Essex (CVA 9) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 29 text:

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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

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The ESSEX was honored to have titteen civilian guests ol: the Secretary oi: the Navy ride with us on the First leg ot our cruise to Westpac. This outstanding group ot business men From various parts ot the U. S., representatives ol: widely diversified business and social groups, joined the ship prior to her departure From San Diego. Eor a Few, it was the First trip to sea and For all it was the First voyage on a Navy combatant vessel. They were to observe the 3,000 men ol: the ESSEX, From LL8 states and possessions, work together as a team and think as one man. During Fair weather and Foul, they witnessed the training and drills. They surveyed the engineers in the boiler rooms under steaming and mock battle conditions. They saw the men that cooked and served their meals become ammunition passers and gun crews during general quarters.