Lunga Point (CVE 94) - Naval Cruise Book

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PAin I { IIKISI I.. I. (;. COMMIssK ) 1. (, AM) SI I. K I, DOWN The LiDiga Puiiil was lirr name As she nriil forth to win her fame. Designated a C- 1 ' -£, .1; Aim aft Carrier, in fact, was she. Bahy Flat-tof ' is filain ambiguity. For she ' ll fight her way out of obscurity. c:hrisik inc; At the Kaiscr- anccnivcr Shipyards, ' an- couvcr, W ' ashington, on 1 1 April i )44. a threat event took place. Another of Henry J. Kai- ser ' s many ships was being launched. It was just another mass of iron and steel that was to be sent down the ways into the Columbia River. There was, however, something differ- ent about this particular launching, .something in the air prophesying a grand and glorious future for Hull 340. It was an auspicious occasion when, at exactly 1225, with her Matron-of-Honor, Mrs. R. L. Bowman of Coronado, Calif., standing beside her, holding her bouquet. Mrs. James H. McKay, also of Coronado. C alif.. our .Sponsor, ga c that hull a soul as she slammed a bottle of Champagne against the shiny, new bow, and said, I christen thee Lunga Point ' . Lunga Point going down ihc- COMMISSIONING The night before our Ship was commissioned the Officers had a cocktail party at the Officer ' s Club, U..S. Naval .Station. Astoria, Oregon, which proved to be a most delightful occasion. Our .Spo nd her Matron-of-ho npagne! . nd a bottle of Coca-Cola jld have done just

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being installed in Lit Installing flight deck section i Here beginneth the story of Hull j o; an inani- mate hulk of iron, steel, copper and brass. Follow her through these pages as she takes on life; as she becomes just another ship of the United States Fleet; as she grows through youth into maturity; as she gradually but surely becomes the ' ' ' ' Pride of the CJ ' FPs. Experience with her again the thrill of groiving with her; enjoy again the Happy Hours and the Sea Stories. Pull up your chair to the Jire; light your pipe; and, in the smoke rings, draw on your memories for a replay of the joys and sorrows, the thrills and excitement, the labor and toil, and, above all, enjoy the genuine satisfaction of having done your part in transforming Hull j.fo into the l .S.S. Lunga Point the Ship with a Soul. the ways. Lunga Point next to tlic end. Luriga Point and sister ships at outfitting dock 21

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Vc were highlv honored in having as Captain and Mrs. Washburn ' s guests, Captain and Mrs. J. D. Earner. Captain Earner being the Com- manding Officer of the U.S. Naval Station there, and later. Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. Shangri-La. Since there was little doubt but that we were to be shipmates for a long time, this party was an excellent means of getting the Officers ac- quainted with each other. Moreover, it af- forded an opportunity for most of the wives of the Officers to meet each other for the first time, since most of our wives had followed us, with very little urging, to that beautiful Oregon country. Many Sea Stories were swapped among the Officers, and many a new hair-do was described in minute detail. Ey mid-night, the air thick with smoke and a spirit of con- viviality pre ailing throughout the Club, the Officers and their wives began saying their Good-byes to Captain and Mrs. Washburn, because a great event was to take place the next morning, and it was to be followed by weeks of hard work, and we needed all the rest we could get. The chairs soon were all empty, but there remained a lingering presence; the ghost of good fellowship rare. Our first log entry: Sunday, 14 May 1944: 0930- 1 200 Assembled the Officers and Crew of the U.S.S. Litnga Point (CVE 94) at quarters on the hangar deck. 0945 Captain Earner, USN, Clommanding Officer, U.S. Naval Station, Astoria, Oregon, came aboard. 0950 Lt. (jg) Lee, (ChC), USNR, deli ered invocation. 1000 Pursuant to Com 13th, Serial: 9505, dated 14 May 1944, the Commanding Officer, U.S. Na val Station, Astoria, Oregon, Captain Earner, USN, read orders directing the U.S.S. Lunga Point (CVE 94) to be placed in full com- mission in active status in accordance with . rticle 637 (la) and Article 638 (i) U.S. Navy Regulations. 1005 Captain G. A. T. Wash- burn, USN, in obedience to Endorsement 5, Commanding Officer, U.S. Naval Station, Astoria, Oregon, with reference to BuPers speedlctter 92206 dated 20 March 1944, as- sumed command of this vessel, the U.S.S. Lunga Point (CVE 94), and ordered the watch to be set. Moored starboard side to Berth 9, Pier 3, U.S. Naval Station, Astoria, Oregon, with the following lines in use: Bowline 8 manila, forward bow spring 1J2 wire, after bow spring 1)2 wire, forward quarter spring lyi wire, after quarter spring i]4 wire, stern line 8 manila. No. i and No. 2 boilers in use for auxiliary purposes. Receiving fresh water and telephone service from the dock. Ships present: CVE ' s 91, 92, 93 and various small craft. SOPA in U.S.S. Makassar Straits. The commissioning of a Naval Vessel is al- ways a gala occasion and this was no exception, although it is only natural that there was a more serious atmosphere prevalent upon this W ' artime commissioning. It lacked none of the color attendant on a peacetime commission- ing, though, in that the usual formalities were rigidly adhered to and there were a goodly number of the fairer sex, dressed in all their finery, to give our commissioning the glamour that appeals to a Navy man. Captain Wash- burn, Captain Earner, Commander Eastwold, and the other officiating Officers took their places at the forward elevator, while Mrs. Vashburn, Mrs. Earner, Mrs. Eastwold, and our other guests, many of whom were the wives of our officers and men, had seats down the port side of the hangar deck. Opposite them, in a column of t% os, facing inboard, were the Ship ' s Officers. Amidships, facing forward, were the Chief Petty Officers, and behind them the enlisted personnel were formed by Di isions. To put it mildly, it presented a picture in keeping with the dignity of the occasion. Immediately after reading his orders. Cap- tain Washburn extended a word of welcome to our guests and greetings to the Ship ' s Com- pany, following which, he accepted from Mrs. VVarren K. Eerner, the wife of the Skipper . I.i.icd in Columbia River the day before Com-