Shangri La (CVA 38) - Naval Cruise Book

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I X :M U her first deployment with the U. S. Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean. Since then SHANGRI-LA has continued to deploy from Mayport with the Second Fleet in the Atlantic and Caribbean and the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean, with ports of call visited from Quebec City, Canada to St. Thomas, Virgin Islands and from Barcelona, Spain to Istanbul, Turkey. ln 1961, SHANGRI-LA helicopters assist- ed in rescue operations in the wake of Hurricane Carla at Galveston, Texas, and trouble between Haiti and the Dominican Republic brought the ship to this crisis spot in 1963. Ever in competition with newer and larger carriers, SHANGRI-LA won the Atlantic Fleet Battle Efficiency Pennant for :aircraft carriers on her 1965 Mediterra- nean cruise. l In November, 1965, SHANGRI-LA moved north for six months for a S13 million over- haul at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. Five weeks of underway training off Guan- tanamo Bay, Cuba, during the summer of 1966 readied SHANGRI-LA for her fifth deployment to the Mediterranean on Sep- tember 28. The continuing story of this strong old ship is told on the following pages. In her more than 22 years of existence, SHANGRI- LA has shown valor in battle and contin- ued readiness as she cruises the world in peace. Along with her obvious military function, SHANGRI-LA performs another important role. As a visible symbol in the harbors of the free world and with the personal diplomacy of every crew member, SHANGRI-LA instills confidence, wherever she goes, in America's mission as a defend- er of freedom.

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THE SHIP Marking the first time that Army medi- um bombers ever took off in numbers from an aircraft carrier, sixteen B-25's were brought within 800 miles of Tokyo by the USS Hornet and launched against the Jap- anese in their homeland. This was in the early days of World War ll, on April 18, 1942, when Japan was thought to be out of range from American air attack. The historic raid, led by Lieutenant Colonel James H. Doolittle, was a success, Japan was stunned and the Allied powers heart- ened. Excited newsmen wanted to know from what base such heavy bombers were flown. The answer was classified informa- tion at the time, and President Roosevelt only laughed and replied, From Shangri- La, I guess - the mystical utopia of James Hilton's novel, Lost Horizon. Doolittle's daring raid created a spark which was to forge a great aircraft car- rier. In ensuing months there began a mas- sive campaign to raise 131 million by public subscription for the construction of a new aircraft carrier, to be named SHANGRI-LA, which would carry the war once again to Tokyo. lt became every American's personal contribution to the war. Men, women, and children gave dimes and dollars. More than S900 million in war bonds and stamps were sold by over 5 million sales people across retail counters during July 1943, the month of the fund drive for SHANGRI-LA. She was ready on February 24, 1944. At Norfolk Navy Yard, the Essex-class carrier, also the longest ship ever built in the Unit- ed States, was christened SHANGRI-LA by Mrs. James H. Doolittle. 100,000 other Americans, including author James Hilton, watched and cheered as their ship slid Recommissioned on May 10, 1951, SHANGRI-LA underwent extensive over- haul at the South Boston Shipyard Naval Annex and the Bayonne Annex of the New York Naval Shipyard. Her new life was short, however, and when the Korean war subsided and peace talks ensued SHANGRI-LA was decommissioned once more. She was commissioned a third time on January 19, 1955. ln the previous two Ye'-TTS, SHANGRI-LA had been revitalized by a S7 million modernization. With the installation of twin steam catapults, an- gled deck, and hurricane bow, along with overhauled aircraft elevators and arrest- ing gear, she was virtually a new ship. Following intensive fleet training exer- cises during the remainder of 1955 SHANGRI-LA deployed to the Far East on 1 , down the ways into the Elizabeth River The dream ship that embodied the spirit of Americans everywhere had come true Born of a myth, there is nothing imqgi: nary about SHANGRI-LA's prowess. Seven months after her commissioning on Sep, tember 15, 1944, Air Group 85 lifted from the decks of SHANGRT-LA and assumed oil- patrols over Task Force 58 in the western Pacific. From her first combat mission of 36 sorties against the enemy base at Okino Diato Jima on April 25, 1945, SHANGRI. LA carried the battle toward Japan. On July 10, SHANGRI-LA's avowed pu,-. pose was fulfilled as her planes took off to make their first strike against Tokyo, echo. ing Doolittle's prophetic raid of 1942. As the Third Fleet closed in to destroy the remnants of Japan's Imperial Navy and until August 15 when the Navy ceased offensive operations against the enemy, SHANGRI-LA struck hard and often against the Japanese home islands, earn- ing her nickname of The Tokyo Express. With war at an end, SHANGRI-LA marked her first anniversary and reviewed her record with CAG-85: 50 enemy planes destroyed in the air, 134 on the ground: 22 ships sunk, 65 damaged, 32 personnel lost, 14,247 total landings. Famous even before she entered combat, SHANGRI-lA was greeted by 37,192 visitors at an open house following her return to the United States on October 21, 1945. Then came drydock and a rest. Deployment came again on May 9, 1946 when SHANGRI-LA operated drones for Operation Crossroads, the historical atom bomb tests at Bikini. A brief training cruise to Pearl Harbor, then the winter tn Puget Sound Naval Shipyard at Bremer- ton, Washington, and another deployment in March were followed by decommission- ing on November 7, 1947. January 5, 1956. ln the the ship made several piling on impressive Where she had once SHANGRI-LA now ing, bedding, food, agricultural of Operation People Program.. SHANGRI-LA set formance, Pennant for Fleet in 1957 from San Diego March of 1960. brief NATO deployment, 1961,

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, ,mf M 5 h 1 fe e llc, ,I li Q l Rviprwuilul --.-..-............................. . . ., .. ., .. ..-.,....,,.. pb u The responsibility of the Commanding Officer for SHANGRI- LA is absolute .... He delegates authority for the execution continued responsibility for the . . . Safety . . . Well Being . . . Efficiency . . . of . . . SHANGRI-LA , of detoils .... Such delegation does not relieve him of his