Independence (CVA 62) - Naval Cruise Book

Text from Pages 1 - 368 of the 1966 volume:

4ic ' Join the Navy and see the world These words from a half forgotten recruiting poster flashed across my mind a mixture of anxiety and expectation as Pier 12 and Norfolk faded into the horizon last June 13. INDEPENDENCE, was underway, and she and I, as one of her 4,000 crewmembers, would sail nearly 50,000 miles and call at ports in a dozen lands before we saw Norfolk again. But for the c arrier sailor the seven seas are his home and for the next seven months the Mediterranean was mine. Those seven months were long months, months filled with flight operations, watches, underway replenishments and a hundred drills of every description. And still I had to find time to study for the advancement examination, and time to wait in the inevitable lines-for chow, for pay and even for a haircut. Moments of repose were few, but my ear soon learned the bugle ' s call to mail and liberty. Mail Call: A moment with a loved one half a world away. Liberty Call: See the sites, maybe a few beers but most of all-relax. See the world I did. Istanbul, Rome, Barcelona, the French Riviera, Beirut and Genoa. There was St. Peter ' s, the Blue Mosque, the Monastery of Monserrat, and the ruins of Pompeii, but the mail brings news of home and loved ones. Next port: Norfolk, U.S.A. I have met many peoples, learned many things; I have gained a wider understanding of others and hopefully they have gained through me, the American sailor, a wider understanding of America and our way of life. This was 1966 from the cold of winter to the heat of a Caribbean summer... Zl J This Is My Ship INDEPENDENCE, 1966 NAME: RANK: DIVISION: DATES TO REMEMBER: For six months, INDEPENDENCE, operated from her homeport, Pier D, Naval Station, Norfolk. During this time, while we operated off the east coast and in the Caribbean, our crew completed numerous training exercises and our pilots logged the many launches and landings necessary to maintain their carrier qualifications. I -■-rwfcj  wwiKfli t, But, the weather had its say during the winter, and as a result some of our aircraft attained an unusual qualification-melting ice off the flight deck! Then, in February, we entered the Norfolk Naval Shipyard for five weeks of minor, yet important, repairs. As Spring approached the tempo increased as preparations were made for the annual Admin Inspection and our June deployment to the Mediterranean. But still we had time for division parties and shipboard variety shows. I think we will all remember Sing Out - ' 66 as one of the best. V.I.P. ' s At home or deployed, in port or at sea, the Big I and her crew entertain hundreds of V.I.P s--military, government, business and community leaders from around the world. In April and May we had two special cruises for two very important groups. JCOC First was the Joint Civilian Orientation Cruise. It was the first leg of a tour for more than a hundred community leaders who would see Army, Navy and Air Force installations across the nation. r . Family Day Cruise But, the second was the one I enjoyed. The Family Day Cruise gave all of us a chance to bring our wives, children and parents aboard to acquaint them with carrier operations, and become acquainted they did--from engine rooms to Pri Fly , from galley operations to flight operations -- our families saw all of INDEPENDENCE. VTOL Our last notable visitor before leaving home was a stranger indeed. Fantastic wa9 my reaction as the Kestrel or Vertical Take Off and Landing jet hovered over the flight deck of INDEPENDENCE. Three days of test flights in late May marked the first time the VTOL had been flown from an attack carrier. June 13 We had one last weekend in port. New shipmates reported aboard and veterans of WestPac left us. When Monday arrived, we said goodbye, reluctantly and sadly, but with some feeling of anticipation. Our Med Cruise 1966 was . . . ± ¥ H! i ? a LNorfolk St Thomas $. Underway... Commander Carrier Division Six RADM Geo. P. Koch Rear Admiral George P. Koch was commissioned as Ensign and received his designation as a Naral Aviator in 1934. His first tour after completion of flight training was aboard the cruiser TUSCALOOSA, which was followed by assignments to Torpedo Squad- ron 7, Patrol Squadron 3 and Patrol Bombing Squadron 74. In 1942 and 1943, he commanded Headquarters Squadron 5 and in 1944, after a tour of duty with CINCLANTFLT Staff, assumed command of the sea- plane tender USS HUMBOLT. After the war, RADM Koch served in USS LEYTE; completed the Senior Course at the Naval War College and then was assigned as Executive Officer of Naval Air Technical Training Center, Memphis and subsequently of Naval Station, Kodiak. Between 1953 and 1955 he had assignments to the Staff, Commander Fleet Air Wings Atlantic and the Office of the Chief of Naval Opera- tions. Then, after serving as Commanding Officer, NAS Barbers Point, he reported in 1957 as Chief of Staff to Commander Fleet Air Wing, Quonset. In May 1958 he became Commander Fleet Air Wing 3 and a year and a half later assumed command of NAS Norfolk. Since his promotion to Rear Admiral, he has commanded Carrier Division 18, Fleet Air Wings, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, with additional duty as Commander Fleet Air Wing 5, and in 1963 became Chief of Naval Air Reserve Training. RADM Koch assumed command of carrier Division Six in October 1965. Captain W. E. Clarke Chief of Staff Carrier Division Six 15 Jan 1965 - 22 July 1966 Captain R. N. Miller Chief of Staff Carrier Division Six 22 July 1966 Captain John E. Kennedy Commanding Officer 11 Aug 1965 - 25 Aug 1966 In February 1941, upon completion of flight train- ing. Captain John E. Kennedy was commissioned as Ensign. During the next four years he had tours of duty as a flight instructor, as a member of Torpedo Squadron 5 and in USS INDEPENDENCE (CVL-22). In July 1946, after completing a tour on the NINETEENTH Fleet Staff, Captain Kennedy entered the General Line School, Newport. He was later assigned to the Staff of the Chief of Naval Air Train- ing. In June 1949, he assumed his first command. Attack Squadron 175. Between 1951 and 1955 he spent two years in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, after which he was transferred to Air Development Squad- ron 5 to become Executive Officer and later Acting Commanding Officer. In 1955 he assumed command of Air Task Group 4 and eighteen months later he returned to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. In 1959, after a tour as a student at the NATO Defense College, Paris, he was transferred to the Staff of U.S. Commander-in-Chief, Europe. Captain Kennedy was assigned to the Staff, Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1961 and joined the Staff of Carrier Division 3 in October 1962. In December 1963, he took Command of USS VESUVIUS. Before assuming command of USS INDEPEND- ENCE, Captain Kennedy served on the Staff of Commander Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. Captain John P. Fox Commanding Officer 25 Aug 1966 Captain John P. Fox received his wings and was commissioned as Ensign in December 1941 at NAS Jacksonville, Florida. His first duties were as a flight instructor at NAS, Jacksonville and later at NAS Grosse Isle, Michigan. In June 1943, he joined the Pacific Fleet as a fighter pilot flying from various escort carriers. From Novem- ber 1944 to June 1947 he was attached to Night Composite Squadron 2 and was Officer-in-Charge of night fighter detachments in USS FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT and USS LEYTE. fHis next assignment was at the Naval Intelligence School and Naval Language School after which he was assigned as Assistant Naval Attache, Madrid until 1952. Captain Fox then reported to the Naval Test Center, Patuxent River, Maryland as Test Progress Officer. In 1954 he assumed Command of Fighter Squadron 123 and later was assigned to the Staff of Carrier Division 3. From 1957-1960 Captain Fox attended the Naval War College for a year followed by two years on the Staff. In 1960-1961 he was Executive Officer of USS BON HOMME RICHARD, and on the Staff, Joint Chiefs of Staff. After completing the Stote Depart- ment Senior Seminar in Foreign Policy, he assumed command of USS FORT SNELLING. Prior to taking command of INDEPENDENCE, he wos assigned to the Staff of Commander-in-Chief U.S. Atlantic Fleet. Tj pi § If ' fA II- 1 Captain Sam Rorex, Jr. Executive Officer 21 December 1964-17 March 1966 Captain Jolin E. Hansen Executive Officer 17 March 1966-10 June 1966 Cdr Frederick B. Bromley Executive Officer 10 June 1966 Department Heads Cdr Leonard A. Snead Operations Cdr Norman E. Larsen Navigation Cdr Joseph H. Britton Medical Cdr Charles R. Braley Supply Cdr David E. Gates Weapons Cdr Joseph P. White Air Cdr Charles E. Cowen, Jr. Dental Cdr Nevin L. Rockwell Engineering LCdr David M. Birdsall Communications Tfl The C note sounds, the tempo increases and a huge fighting ship is underway Throughout the ship all hands turn to and the Big ' T ' is ready to deploy an alert, ready and responsive ' Tower for Peace NAVIGATION DIVISION Safe, effective navigation, piloting, positioning for anchoring, qualification of Officers-of-the-Deck and correct protocol in honoring foreign dignitaries are all among the division ' s diverse responsibilities. WDWk Wli OC DIVISION From the scheduling of the C-IA to supervision of aircraft separation in the various traffic patterns around the ship to landing assistance during night flying or bad weather, OC Division performs the functions of shore based Air Traffic Control and Ground Controlled Approach units. From departure clearance to arrival clearance OC keeps an electronic eye on the safety of our aircraft and their crews. V-3 DIVISION From the operation of the mighty aircraft elevators to rolling the huge hangar bay doors the men of V-3, the hangar deck division, move rA. 7 and spot aircraft on the hangar deck and maintain the sprinkler systems, water curtains, foam monitors and conflagration stations so essential to fire safety. r«  - r ' -sM5 ' ■ BWIIIG .::.. J.;liNr P. . .. IflNC ■ — 9 . ' J f.f m m 4B Ct FIRST DIVISION The thirty-ton anchors and the Three R ' s of rearming, refueling and replenishment are only a few of the functions of the 1st Division, one of the numerous divisions in the Weapons Department. U.S. Midshipmen More than sixty Midshipmen spent six weeks aboard the Big I learning all aspects of shipboard routine before returning to the classroom in the fall. Turkish Midshipmen INDEPENDENCE hosted Turkeys top three Midshipmen for a summer orientation cruise and knowledge was reaped by both host and guest from this NATO exchange. B DIVISION Whether the steam drives a catapult as it launches an aircraft or the main engines which thrust the ship through the seas or the generators which furnish all the electric power, the maintenance and operation of the ship ' s eight boilers which generate that steam are the responsibilities of B Division. Be it with flag hoist, flashing light or semaphore flags the men of CS Division are the mechanica eyes of the ship, for theirs is the responsibility for all visual communications, from ship to ship or ship to shore. CS DIVISION 1 % y| ip «l I| I94[ H|k - IIHI ■ SI S-1 DIVISION The mass of materials required to keep INDEPENDENCE in top condition of readiness is enough to stagger the imagination. The men of S-l Division regularly maintain required inventories of the multitude of items necessary to run the ship and they efficiently receive and distribute any item from nuts and bolts to the most mysterious black box. £ in: u H MESS DECK MASTER-AT-ARMS Security is the watchword of the Master-at-Arms and the Mess Deck M.A. Force provides not only peace and tranquility but high standards of cleanliness and smooth, efficient serving of meals as well. Underway . . . ± St Thomas Cannes Pollensa Bay 1 July 1966 USS INDEPENDENCE relieves USS AMERICA Cannes t ' Mr- ' ' wyr It was our first real port and the sights were devastating. The quaint bars, elaborate casinos and the sidewalk cafes were a real pleasure, but it was the bikini clad beaches that I will remember. iiiiMi 111 ;ii- iiiyipHlliiiiafcii niini fi iiiin i l ilW Paris It was but a short trip from the sunny beaches of the Riviera. to this sprawling city on the Seine. The culture and history of France surrounded us. A memorable sight by day at night Paris truly became the . . . City of Light . Carrier Air Wing SEVEN CDR Robert H. Gormley Commander CVW-7 CAG coordinates the operations of the fighter, attack, reconnaissance and radar aircraft which are assigned to Air Wing Seven. His staff collaborates with the ship and squadrons in planning and executing the flight schedule, whether it be ordnance loads, CAP assignments or recovery times. In addition, the guiding lights of the LSO are in the hands of officers of the CAG staff. PRIMARY FLIGHT CONTROL - Flight Operations... the reason for our being. ' ' «« .- ' ■ ' ■ ■■J t itew. r ' SlH Ba V-2 DIVISION The flight deck, during air operations, is a flashing blend of green, blue, yellow, red and brown shirts and it is the green shirted men of V-2 who operate 14928 the catapults, arresting gear and barricade machinery. Indeed, it is they who launch and recover the aircraft. xi:;T::::: f! 1 - -: L. s 1 ' ' f - W DIVISION Not often heard from, but essential just the same, these are our gunners who are also technicians. V-6 IMA Another part of the flight deck team, the blue shirted men of V-6 IMA spend many hours and great effort operating shops and facilities for the maintenance and repair of embarked aircraft, complex aeronautical equipment and the ship ' s C-IA. w ,4i« ff mi s l OA DIVISION A bad turn of weather may not be created by OA Division but a good prognostication is, for these are the intrepid souls who keep a weather eye , as it were, making surface and upper air observations, weather forecasts and oceanographic predictions. m ' W: G DIVISION Keep ' em rolling might well be the motto of G Division for their efforts are bent to the maintenance and operation of all ordnance handling equipment as well as the ship ' s vehicles. Very much at the heart of the Weapons Department, the men of G man the ship ' s magazines and ammunition elevators, stowing and handling all aircraft ordnance. Small arms and the ship ' s saluting battery also belong to G . OP DIVISION From a simple ID photo to those used m pilot briefing, the photographers mates of OP Division process and interpret all types of photography. In addition, the men of lOIC collect and store a myriad of intelligence data. heir occasional resemblance o the comic strip character ' Pigpen . But, the diligence of Vl Division is the primary factor in the effective distribution of the ship ' s potential 280,000 horsepower. M DIVISION The tender loving care requisite to the maintenance and operation of the main propulsion machinery, the main engines, turbines, reduction gears, shafts and bearings, is responsible for N ■ T ' •-4 ¥b S-6 DIVISION Seven types of aircraft require 7000 times 7 spare parts. The men of S-6 are accountable for the procurement and distribution of aviation stores from engines to electron tubes. VF ' 84 CDR Edmund T. Woolridge, Jr. Commanding Officer • l - ' c ■ ' ■■ ' •?■■■■■ ' •■ The Jolly Rogers VF-41 .■ . CDR Lee R. Koetf Commanding Officer THE BLACK ACES 7 Jr. c ■ jr pPI ' H l t i z ' M P J 1 ' H P t T ' Se liillll Hh r K- ii H||H|nHp l HK 1 3 VR jBR| i fc. ' ' ■-. ti.g .„. ' f ' - f VA W-12 Det-62 LCDR E. A. Cooper, Jr. Officer-in-Charge The Batmen iiP i a!. Barcelona ' The City of Discovery ' ' Where Hemingway ' s Death in the Afternoon became a reality and the Spirit of Cervantes lives on, from where Columbus sailed to the New World and we arrived in the Old. I Barcelona, the lovely port of Spanish charm where the bullfights and flamengo dancers, renew picture book impressions of Spain. Before sailing we bought our souvenirs and post cards, then said good-bye to new friends. Underway . . . O Barcelona o Rome -.: ntffer :-= !| 3! : - y jrLij: 5yT- WJIr ' ■ rJLr lip t3i Im |7 P % ir ;i n ikm y h2 - M •_.« ' ' L!r ■- -jfSF ' M ? : V .v rr .. ' r%t : M i L 1 .% V V For a visitor such as I, the strength of Vesuvius and the beauty of the Bay of Naples are vivid memories, but the people of the city seem to have forgotten these in the urgency with which they live each day. Change of Command While we were anchored in the Bay of Naples, Captain Fox relieved Captain Kennedy as commanding officer of INDEPENDENCE. Admiral Ashworth, Commander Sixth Fleet, speaking at the ceremonies, praised the crew ' s efforts over the past year and asked that they give Captain Fox the same whole hearted cooperation. Rome the eternal city ■ ;■ ' ■•«■ i y I was struck by the contrasts between Renaissance cathedrals and sidewalk cafes, between Roman palaces and neon lights. l T .2 Because Rome is so varied, it was something different to each of us--the center of the CathoMc Church, the hub of an ancient empire, the capital of modern Italy. The Daily Routine sometimes fascinating, sometimes tedious, i«Q4 4q286 n but never really routine . Sports. . . In-port or at-sea, athletics were always available to us. ■m V.I.P. ' s (l i -«Mt A few of the many guests who came to see the Big ' T ' at work. Flag Staff Carrier Division SIX Staff, when operating as a Task Force Commander, formulates plans and orders for attack carrier operations; evaluates intelligence data-, and administers, trains and inspects embarked Air Wings and ships assigned to the force. sifflOa ' ■■fWHt 1 j i X DIVISION Processing personnel, records and correspondence, public information, master-at-arms force, religious guidance, the library and legal office, the responsibilities of the Executive Department embrace a wide diversity. Here in X Division we also find the mailmen, the career counselors and the staff of WIND. MARINE DETACHMENT Marines leading a landing party or at sentry posts are, perhaps, more popular conceptions of Marine activities. But instructing in the proper use of small arms or acting as orderlies for the Captain and Exec are no less a part of their shipboard responsibilities. i •I ' i ' - MEDICAL H-DI VISION From the frustrating maintenance of health records or the daily routine of sick call to the exacting re- quirements ofthe pharmacy and the lab to the steady hand and skill of the surgeon, the health and well being of the crew rests with the dedicated officers and corpsmen ofH Division. M DENTAL In much the same fashion, the Dentists and Technicians spend much of their time and effort in the routine of preventive care. But whatever the need, simple or complex, the skill and facilities are at hand. S-2 DIVISION The hours are long - twenty of the twenty-four - and the task prodigious - feeding 4,000 men three squares a day, but to the men of S-2 Division this is merely routine. 2 :: 2 jrmo.REcom S-3 DIVISION smoke shops, small stores and the jewelery and camera stores Man doth not live by bread alone and the men of S-3 fill the need not only for such essential services as barbering, tailoring, cobbling and laundering but they also make available those nicities and comforts like the hobby and t . X ' ' A i3 ImBLii j Irf i Ai ' lr S ' 4 DIVISION Here are the men who regularly bring joy to the hearts of the officers and men of the ship-, the men of the Disbursing office. Call them Croesus; they are the source of all income as well as the ship ' s own bankers. S-5 DIVISION The daily maintenance of more than 230 staterooms is a long step from the formality of a dinner for a visiting dignitary. But. these are only samples of the varied talents and responsibilities of the men of S-5 Division. 1 ts. £ yi ■i Engineering Log Room A DIVISION Extreme essentials, such as the huge emergency power diesels, the evaporators which make our fresh water and the heating and ventilating systems are only a part of the services afforded by the men of A Division. ;S«=f mUk . TJiy H R DIVISION Not only the jacks of many trades, but the masters as well, the various ratings of R Division are ever-ready to assist all other divisions with required repairs. If necessary, they ' ll build what we need. And, in time of emergency, these same men will form the majority of the damage control parties. ] SECOND DIVISION Though sharing with the other deck divisions those Three R ' s of seamanship, the men of 2nd Division have the particular responsibility of the interior quarterdeck and operation of the Highline equipment used in personnel transfers at sea. I)MIIIAL ' S v« LADDEH % Sk j BOAT DIVISION The entire crew relies heavily on the stalwart salts of Boat Division for transportation between ship and beach; for the operation and maintenance of all ship ' s boats is their province. mn 4 205 rv Istanbul Istanbul ' 1 V- ' . ' ■ ' ' f Sf::xsmss3U I was anxious to get ashore; to wander in this oriental mysticism. ve KREDi BANKASI meet new comrades under a friendly flag. gaze at the towering minarets of Constantine and the exotic beauty of St. Sophia. Underway.. -t- - lJ Malta Through its fortress cities and miriad of harbors, it soon became evident to me why this island... r« LlS  -,rr  ! --; %i? -=4. , x. ' i IPS had been invulnerable to attack and a home to the fleets of the Mediterranean for so many years. But, there is more to Malta than ramparts and shipyards. I had the opportunity... to see the monuments to a past era of great wealth and, to meet a people whose livelihood, like ours, is tied to the sea. J H ■ Underway Replenishment «.0V We took on everything from sterile dressings to lOOO-lbs bombs, from orange juice to hydraulic fluids, over li j million tons of supplies during the Med cruise alone. y Whether it was rearming, refueling or manning a working party for vertical rep ' s, replenishment evolutions were an all hands task. 3rd DIVISION Be it with yard and stay rig in port or the Double Burton rigs underway, the shoulders - and backs - of 3rd Division share the load of replenishing - whatever the need. AMNU no I £ DIVISION Considering the multiplicity of generators, lighting circuits, interior communications circuits and the varying demands of power supply to all electrical equipment within the ship, it is a tribute to the men of E Division that the phrase Dropped the load is not commonly heard. iJOyJ H HJPHj r 1 IH k 1 1 fcg li . ' Wi - H i 1 i w Ifl 1 ■ ' • ■ rcBj B B J T Bjj nH! 1 f ' ' K!i|%i Hfi H sy 1 f E Jici Hs H . 1 7 i -4 A 1 fl - _■ H ■ i ss T ' ' 1 I JJB l l i CR DIVISION Whether by radio-teletype, morse code, UHF or VHF radio, CR Division operates and maintains the equipment which is, at all times, the link between the ship and the world surrounding 1 ± 3 C7 Underway Beirut On the eastern shore of the Mediterranean we were greeted by the warm hospitaHty of a friendly city and we again experienced the paradox of the modern west amidst the ancient east. We all spent many pleasant hours at the Canteen provided us by the people of Beirut. We enjoyed the unusual: the centuries old temples of Baalbeck, the crowded bazars, the glitter of a modern city and for some, a brief visit with Anita Eckberg. i ' . I ..dilL M BBH KMf A to.; 4 Pl 1 1 :JW_ iMii t Jerusalem... 1 «jy - - |t ««hn-,ni •1 T - ' -r iV I ' j M B beyond the Gateway ' -■ to the Middle East a few of us were fortunate enough to be able to visit the Holy Land and see f first hand the foundations of Christendom. Underway. The Ham Radio Shack The amateur radio operators, both on board the Big I and in the States, provided a much used and appreciated link to our loved ones. Genoa .the unrivaled center of medival maritime and commercial activity. .?1 lDv S ' i ' WTSfc ,. The wealth and majesty of the city that the Genoese merchant princes left behind has led her to be called Genoa the Proud . Munich We found the Bavarian capital picturesquely dressed in early snowfall. We found too, a warm comradeship over a litre of fine German beer at one of the colorful Brauhauses. Venice 0 t Mi In 1.1 mm The magnificent cathedral of San Marco, the strangeness of canals and gondolas in place of streets and cars intrigued us. Thanksgiving GM DIVISION The sharp eyes and quick reflexes of our aircrews and the big punch of their aircraft are, in some measure, due to the efforts of the men of GM Division. They maintain the high speed target drones as well as the guided missiles. Weapons Department Office If ur 5th DIVISION Our defensive Sunday Punch - the 5 inch fifty-four main battery - is in the capable hands of the 5th Division, together with the associated magazines and handling equipment. The days of manual control of guns are a matter of history and the operation and maintenance of the sophisticated fire control FOX DIVISION equipment used to radar control and compute solutions for the main battery are the tasks of Fox Division. VA ' 75 CDR Robert J. Sample Commanding Officer mr w[ r f ll 1 -- ' . 149949 rr ussmoEFE ' ■ iNAV ' «-■ ; 1 eiQ VMA-324 LT COL Thomas G. Elder Commanding Officer VMA-324 The Vagabonds ■■■■■j ■■||H li fl ■ ■1 ■HI ■B ! ' ' ... 1 Hp HBH Ks ■ H||B IBB V 1 IH Hi V! H f?: ' ■ L ' 1 ■j HHAi HI Ip 0 1 HHft . Wf Bv 1 iM H Lv[ J B HKB|ft|l YJ ' B H 1 H m ' 1 V ' ' i LM P . ' -I 1 M L jBb @! H ■ J L P i lB ' n SMI |h 0 i n J I l ' ifij CT |L y H| P 1 t ' -- .rr mt 1 __m _ HI H H ■l BHH H n ' IK vsk, M 9 I VH HI 1 S B f T vMv i UIIl ) Jg • A H BAi Ml 1 Ml Ml - H . IHk. -f '  i . Bl HflHUjPf tl HBV :± isrt«f ■S aSJffi! ' Canne Barcelona 3 Palma ± Underway Palma The Pearl of the Mediterranean was quiet when we arrived on the last day of November. Though the beaches were barren, the island continued to glow just as the jewel for which it is known. I iniUlliUliiiDnr nn T w B H| HH El S3 H H Kr H - ]3 pB S HI F 7I. ' Jm«HriHBi Hl Underway. . . Carrier Division SIX Cliange of Command On 2 December Rear Admiral V.G. Lambert relieved Rear Admiral G.P. Koch. Merry Christmas 1966 Cannes, France ii ' ' ' K EI 1 W imf •? r K to ' rP Ul Cannes We journeyed back to this international resort city for the holiday season, but her face had changed; gone were the bustling beaches and the chattering sidewalk cafes... and in their place was the spirit and color of Christmas. The French Alps For some of us, there was snow for Christmas and the time to try our new or long unused ski legs. FOURTH DIVISION When big muscle is needed, the men of 4thDivision swing in to action with their Boat and Aviation Crane which is used for inport loading or off loading of such heavy equipment as boats, rtii ' vehicles and aircraft. Between times they share in the more routine deck seamanship common to al I deck divisions. Night Flight Operations Sunset and flight operations continue into the night. The skill of man manipulating machine comes more sharply into focus as daylight retreats. AIR DEPARTMENT OFFICE FLIGHT DECK CONTROL V-1 DIVISION Busy enough during flight ops to shame the proverbial one-armed paperhanger, the men of V-l handle all aircraft J —■ — k IS dl f y jii •■ ' - 1 . sp i ■M on the flight deck and form the firefighting and rescue squads. 0£ DIVISION The maintenance of the multitudinous types of electronic equipment - the radars, the antenna systems, the scopes and repeaters - demands the utmost in versatility and precision and this demand devolves on the able men of OE Division. -. 01 DIVISION Collecting, evaluating and disseminating combat information is the function of the Combat Information Center which is manned by the quick thinking men of 01. tfB The Captain must rely, in no small ' PflH g ' accuracy of their hmMB information for his decisions, be it for pilotage in entering port or action in the face of combat conditions. H S j pj L- ! 1 it l ' BIh I H R ' 1 1 y, f} - Fwf 1 i 1 4 mCL i WL -if ' H ' J fe 1 rt H tf H R _g ' -1!M LCDR David J. Hemmenway Officer in Charge HC-2 ' mam M THE FLEET ANGELS The Landing Party I kept telling the Sergeant, If I had wanted to be a Marine, I ' d have joined the Corps. IS JfS a- U1« Vi 4- ill V-4 DIVISION To Keep ' em flying , the red shirts of V-4 Division must not only service the embarked aircraft with fuel and lubricants but theymust maintain an adequate supply ofthese products and a contamination free fueling system. VA-8G A CDR Charles R. Long Commanding Officer THE SIDEWINDERS RVAH-1 CDR Richard J. Sample Commanding Offi cer m 1 Livorno -A a vast seaport complex from where we had the opportunity to visit... Florence The capital of Renaissance culture imbued each of us with an essence of The Agony and The Ecstasy that was Michangelo ' s. Pisa A few miles from Florence is nestled the charming city of Pisa and the incredible leaning tower. KiA Thinking Back When Pier 12 again becomes our port-of-call, we will have accomplished much. We will have seen the Mediterreanan from Gibraltar to Beirut. A long list of statistics will attest to the fact that we have been gone for a long time and have worked long hours. The ship will have steamed over 50,000 miles, the Air Wing will have flown over 17,000 hours, millions of gallons of fuel will have been burned and thousands of tons of stores will have been consumed. But, the real accomplishment cannot be measured in numbers. Rather, it is the sense of well being that each of us has in the knowledge that we have been successful. We have performed well, and in so doing, we have not been called upon to do more than be ever alert. Each of us has sacrificed much to provide our families and our country with the comforts of freedom. But, let us remember with honor and pride our shipmates who have sacrificed all.... ' !WH STAFF LCDR P. O ' Connor, Editor LCDR F. A. Bautch, Businoss Managor J.TJG J. R. Brokkon, Copy Editor Layout 102 B.G. Ploxton Art Work - . F. Zakowski PHOTOGRAPHY W. L. Lowe, RVAH-1 C S G. C. Snydor, Photo E chulmon :P 3 R. E. Bodon PH3 R. D. White PH3 E. L. Yondeli R. C. Bec k AN C. B. Alien acneiier CDR R. F. Hill, CHC COMMITTEE LCDR R. L. Newman AC1 C. A. Prewitt •i:i %I1 ■ ' ;fi A l;f; ' rr- ijlEPEPEi