Chandeleur (AV 10) - Naval Cruise Book

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LAYING THE KEEL

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The Tale of a Modern Mariner It is said that the life of a ship begins when her keel is laid. The keel of the U. S. S. CHANDELEL ' R was laid at 1615 on 29 March 1941 by the Western Pipe and Steel Co. of San Francisco, California. At 1343 on 19 November 1941 she slid down the ways, sponsored by Mrs. W. T. Thea, wife of Rear Admiral THEA, USCG. One year later to the day on 19 November 1942, after successful trial runs had been made the U. S. S. GHANDELEUR was officially accepted for the Navy Department by Captain A illiam SINTON, U. S. N. who, at the same time, took over as her first Commanding Of- ficer. For those who sailed aboard her it will be interesting to note that the CHANDELEUR was named for Chandeleur Sound which, with the islands of the same name is located off the coast of Louisiana, north of the Mississippi River delta. The Sound was discovered on 2 February 1699 — Candlemas Day, and so was named Chandeleur, French for Candlemas. EARLY DAYS OF THE AV-IO After her commissioning the CHANDE- LEUR started on a series of cargo runs which carried her twice to HAWAII and the NEW HEBRIDES ISLANDS. It was seven and one-half months after going into commission before the AV-10 did any seaplane tending. However, the fact that the CHANDELEUR was doing her part in the war effort is testified by a mailgram received from Com Air So Pac congratulating the ship on her co-operation and by a personal letter received by Captain SINTON from Admiral TOWERS, Com Air Pac. It may be of interest to note that on 14 Feb- ruary 1943, at Apia, British Samoa, many months before PBXI ' s were commonly in use by the Navy in the Pacific, the CHANDE- LEUR hoisted aboard a damaged PBM-3R for transportation back to the United States. FIRST SEAPLANE OPERATIONS On the Fourth of July, 1943 the U. S. S. CHANDELEUR took over the job for which she was built, tending seaplanes. On that date, at ESPIRITU S. NTO, N. H., VP-71 came aboard and began operations using this vessel as a base. This patrol squadron conducted searches, bombing inissions, and Dumbo oper- ations using fifteen PB ' ' s. .An interesting sidelight on the Solomons Campaign was an incident which took place on 12 January 1944 at G.WUTU H.ARBOR, FLORIDA ISLAND. A New Zealand PBY was taking off and, while making its run, hit an anti-submarine net and tore a large hole in its hull. Boats from the CH.A.NDELEUR were immediately dispatched. When the plane landed it was brought alongside and hoisted aboard. The ship got underway and by maneu- vering in very close to HALAVO BEACH, it was possible to beach the damaged PBY on the seaplane ramp by hoisting it into the water and towing it up on the beach. Thus ended this phase of the CH.ANDE- LEUR ' S seaplane tending career but bigger and more important things were in store for the AV-10. BACK TO THE STATES After the departure of our second PBY patrol squadron, VP-14, the CHANDE- LEUR ' S next job was to make a run up to Bougainville Island ' s CAPE TOROKINA with a load of Marine Airmen. VMF-218, Marine Air Group 11, First Marine Aircraft Wing and VxVISB-244, Marine Air Group 21, Second Marine Aircraft Wing w ' ere our pas- sengers on this trip. This was on the 25th of January, 1944, when BOUGAINVILLE was being bitterly contested. The AV-10 came to anchor at 0659 on 25 January and was under-- way again at 1749 on the same date. The C. O. of the Marines on BOUGAINVILLE pre- sented the ship with a certificate of merit for the effective expediting of this mission. MUNDA in the New Georgia group was the next stop on our cargo run and was fol- lowed by another series of trips between the NEW HEBRIDES and GUADALCANAL. Then came our long awaited orders home back to stateside via Pearl Harbor. The CHANDELEUR passed under the Golden Gate Bridge 21 March 1944 and tied up at the Carrier dock, N. A. S., Alameda to discharge passengers and cargo. March 24, 1944 found us in the yards of General Engineering and Drydock Company, Alameda, for thirty days availability for over- haul and repair. Six days of this time was spent in drydock. After completion of our period of availability in the yard, we made a cargo run between N. S. D., Oakland and Pearl Harbor and returned to Oakland for the final loading for our next assignment overseas.