Lake Champlain (CV 39) - Naval Cruise Book

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awxrxefzwefze-:we-:rsxsx:,x:,::'x1,:s:e,:+::,::-x:'x+:e,xwe,:e, 'hese few pages are an attempt to preserve what has been thought and felt about U.S.S. LAKE CHAMPLAIN by its ship's company. The commanding officer, in his commissioning address, enumerated those who contributed to building the hull, but reserved the real task of turning it into a ship to the crew who were to give it the essential qualities- life and personality. Now that the time has come to record that personality, the editors confess they have run into difficulty because Lake Champlain has meant many things to different kinds of people, and testimony to her greatness is individual at its best. Thousands of visitors who boarded her in New York, Philadelphia and Boston came to evaluate a wartime investment. They left with a promise that tomorrow contained peace and security for them. That is what the Lake Champlain meant to them. It means the same to us and more. To many American mothers and fathers she was the ship that brought their sons home. And from her four magic carpet runs, she emerged a symbol of our victory with her decks swarming with G.I.s who had just pulled off the biggest job in history. It meant this to us and more. The nation looked over its morning papers when the head- lines told the story of a carrier that had broken the Transatlantic speed record and considered this evidence of American skill and determination. It meant this to us and yet more. Sheis more than a sleek representative of her class-The Essex-more than a good ship-apgood deal' more thanahappy ship. L gf .- The editors confess they do not know wherel torbegin. They hope their efforts can tell in part the story of CV39. Eogrs the timefhas come to say farewell. And this we wish to do well. Theiishiip isiassigned to the Sixteenth Fleet for inactivation-orders we fill 'infthe interest of our National Economy. But it is exceedingly. difficult te., say goodbye to her that can be no other than-THE GREAT LAKE. THE EDITORS. 4x4:4xfc:1c:-c:.2aw:4x4x4x4::1c:f::+:s4x4x euxaxfscz asz-cz-cm I

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X THE CAPTAIN A lyearcyfago, when U.S.S. Lake Champlain was commissioned, toldtlis crew that it was our job to learn to live and work together, in order that we be able to fight the ship effectively in the battles that loomed ahead. few knew how near was the final victory, and we 'wercgfgdefjlnitely scheiduled to participate in the next major operation- the initialsinvasionfofihe Japanese homeland. - 'x, J in Our shakedowniiwas completed while the war was still being fought, and wetof Lake Champlain have a justifiable pride in the results we accomplished during that period. We flew more hours, landed, catapulted, and flew off more aircraft, fired more gunnery practices, and steamed more miles than had been accomplished during the shakedown of any previous Essex class carrier. On the basis of our oflicial inspection, Lake Champlain was outstanding in ability to control and repair battle damage. We were ready.. g