Columbus (CA 74) - Naval Cruise Book

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he Victor Division is the smallest division aboard the COLUMBUS. The division consists of two pilots and five crewmen for maintenance work on the helicopter. Our duty is only temporary aboard the COLUMBUS, being sent out from HU-2 Lakehurst, New Jersey. Upon completion of each cruise we are sent back for further assignment to other ships in the fleet. In charge of our division is LT R.G. Mellin who is also senior pilot. Our junior pilot is an enlisted man, V.R. Sampair, ADI-AP who is one of the few enlisted helicopter pilots, hfaving full responsibility for the maintenance on the helicopter is the plane captain ' s job. Our plane captain hH.V. Peterson who has a total of twenty-five months aboard the COLUMBUS with different helicopters and crew, also claims that she Is the best ship In the fleet. Under the plane captain ' s supervision are four crewmen consisting of three Aviation Machinists who are J.F. Holland, AD3, C.C. Schllilg, ADAN and C.E.F. Farek, ADAN, also one Aviation Electronlcsman J. P. Kovacs, AT2. Maintenance consists of repairing any minor trouble, to complete helicopter overhaul. Our duties aboard ship consist of delivering guard mail, plane guard for carriers, gun spotting, anti sub patrol, mine spotting, and last but not least personnel transfer. Our passengers vary from military personnel to royalty. The COLUMBUS, being one of the pioneers to prove the windmill ' s usefulness to the fleet, has done so. The windmills are here to stay and the sound of Flight Quarters Is now a major operation. So heads up and stand clear, the rotor blades have never lost a battle yet. OLRlGHT, f)LH QHT FORQOl

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V AR A r n he Marine Detachment, the security guard of the illustrious COLUMBUS, although not the largest division on the ship, has m ade its presence well known. When ever you see the Skipper or the Exec you will usually see Whitman or Lettrich following close behind. A walk past the brig and Shanoian is sure to be around, or a visit from a high official and the honor guard is sure to be there to welcome him aboard. A day of drone or sleeve firing will find mounts 32 and 33 fully manned by Marines. For some of the detachment this was the first cruise to the Med. but for the salts like 1ST LT Englehart TOP SGT Fluharty and S SGT Barlow it was a familiar sight as we pulled into the different ports. Others, like CAPT Wickham, SGT Torti, and GPL Dubree, are boots of the Med, although they are certainly salts of the Pacific and the Orient. But even as boots the detachment has made quite a name for itself serving as orderlies for ADM McCormick on Operation Mainbrace . The experience we ga ined with Admiral McCormick assured our officers CAPT Wickham and LT Englehart that the detachment could cope with any situation that confronted it. When the COLUMBUS became the flagship for Admiral Cassady, Commander Sixth Fleet, the detachment was due for many inspections from dignitaries of the various countries which we visited. It is with great pride that we tell of the many compliments we received for being a sharp outfit. We were greatly honored to have Admiral Cassady at the celebration of the Marine Corps ' I 77th birthday observed at sea during Operation Longstep . We are also proud of the division ' s talents. We have PFC Bobo, our own Eddy Arnold, who took first place in the ' Happy Hour that the ship presented while In Sicily. We also have PFC Willis, the Billy Eckstine of the Med, who sings with the ship ' s combo. The whole detachment will agree that the liberty was good, the different countries were exciting, and the scenery was memorable. Although no man is sure how long he will be with the ship, we are sure that he is proud to have served with a fine ship, the USS COLUMBUS.