Shangri La (CV 38) - Naval Cruise Book

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SBZC crashes barrier after fast lan-ding. 24 f

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Lzeut Gen Brett, U.S.A., aboard at War correspondents at the Shangri La s wheel Panama. Circling off Virginia Beach and False Cape, the delay was utilized for the Hrst flight operations. Tragedy struck swiftly through the air on the 18th, when two Avengers locked wings in a mid-air collision that left one vacant seat at the airmen's wardroom table. Racing to the fallen planes, the plane guard destroyer managed to save one pilot before his crippled mount slipped from view in the green Atlantic surf. The crash resulted in the third fatality in 2000 flights from the carrier's deck. Shortly after dawn on the 19th, search planes spotted the long, sleek Alaska- class battle-cruiser steaming at high speed to join the Shangri-La. The 808-foot, 27,500-ton Guam, commissioned only two days after the Shangri-La, was to accompany the new carrier to the Panama Canal and thence to the Western Pacific. One day out of Panama, the Shangri-La was the target for Army planes simulating attack on an enemy force. Lieutenant General Brett, U.S.A.,-came aboard in a Navy plane to observe the attack and the carrier's strike against Canal defenses. A P The mountains of Panama loomed close on the morningof the 23rd as the carrier entered the Channel to dock at Cristobal. A liberty provided one section' with a chance to pick up a few souvenirs in the Canal Zone, interesting melting pot of humanity and cargo. s Early the following morning the big ship commenced transit of the Panama Canal. Through Ciatun and Nliraflores Locks she inched and scraped her way. as all hands not on watch hovered topside to watch the passage through narrow Culebra Cut and the thousand-odd sights that make up a trip through the engi- neering wonder of the 20th Century. Mooring at Balboa, on the Pacific side, another section managed a liberty to Balboa and the nearby city of Panama. Under

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Culebra Cut - Panama Canal. Way again on the 25th for San Diego, California, the Shangrz'-La continued her training program in rehearsal for the ever-nearing Paciic War. Arriving in San Diego on February 2, 1945, the Shangrz'-La fueled and pre- pared for military inspection by Admiral Ralph Jennings, Com Car Div 12, commencing the following day. February 3rd and 4th were spent in dress rehearsal attacks on San Clemente Island, to the north of San Diego, with Air Group 85 simulating air strikes against enemy-held positions. Returning to San Diego for fuel, provisions and a full deckload of ferry planes, the Shcmgrz'-La bade the States goodbye on February 7th and pointed her bow Westward for Pearl Harbor.