Ofiicer entails reams of paper work, the handling of ofiicer training, and personnel supervision in the department as well as pinch-hitting for the Chief Engineer when necessary. It is a position which we were fortunate to have had capably occupied, Hrst by Commander fthen Lieutenant Commanderl Kinert and followed by Lieutenant Commander J. R. Carmichael, jr. Small wir and when the occasion de- Y, mands, acid-tongued, Lieutenant .Commander Carmichael reported aboard with ta back- ground of Naval experience that included K W xf QNA 'FX Slf:'Xx i a harrowing tour of duty as the executive officer on a transport during the African in- vasion. Upon reporting to the Bunker Hill early in her pre-commissioning days, he was appointed B Division Gfiicer. The Engineering Department is divided in- to four divisions, each having cognizance of a separate phase of operation, and all four coordinated by the Chief Engineer to form a smoothly working team. A DIVISION: The A Division . , .-, .,........a,..............--.---.-. .. ,.,,..,-.-........-.-... has charge of main- tenance and opera- tion of all auxiliary machinery excepting those units directly concerned with boil- er or main engine operation. Prior to the com- missioning and until mid-March, 1944, k ' the A Division Of- ficer was Lieutenant James Williams, Jr. An engineer at heart and with machine shop experience, Slim Jim came to us as a survivor of the U.S.S. Laffey, the gallant destroyer which practically single- handedly sank several heavy units of the Iap Fleet before going to the bottom. When moved to the B division office, he was suc- ceeded by Lieutenant L. Sarge VValdo, a University of California product who had gone on duty with the U.S.S. Arkansas in January, 1942. He stayed with the Arlcie for a year, before joining the Bunker Hill's pre-commis- sioning detail in the Hull Department. He transferred to the Engineers in September, 1943, and was first a junior ofiicer in the division he took over from Williams. The A Division junior ofiicers included: Lieutenant Cjgj Stan R. Gabert, a one-time Appleton, Wisconsin, barrister and a plank- owner, and W. A. Sottung, who arrived from Joisey via Penn State and a YMS oper- ating out of New York. Former division j.o's who have been transferred to other duties , . -,. .... ,..-,-.................- .. , .-..-...,.............-Q I ,,:..........-i-,-TM...,...,.,--N,-qw-ww. Y, A f I