Curtiss (AV 4) - Naval Cruise Book

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Administration k LT. CDR. OMER GETZ Personnel Officer, Navigator LT. ROBERT M. THOMPSON Administrative Asst., Educational LT. R. L. CRABTREE Chaplain, Library, Public Information Officer CWO. STANLEY M. BOUIS Aircraft Services Officer Asst. Transportation Officer

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March 1955 found the CURTISS as flagship for VADM W. K. PHILLIPS, USN, Commander First Fleet, during Operation SURFBOARD. This operation was a joint Army-Navy amphibious assault on the San Simeon Area ninety miles south of Monterev, California. Durine this operation the CURTISS was a unit of CTF 12, under the com- mand of RADM A. E. JARRELL, USN. The CURTISS maneuvered in company with 50 ships of the Amphibious Assault Force durina SURF- BOARD and participated in the amphibious as- sault landing of 6,000 troops of the Regimental Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division at San Simeon Bav on 22 March 1955. In April ' 1955, the CURTISS reported to CTG 7.3 for operational control and on 5 May 1955, sortied independently from North Island as a Task Unit of CTG 7.3. The ship ' s destination, some- where in the Eastern Pacific; its mision, to partici- pate in Operation WIGWAM. After joining up with the main body of the Task Group, the CURTISS became flagship for RADM C. B. Momsen, USN, CJTF 7, who came aboard the CURTISS on 9 May 1955, by high-line trans- fer from a destroyer. The role of the ship during Operation WIGWAM was similar to that which it played during previous participation in atomic tests. The CURTISS returned to San Diego after Operation WIGWAM on 17 May 1955. Shortly thereafter, the ship set sail for Pearl Harbor, arriving at the Yard there early in June 1955. On 15 June 1955, during this yard period. CDR J. C. Lawrence, USN, relieved Capt. J. H. Kuhl, USN, as the Commanding Officer. He in turn was re- lieved by Capt. B. L. Bailey, USN, the present Commanding Officer, on 15 July 1955. The CURTISS returned to San Diego on 14 September 1955. A few weeks later during the period 11 through 13 October, the ship again served as a training unit for the indoctrination of General Line School student officers at Mon- terey. The new year of 1956 began with a new Execu- tive Officer. Cdr. J. C. Lawrence, USN, was re- lieved by Cdr. M. B. Jackson, USN. The first sev- eral weeks were given over to underway training and preparation for a trip to Acapulco. Mexico. January 19 through the 30th the ship cruised to Acapulco and returned to San Diego. February presented the opportunity for further training, pleasures, and problems. On 1 7 February the CURTISS, in keeping with popular demand and COMAIRPAC instructions had a one-day guest cruise out of San Diego. The guests ' cruise was highly successful in giv- ing families the opportunity to come on board and observe the work their husbands and fathers were doing in the ship. On 24 February the ship left San Diego for an unwelcomed but necessary ' emer- gency yard period in Long Beach and remained there until 16 March when she returned to San Diego.

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