Cabot (CVL 52) - Naval Cruise Book

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OPERATICJN GRAND SLAM We left Naples and proceeded to Oran, exercising at flight quarters ,en route. On Wednesday, February 27 the CABOT, with her screening destroyers, sortied from Oran to participate in the largest combined operation ever scheduled by the North At- lantic Treaty Nations. Warships of Italy, France, Great Britain and the United States worked together to clear the lnland Sea of enemy submarines and to convoy munitions and supplies to our for- ces. For eight days the Mediterranean contained the heaviest international naval concentration since World War ll. - The IRON LADY was the command ship of Hunter- Killer Group 3. With around-the-clock air operations, she protected merchant convoys enroute from Gibraltar to Naples. During this week the planes of VS-24 and the escort destroyers flushed out several submarines. ln one action our American pilots, protecting an ltalian convoy screened by British corvettes, were recalled and turned a contact over to an English patrol plane. Needless to say, the convoy got through safely. On the fourth of March, we rendezvoused with the Fast Carrier Force for Phase ll. By providing anti-submarine coverage, we freed planes fromthe large carriers for strikes against the continent. That same day, the CABOT'S guppies, working in close co-operation with destroyers, did so well that in the Commodore's report was the phrase . . . never When Grand Slam ended, red hot Hunter-killer Group 3 had set a remarkable record. ComSixthFleet sent his' praise: Well done. Proceed as directed . 43,000th landing-the first day: The CABOT landed her 43,000th plane, to keep the fleet record had it so good. l The lucky crew-left to right, L. Bartels, AN, Ltjg Arthur Stewards Arthur England and Oscar Davis present cake g E. Straus, R. Q. Bishop, AT3 .1 '-.f, 'if T. ,.. - , . W. i-,.,y,':i',i.. ,i,V,.,,- .' .4 .I-,,, i., , , . t . . baked in honor of the feat ' li 1 H' ii 'lf ifli. '.. -.--' ,

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,,.......--1 The londing Gt Villetronche VILLEFRANCHE Remember Nice? . . . ond Villetronche, our lost liberty port? Someone once soid thot Villetronche wos like no other port they hod ever visited-no worehouses or dirty steomers . . .no sound of donkey engines, no smell of diesel oil or spices, The pink tile roots ot the town ond the postel wolls of the villos in the hills oround the boy looked olmost unreol os the CABOT ond the destroyers onchored eorly on Morch 6. To the north behind the town were the green foothills ot whot the French coll the Moritime Alps. ln the distonce Mount Lenzo still hod snow on its peok. W' 37 , kit 'N X .W l lf et Hllll' r 1. .in VP M . - W. 0 ' : To the west,' protecting the port like o long green orm, wos Cop Jeon Ferrot, where King Leopold ot Belgium, Som- erset Moughom ond others of the titled ond weolthy of Europe hove their summer villos. The French Riviero . . . where heorts ore won ond tor- tunes lost. Nice with its fomous polm-lined boordwolk'. . . the Promenade des Anglois . . . the beoutitul hotels over- looking the beoch . . . the Ruhl, the Continentol, l-lotel Royole ond others. The clubs . . . the Cosino, the Plontotion, the Hovono, the Monte Cristo.