Henrico (APA 45) - Naval Cruise Book

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POST WAR LET UP KFRONTJ THE WAR IS OVER KBACKJ

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Subject Action Report U S S HENRICO CAPA-455 dated Classifiication SECRET CDeclassiiiedQ 2 April 1945 0811 Anchored in Southern Anchorage Kerama Retto after return from night retirement Standing by with float- ing reserve as before ' 23 April 1945 ' ' ' 1550 1700 1710 1741 1823 1828 1836 1838 1845 1900 2100 2250 2330 Underway to night retirement. Standing by in area George awaiting signal to get underway for night retirement. Underway from area tceorgev to night retirement. OTC and formation guide in the U.S.S. CHILTON CAPA-385 in convoy position 31. This vessel in posi- tion 11. Base course 1800 true, standard speed 12 knots. Changed course to 1350 true. Air alert Flash Blue, Control Yellowi' was received via TBS from OTC, at this time gun crews were alerted by the control oiiicer. Unidentified planes were observed and reported as bearing 1350 relative, 2700 true, distance about seven miles. A twin-engined bomber Francis emerged from the clouds and approached this vessel. An Army 40mm set up at the starboard side of No-. 1 Hatch opened fire on the plane, expending 25 rounds. No. 9 20mm located on the signal bridge, starboard side, opened fire but expended only 10 rounds. Plane crashed on the starboard, side of the bridge deck at frame 96. U.S.S. HOBSON CDM-265 standing by to render assistance. U.S.S. SUFFOLK CAKA-695 standing by to assist and take this vessel in tow. All fires were under control. Attempted to get vessel underway under own power but was -unable to, due to salt water damage to gen- erators and auxiliaries due to leakage from fire main and fire fighting. Taken in tow by the U.S.S. SUFFOLK CAKA-695 proceeding to Kerama Retto anchorage. 1

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ft i1 CAPTAIN J . B. WILLIAMS, USN, relieved CAPTAIN WILLIS on 27 .Iune 1945. When her repairs were completed in July 1945, HENRICO proceeded once again to Leyte to prepare for further Amphibious operations. It was at Leyte that news of the surrender of Japan and the end of World War II reached HENRICO. From January to May 1946 the ship partici- pated in Operation MAGIC CARPET, the monu- mental task of returning the, veterans of War home to the United States. During June, July and August 1946 the ship operated in support of Operation CROSSROADS, the historic Atomic Bomb tests conducted at Bikini Atoll. Following Operation CROSSROADS HENRICO returned to the operational control of Commander Am ph1b1ous Force U S Pacific Fleet and deployed to the Western Pacific as the flagship of Com mander Amphibious Group THREE On 4 J anu ary 1947 CAPTAIN E S Von KLEECHK USN relieved CAPTAIN WILLIAMS as Commanding Officer Returning to the United States in September 1947, the ship entered the Long Beach Naval Shipyard for regular overhaul. With overhaul completed in November 1947, HENRICO served as the flagship of Commander Amphibious Group ONE and participated in various am- phibious exercises in the San Diego area. CAPTAIN F. P. TIBBITS, USN relieved CAP- TAIN Von KLEECHK as Commanding Officer on 12 April 1948. July 1948 found HENRICO again deployed to the Western Pacific and operating off the coast of Tsingtao, China until February 1949 when she returned personnel and equipment of the 5th Marines to San Diego. 7 7 ' ' 7 l - , . . , . 1:Q121221Q.Lz3::Q:Q:Q:g:Qi:1Lg1g1Q1QLQ4lgL'ig1Q2Qi:Q3iiQg:g:1:2:3322121331312134Eigiqlslgizlzigbzl312:33Q.2.11QaQi:ll:Lg':44ggQ'ig11QqIg'Qzizliztzggiglelz'silll:li:2:f:lf'f2z5:::-1-3.11':Q:Q:L:S15ggi:g:5511,