Greenwich Bay (AVP 41) - Naval Cruise Book

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LCDR W. W. LAPE Operations Officer LT R. L BLEAKLEY Ass ' t operations Officer LT C H. ILEY Chaplain LT F. W. LUX Engineering Officer HP J B LT R. N. GLASGOW 1 r ' Officer p LT E. L NEIGHBORS, JR. V m i 5 Gunnery Officer and First Lieutenant j K Wf LT L H. ELLER Supply Officer LTJR R. W. GRIFFITHS Navigator

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l kSHI) • • • I USS GREENWICH BAY (AVP 41) Length 310 feet Displacement . . . 2800 tons Launched ... 17 March 1945 Commissioned . . 20 May 1945 Th« small seaplane tender USS Greenwich Bay was the 2Sth «nd lait ihip of its clan. Built at the Lake Washington Shipyards, Moughton, Washington, she sird into the waters oF Lake Washington on 17 March I9A5. She was commissioned on 20 May 1945. The ship completed its shakedown training shortly before the Pacific phase of World War 1 1 came to and end. In late August the ship headed for Okinawa by way of Mawai! for duty with Commander Air Force, Pacific Fleet. From October, 1945 to April, 1946 the ship engaged in a heavy schedule of seaplane operations In Chinese, Japanese and Philippine waters. On I May 1946, the Greenwich Bay departed Manila for Norfolk for duly with Commander Air Force, Atlantic Fleet stopping at Mong Kong, Singapore, Colombo, Alexandria, Naples, Gibraltar and Casablanca enroute. The ship arrived at Norfolk on | July 1946. The GB escorted the President ' s yacht USS Williamsburg to Florida in March, 1947. In February and March, I94S the ship again escorted the President ' s yacht. During this cruise to the Caribbean the acted as a mobile base For newsmen. From July to October, 1948 the GB was on a round-the-world cruise calling on Mediterranean, Persian Gulf and Southern Asia ports, returning to Norfolk by way of the Panama Canal, On 25 October 1946, Captain T. P. Wilson relieved Captain W. 5. Butts as commanding officer. During the first part of November the ' ship tended seaplanes at Jacksonville, Florida. Returning to Norfolk in late November, the ship was fitted out as flagship For the Persian Gulf areas, including air conditioning to withstand the high temperature and humidity in the Middle East. On 30 April 1949 the Greenwich Bay departed Norfolk for the Persian Gulf where she relieved the USS Duxbury Bay as Flagship For the Commander, Persian Gulf area While serving as flagship the GB made calls throughout the Persian Gulf and Southwest Asia areas. On 2 October 1949, the USS Valcour relieved the GB ai Flagship for Commander, Middle East Force (Formerly Commander, Persian Gulf area). On this same date Captain R. R. Briner reported abroad as relief for Captain Wilson. The ship visited Athens and Gibraltar enroute to Norfolk arriving on I November 1949. Operation Portrex and Csribex followed in early 1950 and the ship again headed for the Persian Gulf. CoMidEastFor shifted his command from the Duxbury Bay at Aden on 4 June 1950 and the ship departed for the Persian Gulf arriving at Bahrein on 10 June. On 13 and 15 June, boats From the GB were sent In search of survivors of crashed aircraft belonging to Air France. Three bodies were recoverd on the 13 June search and nine survivors were rescued from the 15 June crash. The GB arrived back in Norfolk on 31 October 1950 where Captain M. B. Williams relieved Captain Briner as commanding officer. On 5 March 1951 the ship again leFt Norfolk For the Middle East stopping enroute at Golf Juan, France. On 4 April the GB arrived at Bahrein Island on the Persian Gulf On 1 1 April at Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia the Commander, Middle East Force moved his command From the Duxbury Bay. nonths From April to August were spent In visiting the various Persian GulF ports Including Sharja, Mens al Ahmadi, Kuwait, Ras Tanura and Bahrein. A short trip to Muscat was made in late May. During August e made at Karachi, Pakistan and Bombay, India. Calls in the Persian GulF continued during r Admiral R. E. Rose relieved Rear Admiral W, D. Felt as Commander, Middle East Force at Bahrein on J. i ctober. Two days later the ship leFt for Norfolk by way of Massawa, Eritrea, where the flag shifted to the Duxbury Bay. Stops In the Mediterranean included Genoa, VIlleFranche, France and Gibraltar. The ship arrived at Norfolk on 9 November 1951. The 8 al A :ourte5y calls September. Bahrein on 2 October.

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r LTje J. C. ROHRBAU0H Administrative Officer ■ M ENS J. W. HUTTON Ass ' t Communications Officer S. LTJG E. C. ZULAUF Communications Officer ENS J. L MC LAY Ass ' t Gunnery Officer LTJG J. E. CALLOWAY, JR. Medical Officer CHPCLK C. DAVIS Ass ' t Supply Officer ENS J. F. SCHELL Ass ' t Engineering Officer BOSN G. E. GORDY Ass ' t First Lieutenant