Pictor (AF 54) - Naval Cruise Book

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ANDING OFFICER

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- HISTORY OF PIC The U.S.S. PICTOR QAF-545 was formerly the SS GREAT REPUBLIC and was named PICTOR by the Navy Department after a southern constellation. The keel of PICTOR was laid on 18 March 1942 at Moore Shipbuilding Company, Qakland, y California. Upon her completion in June of 1943 she was delivered to the United States Maritime Commission and was operated by the Commission as the SS GREAT REPUBLIC. From this time until April 1950, she served under various charters, including the United Fruit Company and the Pacific Far East Lines of San Francisco California. In April 1950, she was returned to the Maritime Commission and was moored in an inactive status in Suisun Bay, California. ' In September of 1950 the U.S. Navy acquired the ship from the Maritime Com- mission for conversion into an auxiliary stores type ship. For this conversion she A was sent to the U.S. Navy Shipyard at Mare Island, California. On 18 October 1950 the U.S. PICTOR was commissioned by Rear Admiral Frank D. BEATTY and Com- mander John V. CAMMERON became her first Commanding Officer. Since that moment when she turned to active duty with the U.S. Pacific Fleet, PICTOR has made several tours to the Far East carrying out her mission of pro- viding food stores to the combat units of the SEVENTH Fleet. Immediately after PICTOR was commissioned, she made three tours to the Western Pacific provid- ing stores to the combatant forces during the Korean Conflict.Following this cam- paign PICTOR was devoted to making routine deployments to supply logistic ser- vices to the deployed occupation forces, which included the Taiwan Patrol. She is now journeying home from her eighth and final mission since the start of the Viet- namese War, PICTOR has operated alternately between the FIRST AND SEVENTH Fleets and during her final years was assigned to each of them for alternate periods of approximately three months. In the nineteen years of commissioned service, PIC TOR has had seventeen Commanding Officers. During the first ten years the Commanding Officer held the rank of Commander. Since that time the Commanding Officer has been a Captain. However, there was a two month period in 1961 when a Lieutenant was the Com- manding Officer. PICTOR will be inactivated on November 20th and will be decommissioned shortly thereafter. However, PICTOR will remain in the memories of the officers and crew that served her as the FINEST AF IN THE FLEET for many years to come.

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i i DEDICATIGN To a proud proficient crew Whomanned this Giant of the Fleet And passed the food to more than few And kept combatants fit to meet The challenges of grueling life In South East Asia with its strife. To wives and parents, sweethearts too, Who spent long days in real devotion Standing by at home so true While those they love did sail the oceang Without whose patience and foresight PICTOR crew would have had less might To PICTOR who historically Has been a credit and of fame For service finest on the sea For nineteen years since she became A Navy ship, but now to rest With memoirs ranking with the best. V. K. ROUX Commanding Officer