Curtiss (AV 4) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 16 text:

J Late on the day of 21 June 1945, the CURTISS was struck by a Kamikaze and its 1,000 lb. bomb. The delayed-action bomb passed through the deck of the ship and exploded in the heart of the CURTISS above a bomb stowage magazine which miraculously failed to detonate. The suicide plane struck the ship on the starboard side amidships at an estimated speed of 400 mph. The engine, part of the tail assembly, and the heavy bomb ripped through the skin of the ship, opening two gaping holes and exploding on the number 3 deck. The terrific explosion wiped out the sick-bay spaces, together with the warrant officers ' messroom, sev- eral staterooms, officer ' s galley, pantry and library. In the inferno thirty-five (35) men died and twenty-one (21 ) were wounded. Choking smoke gushed from the damaged area and flames licked through four decks above the point of the explosion. Fire mains and sprinkler systems in the blasted area were ruptured and the fire-fighting crews had to bring emergency extin- guishing equipment into use. CURTISS ' executive officer took prompt ac- tion and organized and directed all fire-fighting and damage control parties. All fires were out of con- trol and there was imminent danger of flames reaching the bomb stowage magazine, the upper ammunition handling rooms and adjacent maga- zines. It soon became apparent that a great volume of water would be needed to bring the fires under control. Two salvage vessels and two ocean tugs came alongside to assist. They were the USS SHACKLE, USS CHICKASAW, USS ARA 73, and USS ATA 124. These small ships, under grave danger from threatened explosions in the CURTISS ' maga- zines, remained alongside for more than an hour pumping heavy streams of water into the burning compartments. USS SHACKLE sent a combat fire team aboard to cut their way with torches into a compartment in which an uncontrolled danger- ous fire was burning. When the fires were under control, the ship ' s force, with little rest, turned to in order to clear away the debris and pump out the flodded com- partments and magazines. A service force repair crew then came aboard and welded a boilerplate patch on the five by eight foot gash in the ship ' s hull. That same day the CURTISS was ready to sail. Four days later the ship departed for Saipan for additional repairs. From Saipan, she sailed to Guam and in mid-July continued on to Pearl Har- bor. The end of that month the CURTISS was enroute to San Francisco leaving the Second World War to history. Her last war wounds were repaired at Mare Island, Navy Yard. In November 1945, with the termination of World War II, the CURTISS rejoined the Fleet in the Western Pacific. For her role on the Asiatic- Pacific Theatre of this conflict, the USS CURTISS (A ' V-4) earned seven battle stars for participating in the following operations: Pearl Harbor and Midway — 7 December 1941 Guadalcanal and Tulagi Landings — 7 to 9 August 1942 Capture and Defense of Guadalcanal — 10 Aucust 1942 through 8 February 1943 Santa Cruz Islands — 2 6 October 1942 Consolidation of the Solomon Islands — 8 February 1943 through 9 June 1943 Gilbert Islands Operation — 1 3 November 1943 through 8 December 1943 Assault and Occupation of Okinawa — 22 May 1945 through 25 June 1945 From 20 December 1945 through 8 March 1947, the CURTISS served in the Western Pacific under the operational control of the Commander Seventh Fleet. During this period she engaged in a number of Fleet exercises, operated with patrol squadrons in the Formosa Strait, ferried men and supplies to outlying bases, and made several visits to Tsingtao on the China Mainland. Durins this tour of duty on the Western Pacific in July 1946, CDR T. CUNNINGHAM, USN, relieved CAPT H. C. DO AN, USN. as Command- ing Officer. He in turn was relieved in July 1947 by CAPT H. R. NIEMAN, Jr.. USN. In April 1947, the CURTISS returned to Sai Diego, its home port. During the subsequent two years she operated off the California Coast parti- cipating in a number of fleet and training exer- cises. October 1947, found the CURTISS in the ship- yard at San Francisco. While there, all single 20MM anti-aircraft guns and mounts were re- placed by six 20MM twin batteries. In addition, the ship underwent modifications and ship altera- tions specified by CJTF 7, as recommended by the Atomic Energy Commission. Many spaces, deck fixtures and fittings were configurated for stowage of scientific equipage. In July 1948, CAPT E. J. DREW, USN, re- lieved CAPT H. R. NIEMAN, Jr.. USN. as Com- manding Officer. The winter of 1949 found the CURTISS en route to Alaskan Water as a unit of the First Fleet, in company with the USS BOXER (CVA 21), USS DULUTH (CL 87) and a number of de- stroyers and amphibious craft. CURTISS was the flagship for Commander, First Fleet. Anchor was let go at Kodiak on 1 1 February 1949. After three weeks participation in amphibious cold weather operations, undertaken in order to evaluate cold weather equipment, the CURTISS returned to San Diego. During the summer of 1949, the CURTISS again became flagship for the Commander, First Fleet, during which time it maneuvered with an Amphibious Task Force in Exercise MICKEY. This exercise was a joint Army-Navy operation. The scope of the e.xercise included a firing demon-

Page 15 text:

THE FATEFUL SUNDAY-7 DECEMBER 1941 Map showing the disposition o( the fleet at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1 941 .

Page 17 text:

stration, a joint amphibious assault on hostile beaches in the Seattle area, followed by a with- drawal and tactical re -embarkation. Shortly after the advent of the Korean Conflict in June 1950, CAPT A. C. PERKINS, LISN, re- lieved CAPT E. J. DREW, USN, as Commanding Officer. Three weeks later in July, the CURTISS sailed from San Francisco for Japan. The CUR- TISS arrived in Yokosuka the later part of July 1950, and became a unit under the operational control of the Commander, Seventh Fleet. During the following five months the ship patrolled in the Korea Strait, operating from bases at Iwakuni and Kure. During this period she tended two PBM- Mariner Patrol Squadrons a nd a squadron of Brit- ish Sunderlands operating over Korean territory. During the Korean War the CURTISS never came under enemy fire nor did it participate in anv amphibious assaults. In December 1950, the CURTISS weighed anchor at Yokosuka and set sail for San Fran- cisco. The CURTISS arrived at Hunter ' s Point on 14 January 1951. During the following six weeks the ship underwent further modifications and ship al- terations specified by CJTF 7. On 23 February 1951, the CURTISS set sail from San Francisco for Eniwetok in the Marshall Islands. The ship anchored at Eniwetok Atoll on 8 March 1951, as a unit of Task Force 7.3, for participation in Operation GREENHOUSE. Dur- ing this operation the CURTISS was flagship for CTF 7.3. Atomic tests were conducted durmg Operation GREENHOUSE and the CURTISS was home to a staff of civilian and military tech- nicians. In addition, the CURTISS provided shop, laboratory and stowage space for scientific equip- ment. The ship also provided meteorological infor- mation and operated a boat pool for the Task Force. Upon the termination of Operation GREEN- HOUSE, the CURTISS set sail on 27 May 1951, and arrived in San Diego on 13 June, after brief layovers at Pearl Harbor and San Francisco. Shortly thereafter, on 13 July 1951, CAPT D. J. WELSH, USN, relieved CAPT A. C. PERKINS, USN, as Commanding Officer. For the next fourteen months the CURTISS operated in the San Diego area, participating in a number of fleet and training exercises. On 12 July 1952, CAPT D. J. WELSH, USN was re- lieved as Commanding Officer by CAPT J. HUL- ME, USN. On 29 September 1952, the CURTISS again set sail for Eniwetok. Enroute she was flagship for RADM C. W. WILKINS, USN, CTG 132.3. The ship arrived at Eniwetok Atoll, for participation in Operation IVY, on 12 October 1952. During the next two months the CURTISS actively en- gaged in tests of experimental atomic devices at the Atomic Proving Ground, Eniwetok Atoll. Dur- ing this period she was a Unit of JTF 132. While participating in this operation, the CURTISS pro- vided berthing, messing and shipboard assembly facilities for a part of TU 132.1.4, evacuated per- sonnel and equipment during shot phases, assumed various radar guards, and provided meteorolog- ical services to the Task Force. The CURTISS departed the Marshall Islands and arrived in San Diego on 4 December 1952, for several months of leave and upkeep. Shortly thereafter, on 2 April 1953, the ship sailed to Pearl Harbor for overhaul. Upon return to San Diego on 23 July 1953, CAPT R. E. JONES, USN, relieved CAPT J. HULME, USN, as Commanding Officer. During the period from 6 November through 9 November 1953, the CURTISS and its crew made a training and good will visit to Acapulco, Mexico. During the two months following the ship ' s return to San Diego from Acapulco, preparations were made for participation in the next atomic tests. Shortly thereafter, on 10 January 1954, the CURTISS sailed for Eniwetok. Enroute to the Marshall Islands, the CURTISS served as flagship for RADM H. C. BRUTON, USN, CTG 7.3. It served in a similar capacity from 6 March to 14 May. Anchor was let go at Eniwetok Atoll on 24 January 1954. Thereafter, the CURTISS was a Task Element and Unit of JTF 7 during Operation CASTLE. For the next four months the CURTISS participated in tests of experimental atomic and thermo-nuclear devices at the proving ground. The mission and services provided by the ship during this operation were similar to that performed during Operation IVY. The CURTISS weighed anchor at Eniwetok Atoll on 13 May 1954, and arrived in San Diego on 28 May. Two months later CAPT J. H. KUHL, USN, relieved CAPT R. E. JONES, USN, as Commanding Officer on 14 July 1954. During the next eight months the CURTISS operated in the San Diego area with the excep- tion of two short cruises. For the period 27 through 30 July, the ship served as a training unit for the indoctrination of General Line School stu- dent officers at Monterey. During a later period, from 14 through 19 September, the CURTISS remained moored at Mare Island in order to par- ticipate in the centennial celebrations at that Navy Yard. During this visit the ship held open house and was host to over 5,000 visitors. In November and December 1954, the CUR- TISS visited the Navy Shipyard at Hunter ' s Point for six weeks. There she had her No. 41, 40mm anti-aircraft guns and director, and Nos. 51 and 52, 5 38 caliber single guns and mounts re- moved from the area forward on the 01 and 02 levels. In their place a helicopter landing platform was constructed three feet above the 02 deck level and extending from the forecastle aft to the superstructure.