Kenneth Whiting (AV 14) - Naval Cruise Book

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A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE KENNETH WHITING Built to provide long range reconnaissance by means of her attached sea- planes, the USS KENNETH WHITING AV-14 earned two battle stars for sup- porting action at Okinawa and during the final strikes against Japan by Task Force 38. Built at Tacoma, Washington her keel was laid on 19 June 1943 and was launched on 15 December of the same year. Mrs. Kenneth Whiting, widow of the distinguished naval officer, Captain Kenneth Whiting, for whom the ship was named, christened her. The tender was placed in commission on 8 May 1944, with Commander Raymond R. Lyons, aboard as her first skipper. After shake-down trials she departed from the U. S. 21 July 1944, bound for the Western Pacific. Arriving in Saipan on 30 August, her squadron, VPB 102 began search and reconnaissance flights in the Marianas area. During these first few weeks of operations at Saipan severe storms made it necessary for the seaplanes to operate from Tanapag Harbor. There the squadron made use of the former Japanese facilities. And in spite of the danger from hold-out Japanese troops, maintenance personnel continued their work and got the planes back into the air on schedule. The ship transferred her operations to Kossol Passage, Palau, in November 1944, but remained there only for a two-week period, then sailed for Ulithi, and on back to Saipan. Here, while movies were being shown on the seaplane deck during the evening of 1 1 March ' 45, a sudden air raid flashed, two suicide planes had sneaked through undetected. One crashed on the flight deck of the USS RANDOLPH, anchored only 1000 yards away, and the other screamed over the ship to crash into Sorlen Island. On 20 April the KENNETH WHITING, with VPB 20 aboard, got underway for Kerama Retto and participated in one of the largest amphibious operations ever undertaken — the invasion of Okinawa. Remaining at Kerama Retto she soon became a housing center for aircraft survivors. More than 30 men were brought aboard for hospitalization and quarters. At dusk on 21 June two planes staged a surprise attack on the harbor. One struck the CURTISS, while the ot her was shot down a few yards off the KENNETH WHITING ' s port bow by fire from her guns. The explosion caused slight damage, as the plane ' s engine ricocheted into the ship ' s side. Four men were injured, one of whom later died aboard a hospital ship. In October the ship sailed for China duty and she anchored in Kowloon

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DEDICATION LIFE IS WORTHWHILE WHEN THE IDEALS WHEREBY WE LIVE BECOME THE IDEALS FOR WHICH WE WOULD GIVE OUR LIFE. SO TO THE PARENTS, WIVES, CHILDREN AND SWEETHEARTS — TO EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING WE LOVE BACK HOME IN OUR LAND, WE OF THE KENNETH WHITING WISH TO DEDICATE THIS BOOK. THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT MAKE LIFE WORTHWHILE TO US . . . FOREWORD.,. This is the story, in words and pictures, of the 1955 Far East cruise of the USS KENNETH WHITING AV-I4. A story which begins on the morning of May 12th, in San Diego, California, travels some 16,000 miles across the Pacific Ocean, into the China Sea, and across the Sea of Japan. On November 1st, it ends, like many stories, with a joyous conclusion — in San Diego, where it began. To us — the 39 officers and 544 men — the ship has meant many things. She stewed us in the firerooms and fried us on the well deck. She offered us rest when we were weary and comfort when we were sad. She took us to many exotic, always strange, and some- times colorful lands. But most important she was our home away from home. And from it all we learned much. To our friends and loved ones we wish — through this medium — to bring forth some of the things we did and places we saw. You all were with us, you know. Oh yes! We would like to point out some of the places you ' ve been.

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Bay, Hong Kong on the 14th to begin operations. On 28 November the KENNETH WHITING was relieved by the NORTON SOUND and ordered to report at Pearl Harbor. On 22 December 1945 she sailed under the Golden Gate at San Francisco, and home, after a job v ell done. Earning her battle stars for the assault and occu- pation of Okinawa and for operations against Japan, the KENNETH WHITING also received the Navy Occupation Service Medal, Asia. After various peace time assignments, including operations with the support forces for the atomic bomb tests, she was given a deserved rest in the Reserve Fleet from January, 1947 until September, 1951. Rejoining the Pacific Fleet in October of that year the KENNETH WHITING sailed for line duty in the Far East and is still going strong.