Essex (CVA 9) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 27 text:

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Page 26 text:

The Air Task Group is qualihed the spud locker is Full and thell December 2, IQ53, Found us ready, it not willing, to get underway. A meager crowd ot Families, Friends and well-wishers were on hand to blow a last kiss, to throw a last wave ot Farewell .... Most ot us had said goodby at home .... At IOOO sharp, the last line was cast ott and the brave smiles ot our wives grew dim as our eyes grew misty .... Some orc us stayed on deck to watch and wave until nothing but the outline orc Point Loma could be seen. The cruise had begun.

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.,k. UNDERWAY .... l i ll v br V l For seven days we Followed the sun Westward .... Our thoughts still with those we lerct behind. Two thousand miles across the wide Pacific, we paus- l I 1. ,. ed For extensive air operations in preparation For the OIQI. The ship and air group were rusty .... i The pilots and handling crews had not reached the perfection that would come later. . ,. . We learned, though, the hard way .... Wave-oliiis were common... Planes low on Fuel were sent to nearby Barber's Point where Low State was heard all too Frequently .... The only outstanding part oi: the training was our spirit .... After all .... a new crew can't be assimilated overnight. LZ if if if 'fi F if