r 6 A x . AE i S 1 I 5 Q 1 uv ' an, Q 5,1 I Egg P' u V W r! fa A , M , an 1 V x H? E I , i k a 1 ' is ? :fix 3 . i L nu 5 24 0452 W '77 l Q. 5 4: 5 '21 2 J4- 41 Q .. Kvdlley ggfqe x Q Q . :,.,., .,:,2. Www G i Q 6 ,..A,:.,,, it 0 if . . .1,:,:1,,:,,,,:,,:,:,,4,: . t , Qyorlo, Gruise ' o l 1947 48 QZuw56 y,L! L1..f ML! if 1 W I ,I , A ff ,, WAsH1NGToN's HEADQUARTERS AT VALLEY FORGE, 1777 BUILT IN 1758 BY JOHN POTTS, MASTER OF THE MOUNT JOY FORGE This Stone House Was the Property of His Daughter-in-Law, Deborah Hewes UPoN wAsH1NoToN's ARRIVAL, December 19, 1777, Mrs. Hewes at once offered him her home. Washington, however, refused to move in until such time as his ragged Continentals had been hutted. With his men, he spent a stormy Christmas Week under canvas . . . A nation was born at Valley Forge. To these windswept hills at the confluence of Valley Creek and the Schuylkill River, a dispirited mass of men straggled in despair-cold, hungry and brokeng from these hills Washington led forth a well- drilled and disciplined army-proud men, confident and intent on victory. leaked fion To the patience,'determination, and fortitude that were manifest among George Washington's troops as they endured the winter and its attendant hardships at VALLEY FORGE. To the social consciousness of our country as it ever progresses toward better standards of living. To the goodwill which prompts our private citizens and our government to give material aid to stricken peoples throughout the world. To our shipmates who are not returning with us from our world-cruise. To the hope that international peace and goodwill may eventually come out of the turmoil and devastation of World War ll. To these we dedicate this book. ttiii I A x A 16,64 CAPTAIN RICHARD WAYNICK RUBLE, U.S. NAVY, took command of the USS VALLEY FORGE 30 August I947. Following graduation from the Naval Academy in l923, he spent four years in battleships before taking flight training at Pensacola, Florida. CAPTAIN RUBLE's service record includes: Fighting Squadron THREE, flight instructor at Pensacola, flight test pilot at NAS Anacostia, the Air Department of USS SARATOGA, Command of USS LAPWING, Command of USNRB and NAS Squantum, Massachusetts, Navigator of USS ENTERPRISE, Operations Officer of ComCarDiv ONE, Special Assistant to DCNO IAIRI, member of the Council on Foreign Relations, member of the Permanent Joint Board of Defense, United States and Canada, Commanding Officer USS RENDOVA, member of the first class of The National War College, Commanding Officer USS SHANGRI-LA, and ding Officer USS VALLEY FORGE. In l933 he received a Master of Science degree ' ' Aeronautical Engineering. Comman from Massachusetts Institute of Technology In Calafain Qian! ,Wagnic v ,pi llrjf, ,Q ICN xg K L, 1- 'Z 'FP -w if I Nl J ,.Mz+. 'ZT'TmT J .. ,L X. 1' if fi ici , V7 mm Ain f ,fiat .WML ,F Afliiii I fflfiax wil L f xl f Hs king fa-'P-'1 'N-LX-fee. fv.Hf,: ,gp 5 2 1 -ab C.Z2fff-J - V4 m f, L ..4. .,..L.....e.,...L,...-.....a1f1--.-fs-r:-.-.e-ra,-.-f'w:fv-.-,........,mw----.- J -Q-N,,,,...,.,..,.-.,.s..,L.LQ.. M .. ,...,.... J. 1 H A K . ..,. . 0l'l'lI'l'l6ll'L6!el WC1g:54l'00L COMMANDER FRANK GEORG E RAYSBROOK, U. S. NAVY, reported to the pre- commissioning detail of the USS VALLEY FORGE as r ' 1946 Foll ' p ospective Executive Officer in January . owing graduation from the Naval Academy in 1931, he went to NAS Norfolk for elimination flight training. After a two-year tour of sea duty aboard USS SALT LAKE CITY, he completed his flight training at Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida in 1934. COMMANDER R AYSBROOK's service record includes: aviator in USS CHESTER Div B ing Squadrons ONE and FORTY ONE ' , e omb- - in USS RANGER, Patrol Squadron ONE operating PK flying boats, Patrol Squadrons THIRTEEN, EIGHTEEN, and TWENTY-TWO operating PBY planes, flight instructor at Pensacola, flight instructor and Squadron Commander, NAS Corpus Christi, Commander of Patrol Squadron TWO HUNDRED-SEVEN, flying PBM patrol planes, Commander of Naval Air Facilities at San Julian, Cuba, Officer-in-Charge of lnspectio Facilities on 'the Staff of Commander A' F ' USS ns and ir orce, Atlantic Fleet, and Executive Officer VALLEY FORGE. as sw 1 ' 5 3 1 x i- Y v 5 y . fi .1 . .413 wtf 0' ' I f S Q .f Xt, .cc syrcc ' ,X v vdix 1 N M Xx 3 kg: ANN: . j 'fs 55512 'N . X s X :SN xi- T ,R Sffc YQ, . ,. X 31 A ' Qs5:gcyQc. f v .N is - Fixx I . U X, XA Y as Q M9 N Srssk A ' X .G X T' 1 .1 ii -i on an lego This is the story of a United States naval ship and her cruise. She is by no means an ordinary vessel, nor is it an ordinary cruise. The USS VALLEY FORGE is the newest ESSEX Class carrier in the fleet. According to those in the know she is, to quote, the hottest thing in carriers today. ln her short eighteen months since commission- ing, she has established an enviable reputation in both the Atlantic and the Pacific Fleets and has distinguished her- self with the British Navy as well. The cruise distinguishes her, too. She is the first United States aircraft carrier to circumnavigate the globe. She, with her two escorting destroyers, USS LAWE and USS THOMAS, made up the first force of American Naval vessels to cruise around the world since i907 when the Great White Fleet under Admiral Dewey made its tour of the world. The events portrayed here are the living expe- rience of the ship's crew on the good-will cruise. lt all started at pier Mike Nan at Naval Air Station, San Diego, California. The day was 9 October l947 and the hour was 0830. lt was a delightful Southern California day. The formal farewell to San Diego had been held at the Pacific Square Ballroom 3 October l947, on which night Miss Valley Forge of I947 was honored. Goodbyes had been said and the day of departure was a reality! For the majority of the crew it was a matter of anticipation of new adventures, but for the minority whose families and friends stood on the dock, it was a solemn affair. However, everyone was quite content in knowing that he would have a chance to visit Honolulu, Hong Kong, Tsingtao, Yoko- suka, and Guam and return to California in the Spring. Mooring lines were cast off. The Navy tugs chugged rhythmically until the carrier was in the stream and headed toward the sea, then the ship's own engines churned the harbor water to its very bottom and the ship got underway. Slowly the old familiar landmarks drifted by . . . Solar, consolidated, the Marine Base, the Naval Training Center, the Amphibious Base, Fort Rosecrans, and Point Loma. Then as she gained speed she passed Los Coronados and finally was surrounded by the sea alone. Thus our story begins. L- .,A,,,, . ' rv ks 1.: , V -i-'Q WJ X t g 1, Y, ' -.Xi A I f , . V Q7 9. 0 9 I' . . h ,,.....,,,.,.,,,,.,..,, A,. .. all . ..:V.-A , I A is . ,,1: 1 V fzi ,,...', , '- . , :,.:2a::::g:.1.i:.1 ,,,.,i::.:1:,'.:::-vi.:1.1:,,.gzziwzzgzi::wr.,-1el:ga-:,:1er1::11,:,:::,.:f:,1:,::1-::-11+:1:1:.::1-.-.,:-:----M--- ,A.QEE:1SE':112?E11f:25'E1E2:1:Q-j:::5.i21':IE5l5E1Ef12Ef1Ei5?E1f-:IE'5f:1EiE1I5:2?i2E':52f1Ef1:IE'fl-Fir.,i1 ::: I ' ,-i.-,1-:,:::::1::-1r1::-gm2:,1,.v:p:,1:,5g-gl1:5-.:51gf5,,:gg:t:,,5-g13:55s-,15:j:gg,1:,-gi.I:4,1i.,q,11g,.w.-... VALLEYVFORGE became the Flagship of Task Force 38 and Carrier Division EIVE just prior to sailing from San Diego. REAR ADMIRAL HAROLD M. MARTIN, U. S. NAVY, was Commander of the Mobile Striking Force which made the historic ' cruise. , .,. . f V f s . ,L EFF ' 1 ' . 1. .. e ww: 1 The Chief-of-Staff for the Task Force Commander was CAPTAIN BENNETT W. WRIGHT, U. S. NAVY. We f ,wil Alx l!F tw K 95 AW ' 2 A 04' !pL 4. A 3 if Z , X f A : t ,, 5 , . -V 'K Vw 2 49 1 K We M54 . , fx an Considerable planning was necessary to,coordi- nate the movements of the various units of the Task Force. Logistics, communications, and operations required a well organized staff. Q 3 :ff ffl X, ts, ,, 7' i 6 4,11 2 M , if i Just prior to the commencement of the cruise the crew and their guests gathered in festive mood to crown Miss Lorrain DePierro of Los Angeles MlSS VALLEY FORGE of 1947. In the after- noon the ship's first lady was met at the airport by an honor guard and was es? corted to the carrier. She was piped over the side in true Navy fashion and was taken on a tour to meet the crew and to have dinner with them aboard. That evening the charming young lady presided over the farewell dance at the Pacific Square Ballroom in San Diego. In a colorful ceremony the Commanding Officer made Miss De- Pierro an honorary member of the crew. Afterwards ship's company and their guests danced to the coruscating melo- dies of the VALLEY FORGE CONTI- NENTALS, under the direction of R. D. Clendenon, MUC. OIQOZMZM Exactly one week after bidding farewell to the U. S. the crew sighted the first land, the Hawaiian Islands. As the ship made its way toward Oahu, Diamond Head with its steep sides and sharply defined top came in sight. A soft, rich greenness characterized the entire scene from the low, rolling hills along the shore to the jagged moun- tain peaks which sprang sharply into the clouded sky. The clouds themselves were on review, raising their im- mense cumulous forms high into the ether and radiating their snowy whiteness on the bright but temperate day. The first glimpse was later found to be a revelation of the typical day in Hawaii, the land where the sky and weather perpetually form new combinations for an ideal climate and keep the land fresh and enchanting and the visitors charmed. v As the ship made its way through the narrow channel into Pearl Harbor, all hands were impressed with the extent of the huge Navy Base. All were reminded by the rusty projections of sunken battleships rising out of the calm and peaceful waters, of Pearl Harbor's great disaster. The peacetime activities around the harbor were in strik- ing contrast to the hustle and bustle some of the crew had seen there during the War Years. Continuing around Ford Island the HAPPY VALLEY moored to pier FOX I2 and l3. Then liberty was granted and the crew went ashore to get acquainted with Honolulu and the Hawaiians. Carrier Air Group ELEVEN was assigned to the VALLEY FORGE and operated as an integral part of it. A few days after arrival we started a heavy schedule of carrier aircraft qualification operations and ship's exercises and drills. During that period the ship operated at sea Monday through Friday every week. She moored at pier BAKER 24 in the Navy Yard for Navy Day and thousands of visitors came aboard. The heavy schedule continued until 5 December when the ship tied up for a period of leave and recreation. For a month there were well organized athletic activities, short leaves to Kilauea Rest Camp on the Island of Hawaii and to the Mainland, two successful parties at Nimitz Beach, a Smoker, and ample opportunity to get personally acquainted with the islands and the islanders. .,,., ,, I ...,.,. ..,- .,.. ., A-3 V ,. v,,,i gl TEES. , V' .A ,.,.,.,,,,.,, i m eg! ffl I' :VL -,A -: Ag .... . ,K ' 1 2 ' 1 .,.,.,,, . .. . ,. N, ,. . st uw .. V ., . .. -4g-.p-w5piia'm- 1' ' 221552151 ' sq f V During operations the ship sud- denly developed a heavy vibration at certain speeds. After extensive investigation the NavylYard in- spectors determined that the trouble lay in the propellers and recommended that theship be dryQ docked. As the water of the dry dock receded it was revealed that a large section of a propeller blade was missing, and further examina- tion disclosed cracks in another propeller. Both screws were re- placed and the HAPPY VALLEY was again ready for duty. r l l l ! l A l l l ,Q-v - The joy of giving was rediscovered by the crew on Christmas day as they presented gifts to 50 children from the Salvation Army Home. Divisions had been allo- cated children beforehand and the men had contributed generously to purchase worthwhile gifts for their yuletide guests. ln addition, each Division competitively decorated 3 Y Y , ,,., Zxhi r f Christmas trees. After a sumptuous Christmas dinner, the children were brought forward in the hangar. Santa Claus distributed presents and sweets to each child and a movie program of cartoons was shown. lt was a happy group of children who climbed on the busses that afternoon and a contented crew who waved them off. A, 4. ff! J ,' 4 ff of 1 W fir ff 3 i T W' f 7 fw 7 gi X W wad!! ,4 ' z fff' V4 ,V X 1' 4pm mf, Q 3 'jg , 4 Q, ah, Q' A ,, , , , l f I ,sf f Kinky ff, fl ig 4 fl X , WV ,ff -,jywl 155 4A 6 I , -2 ,fffyw ff: , 0, 'fr ' 'Q ? Q, ,, ,j ffm, GW 7 Ain I ' ,, . f 1 .' 1 , , ' ffff ' , f 'ff fwfZ'?ff-W W' I f ,,,. ffff i 1 ,Li iffy, W y4,ff,,xw!,Z ff 16 W!! fu, Each weekend as the ship put into Pearl Harbor, the crew scattered to all parts of the island on liberty. A large major- ity made their way to Waikiki to plunge in the inviting surf or bask on the sun-kissed beach. Others made sightseeing tours of the island seeing such inter- esting sights as the Blow Hole. 'XX N1 xQ cS 'sw QX if - .- '-Jjtwf ' , . ' 'X X fx.. . Qx 'NX AFCX Qu ASQ' gi , n --' l- : D'. I 'x'+',-A' xi, . cl .f . 1 fi l li N -Cs. QT .. . Kiwi xmwkmi I www' ty ui' y ,la Several times during the cruise guests of the Secretary of the Navy came aboard to watch operations and to see the ship. ln January, while a group from Honolulu was aboard, a HAPPY HOUR was held for our entertainment. Xdsfdhf Q 'Y f 5 -,'!9-K'-flu f' ff, w.,V 2?1f:f'4w:4 ,, M -11,5 5-', f V--' - 1 ...rf x ,X x Z' Q A . 1 4........-....-..c f V, ......- ', --....-f ' 5.-' riff X KW cf F Friday and Saturday following Christmas, large numbers of the crew boarded the Ford Island Ferry and crossed the harbor to wait- ing busses which transported them to Nimitz beach for all day picnics. The prof gram of activities included swimming, vol- leyball, softball, horseshoes, and touchball, and featured three-legged races, tug-o- wars, sack races, and pie eating contests. There was ample food and cool drinks for all hands. Holiday liberty hours were taken up with such diverse interests as bathing at Waikiki and watching troupes of native hula dancers. ifslf Q .ff as , w .El Q L9 tr N, Vw, . 15: ' Bm' F? I X . ll g .-:,1 LQ .- ass.. .1rf1:1s,..:rsw: ,. -. ...Asa--2-1-1:1:S:r .1f.1:2e1:s. .N 5.31 .- X X. - - 1 1 35:1-2:-Q-' :az +1-,-.-S, ' K 'f Q W? - 211' . 'f'7.5.+. :sts-' ' ' . A -Y - - elf, In the V-2 compartment four men were taking turns with an iron, pressingspotless whites. Down in the B-Division compartment several men were briskly polishing their shoes. ln the O-R compartment a couple of men were helping each other sew new campaign ribbons on their speckless uniforms. ln the CPO quarters a number of Chief Petty Officers were changing buttons to clean uniforms. ln officer's country white gloves were being washed. It was Friday night and Captain's Inspection was scheduled for 0900 Saturday morning. This was the normal routine on any such Friday night. The Captain commenced Personnel Inspection forward on the Starboard side. As he progressed down the lines, each Division Officer successively presented his Division. Theselregular inspections permit the Captain to observe the degree to which the high U. S. NAVY standards of dress and appearance are met by personnel of his ship. G Q FN,-3 W W r r r ffl 142 4, wmmwwwxvavg Q wage f ,off ff? Q X ,lagy fzw w is Qfyfw 4,4 W eff ff ' w tf? l ' O 'see lx'- 'wifi ,,. ., Z ' ' mal rf -Ml . f'?fis'4 .- :a,w: f x .r:,wy,,-, ,, . . f M, x .f. N , ,my-,W . ' ..Ss:13s:rir-u-4' f 1 K? f- - ff .,,, - 4 . - v. 37?- , , Z, . 5 pp , , El, VH Q 'A 1 ' -f -f-1.241 fifgmaw ,:m.f. ' 4 A '. I ', , a ws ,J as ' o 9 I 0 AN gl s . Q I x 5 W! , . ... 9 X 1 X H ,fi The camera here records an undeniably true-to-life shot of the Air Officer in a typical moment of perplexed frustration. The what next expression no doubt be- speaks a series of exasperating occurrences that heckle. Primary ,Fly is the name given to the vantage point from which the Air Officer exercises control of aircraft launching and landing operations, and here are located the personnel and equipment to do the job. Radio, visual signals, bull horns, sound power phones, and voice boxes furnish the vital communications for efficient aircraft control. Complete and detailed data is kept on landing intervals, wave-offs, launching times, planes airborne, etc, Such is the routine of Primary Fly, and many are the split second decisions that must be made to insure swift, efficient, and safe carrier air operations, both on the flight deck and in the air around the carrier. X . .. , C. wsu-:: '?f' , am-,os an x : i A .-?? . gf Qt x . i I ' ' if Tj J., ,.Vm,,,.,..,,Si ,,: .I ,. ,,,. 6 i I 1 Q V X f 4 1 1. f' ' ,MW-epme., 222 ' 'Swag Qspxwg .- . XM , ?,'?.?5 , rr. Xf9fg,e,,a.3.,6f..y,., A- -- a.f.ez,5.,,g5,-,gag vy ,-Mamwi 4 1CV.u.to.73-YJY Y 7 'Y kr .4 ' .- I , I , , , . A w f 2 l'E ' 1i1 f5 e f w ifi? Z ' eg it iiii E is is . l 055U'lg t 2 U12 if ki! Sudpoerza and Summon: tgxfmorolinary o w eremonzea 5771- Tow! 3ffel1 Gvgff vf flw Qoqw, moo. Q ,Q Q Region of the South Seas SS A LXQ gf c gf Domain of Neptunus Rex ' ' P For several days after leaving Pearl Harbor, y i no 3:3 there er ' ' ' ' ' ff Ll w. e indications that something ominous , QQ .May Game glme Trejenfs , , was gomg on aboard the ship. There were rr i n - - 1 ' ' V i secret meetings of committees and groups and I Qfeefmfif M3 jewefe g f Ihefe Was Consldefable Ul1eXPl3'nFd aCf'V'IY In 122 WHEREAS, the good ship VALLEY FORGE, bound southward ofthe Equator, has never bo- i f various shops throughout the ship. Then the , fefe entered eefdememi and l ' l l rumor sta rt-ed that would pay combm-VgHg5ul2lEdzZS, tlise aforesaid shiplcarries fa lagge and loaghsome cargo of landlubbers, beach- - - - gg l . u -ra , sea- awyers, ounge- izar s, par or- unigans, plow-deserters, park-bench f I the 3 Vlslt on the mqrnmg of SltIJ8!'S, chickenlchasers, hay-tossers, four-flushers, cross-word puzzle bugs, bridge sharks, muscle- L f benders, bar flies, Broadway wolves, asphalt arabs, and other foul creatures of the land, falsely I 23 H masquerading as seamen, of which low scum you are a member, having never appeared before usg and N 31 at WHEREAS. THE ROYAL COURT of the RAGING MAIN will convene on board the good ship l j L ! VALLEY FORGE. OD 'CIIB ...... day of ...,,.,,,,-, ,,,,,, a t longitudg -----4--,--- 3 and F22 i WHEREAS, an inspection of our Royal Muster shows that it is high time your sad and wander- 1, x it mg nautical soul appears before OUR AUGUST PRESENCE: j fi BE IT KNOWN. That we hereby summon and command you , ff l i i EQ NOW 3 ------ A -------------------- ---V- . U- S- Navy. to appear before the Royal High Court and ff : 'E Our August Presence on the aforesaid date at such a time as may best suit OUR pleasure, under .1 penalty of eternal pickling. Q . NI You will acept most heartily and with good grace the pain and penalties of the awful tortures me that will be inflicted upon you bo determine your fitness to be one of our Trusty Shellbacks and I Q, answer to the following charges. i ' I' CHARGE' I. In that you have hitherto willfully and maliciously failed to show reverence 1 , and allegiance tp our Royal Person, and are therein and thereby a vile landlubber and a pollywog. , If M CHARGE II i t 9 l i 2I January l948! That was enough to send , CHARGE m it shivers up and down the spine of any Polliwog, M ' y ,V no matter -how mighty he thought he was. p i Finally it was officially announced that DAVY g l D, b th, S U d P , f 0 S f p f ij? iso ey is ummons n er am o ur wi t 13 gl JON ES. would embark on Z0 January 'for an E and Te,,ib,e Displeasuren 3. g Inspection of all Polliwogs In preparation for xl Qur Vigilance is Ever Wakeful. Our Vengeance S , the visit of NEPTUNUS REX. As the day of I 's'I stand Sm' Q W the Inspection approached, activity mounted to Q , Given Under Our Hand and Seal- Q Q a fury never before seen aboard the good ship. , f X! 2 l i . . . . f, , 5 1 , I 4 . , In accordance with the ancient tradition of gg WQEP-fufgi flfxf- 3 .3 the sea, Pol Iiwogs were assigned costumes to ' Q DAVY JONES, Ruler of the aging Main l v suit their dignity and duties and watches to l l Clerk i a mefeh flier ab 'fv- BY all the means w'fh'n I the scope of the imaginations and ingenuity of the Division Shellbacks, the Polliwogs were prepared for their fateful day. As the humiliation of the Polli- wogs began, on the afternoon of 20 January, HAPPY VALLEY beauties overwhelmed the ship with their peaches and cream complexions, their stylish bathing ensembles, and their dainty gyrations . . . all for the pleasure and entertainment of the honorable Shellbacks. All Polliwogs tried to bribe the honorable Shellbacks by their feigned servitude, thinking they would be dealt with mildly. But they were soon to discover that this was one place that bribery would derive no benefit. The mastery of the situation was entirely in the hands of the Shellbacks, those venerable citizens of HIS MAJESTY'S Domain. Here and there a would-be usurper arose to try to lead a mutiny, but these were abased with thoroughness and dispatch. There were several senior men and officers aboard who had held themselves up mightily before the eyes of all their ship- mates, but they soon discovered that they were really quite insignificant. Without a single exception every Polliwog re- ceived a summons to appear before the ROYAL COURT. On the evening of 20 January, DAVY JONES and his stalwarts came to inspect the slimy Polliwogs. They were all lined up while preliminary honors between the CAPTAIN, the ADMIRAL and HIS MAJESTY'S representative were exchanged, then the in- spection began. There were still a few of the Polliwogs who needed further humbling and that was carried out during the inspection. Upon completion of the inspection, DAVY JONES declared that the ship would be permitted to enter the ROYAL DOMAIN with the load of slimy, crawling, scummy, scurvy, extraneous matter, otherwise known as Polliwogs. Due warning was given the CAPTAIN that he would have to be responsible for them. All honors having been rendered, DAVY JONES disembarked via the hawse pipe. Shortly after 0800 on the morning of 2I January, all was in readiness for the embarkation of HIS ROYAL MAJESTY and his court. All Polliwogs had been corralled below in the Hangar and the Royal Kops were well in control. Presently in the full pomp and ceremony due him, NEPTUNUS REX with his QUEEN, PRINCESS, PRINCELING, and his entire entourage came up on the flight deck. The ADMIRAL and CAPTAIN met their Majes- ties and after paying respects, the CAPTAIN, according to custom, turned over his ship to NEPTUNUS REX. After the Royal Court had taken their places, HIS MAJ ESTY ordered that the special activities begin. Being a well organized and obedient kingdom, the order was carried out immediately. The first group of initiates appeared in the stockade on Number ONE elevator and started through the first line of humiliation. The ADMIRAL and the CAP- TAIN greeted NEPT-uNus Rex and his entourage from the raging deep as they came aboard. The lowly Polliwog lookout had scanned the equatorial horizon for many successive watches to forewarn the OOD of the imminent arrival of His Oceanic Majesty. The unfortunate landlubbers below decks fearfully awaited their doom. - HU rligt-fl, XT7 K ff 2 ,J K 4 1 f,,,1' F vi Q ff Y, s 71 T? f W Tull l , ,.,V H K sf- 'l M Ml . l The mighty Monarch seated himself upon the throne and his hoary judges gathered round in gleeful anticipation of strictly ren- dering justice. The court was set and the word was passed to bring the first culprits. As the elevator raised, the monotonous chant could be heard, l'm a slimy, scummy Polliwog. Prodding shillelaghs sped the hesitant Polliwogs on their way through the first gauntlet to the mouth of the tunnel of love. Here the diabolic mixture of odor- iferousmaterials brought low the spirits of even the hardiest. The endless struggle was enlivened by the ever present goadings of His Majesty's Royal Kops. After an eternity of slipping and sliding, light was seen . . . but only for a moment. Over the barrel with a resounding whack and back into the glutinous journey they went. More daylight! Another leap and it would be reached. But no sooner was it attained than they were thrust into gauntlet number TWO where burly pirates stood alert for each passing target. And now at last they were ready to face the court's justice. .1 R .3 1' l V :21l 2 ,:' 5 11. h ,,,:.A. 1 , K X Q if il -tilt? me l-1'7 '.:,f.- 'gl 'Q ' ' 7 ' I ,fp QANQQS Q 0 1' N rlgi, t . l g gi , 'f 1 JD: 2 ,ggigmfh 1, 3 .1 1 . N' 'Q ' ' Q' f- f, Y' -if fp: W . e llllllll l fl , 1:- z1L4'7 -i f I 'A'A A : ' ..1. 2 , ff- 511:25:fsgzfr12:3ef:.:Ig5:-Jsz-:ff2.1111:-::211153.-1.1-1:.1:4::v.-:1:rr::,:,z4::vs-:an41:L1ar:21ez:':11:V.-z4:4rg.11:25:fr:iz2:-.-14:21:2rf:-2Qpr-:1vs-2:2.1:v:1:rr:E1-I-'11-21:14 The Judges passed sentences, the works. The victim paid his respects to their ROYAL MAJESTIES and was thrown in the stock to contemplate horrors to come. At last released to the Royal Doctor a thorough check-up was given and treat- ment adequate for the case was admin- istered. . Some were attended by the Royal Un- dertaker who suitably fitted them in a fast turning coffin until they didn't know which end was up. To,be sure that their breath would not offend and that their eyes, ears, nose and throat were not neglected, the Royal Dentist washed and sprayed their oral cavities thoroughly with his own patented cure-all. After nasopharangeal treatment, while complexions were still a bili- ous green, the last gauntlet loomed up before them. With speed and efficiency the Royal Assistants beat out their last full measure of justice. But this was not the end. In their accustomed manner, they waited in line for the eager scissors of the Royal Barber and the greasy comfort of the Royal shampoo. Quicker than they real- ized they felt the not too gentle snipping of their curly locks fol- lowed by a soothing oil massage. And finally the Royal ducking, when sure hands firmly plunged the helpless subject into the cool- ing waters until he yelled, l'M A SHELLBACK. ' 5 - -f:1z:-5.121-sf, lil ' 1-':s:5g32:1gggegsgfieiilz. . ,J l 1 Whlle the shlp s routlne work was flnlshed at l6O0 each day there were many of us whose dutles con tlnued The complicated engineering plant needed constant attention, and the laundry worked around the clock to keep us clean Those off watch, how ever, found time to glve to thelr special Interests 1 , 14,2 - QV krkh X , .H ,N V, Sailors never tire of watching the everchanging aquatic patterns, searching for flying fish, or viewing the colorful displays at sunset. We spent many hours at the rail enjoying these pleasures and think- ing of home or of liberty in the next port. But there were times when we were called from our reveries to make fast a line or to do some other task. Then, the job completed, we gathered around our good old Navy Joe pot. , fg+:vf ,mimi-in-vfvfflk ,, iffy if-mm? f ,f K A 'M 4522 'Qi ,wwf 9 I5 1 - , . 4 :elf f, 0 ,g - 1 34'- 4 1I X ' '34 f '?12s.'- ' .f '1.ar2': :.. ? Wow ew- - Q. mx, f 1 Every day after working hours, many gathered in the hangar to participate in sports. Volleyball and basketball were the most popular shipboard activities and many hard fought tournaments were held. There were others who had special interest in tumbling and acrobatics. On the morning of 30 January, HAPPY VALLEY cautiously picked her way through thick fog and rain toward the mouth of Port Jackson. While all hands stood at attention at quarters for entering port, a twenty-one gun salute was fired to the Commonwealth of Australia. The salute was returned by the Coastal Defense Station on the Inner Southhead. As though doing it for dramatic effect, the sun broke out in full glory after the ship entered the harbor, to welcome VALLEY FORGE and give the crew a good view of the harbor-embracing city. Shortly, Sydney Bridge loomed up over the horizon and domi- nated the whole scene, as we later found, it dominates much of the conversation with many Sydneyites. Our ship fired a thirteen gun salute to RADM FARNSWORTH, RAN, in HMAS AUSTRALIA. The salute was returned as VALLEY FORGE moved silently toward her berth at the Wooloomooloo Docks. Rounding Garden Island, the Sydney skyline seemed to rise up out of the Botanic Gardens. The concentration of tall buildings made an impressive sight, and gave the feeling that this was a modern country like our own. All along the road opposite the dock, people were lined up to watch our carrier come in. We had heard much about the admiration of the Australians for Americans and were wondering just what our reception would be. , .v TX T5 ' ,,., ..1,-,..,,,.,', . I I-I fd 1'- 21f3':2-Ia'-1.11. ,. ..,4.,,I, v::,k.,V,.,.1Q.51fg. 52.23. l ,,.,,,,,..:,55 a ,.aa,. 1 ,,l,Q1 I' ff 'ifi' Soon the tugs were towing and pushing us into our berth. When the ship was moored, calls were made by Diplomatic, Government, and Military Officials . . . and the Band and Marine Detachment were kept busy rendering honors. Below decks those who rated liberty quicklyndressed for their first visit to Sydney. lt was an eager crowd of men who started down the ga ng4 way after liberty call. 4 Thus started VALLEY FORGE's first visit to a foreign country. Q A : ft - 1 f .if f ',l' i ff' l x , 2 Y 1.1.9 X w A Leaving the docks the liberty party scattered by various means to all parts of the city. Those inter- ested in historical things found Cook's Monument and other re- minders of the discovery and settlement of the Australian Con- tinent. Everyone enjoyed the beau- tiful floral displays at Hyde Park in the center of the City. After this first visit in the Park, small groups of American bluejackets could be seen there at any time during liberty hours. 'lfmnx ' . 'G 1 H . , . '2E1Ef21?? 4 . 'G ...IPM-u rl I if! gs, 'JN 'Q w 5 ,K f U fy f 1 EZE if f ' ' 4 , 2 ol Y i M Old friendships were renewed and new ones formed shortly after liberty had begun. A few of the men had been down under before and some of these were engaged to be married. To them this was their opportunity to fulfill their long delayed plans and soon wedding bells were ringing. Sydney opened its homes and heart to the Americans and entertained them most hospitably. my , ,4 -QMS? -f X, x.,X k me fm, emi Fx Q' J X? 'ia Z ' 'zzyzf -A9:A ' - -V ' ' W A ? -F1 ffii-T' -- We don't want to give the impression that the fair sex monopolized our time. We were cordially received in masculine society as well. i I i X jzxlvgwswff. X The horses run the wrong way in Sydney, but we found that the hot tips were much the same as at Belmont Park. How- ever, not everyone spent his time at the races as you can see. It being late Summer in Sydney, some of the days were mild and refreshing. We were able to enjoy in person, or vicariously, leisure activities of the Australians. W 10' yf , , , , 7. - Y, . . , , .. .... , , ..... , , . nv-- fvf ... v I GQ., qty' ,.. 1Q 9 1, i 'G ce , l wif i' '1 YZ f 55521231 'f-331 '1' li, S V 1 '. f :ifffg .3 ' :' fglgggi, 4' A, Q ' -tx f ' ' N 1 as if fgqgg Special sea details were soon secured and we steamed toward Hong Kong. Our underway routine had started again. The radio reception was poor so we depended upon movies and the Band for enter- tainment. Band concerts were given frequently and were much appreciated during the long days at sea. Flight operations commenced soon after leaving Sydney, and the men in engine control were alert to answer changes in speed as directed from the bridge. Un- fortunately, operations are always fraught with danger and it was necessary on three occasions to bow in memory of shipmates lost. ' Mwywws is E , 5. X E Z . 2. E x af . . A t i 2 1 ,fa , i X y j Cffif Q62 Jvfkfif' 1 4 - QF l 6 We were very proud of our Gun- nery Department's firing. It takes team work to operate a battery of modern guns and we had exactly what it took. While every shot was not a ringer our score was high. A stowaway was discovered one morning shortly after leaving Sydney. Unfortunately for him, we were still operat- ing with the Australian Navy and he was transferred to one of their ships. After leaving the Australian Naval force, which had been with us for several days, we continued north- ward. A large Filipino leave party was flown ashore as VALLEY FORGE passed their homeland. 0l'l J Ong The sky was overcast but visibility was fairly good on the morning of l8 February as VALLEY FORGE made her way through the tortuous passage lead mg into HONG KONG harbor Chinese junks scurrying hither and thither across the Bay with their conglomerant cargoes human beings included were our first mtroductlon to the Orient A Zl gun salute was fired to the Flag of the Crown Colony as HAPPY VALLEY passed the slow moving sampans being sculled about the harbor by women. As VALLEY FORGE neared number ONE buoy, bum- boats swarmed in on us from every direc- tion and by the time we anchored, we were completely surrounded. Some tossed coins into the water where they were quickly retrieved by native divers. Our Oriental sojourn had started. Going ashore in liberty boats we passed bum- boats, sampans, and junks. There were coolies carrying tremendous loads rickshaws carts of all descriptions automobiles bicycles and street cars We were all amazed and delighted to find a double decked tram marked HAPPY VALLEY' Moving on we found the money changers and exchanged our U S Dollars for Hong Kong dollars 2? fig? of 'i?f gi:Tm 'ff' Xglxlxk I I I I I I . r zzsitisflilleg-,1 f I f . ff , , it ' - -1a'f51:5l1rf 5:1-v-A ,. .1214 Li, 1 ills The changmg scene in the nar- row, flag bedecked streets and fy! alleys was fascmatlng to those get- ,X tmg their flrst gllmpse of the Crlent Almost everyone found in one of the seemingly countless small shops a souvenir for those at home 5 n i The Hong Kong Bank Building is the most widely known landmark in Victoria. Here, at the Times Square of Hong Kong, was the starting point of our buying sprees and sightseeing trips. Many viewed the superb collections of Chinese art at the Haw Par mansion. JW f f ' A short distance behind the Hong Kong Bank Building was the terminus of the cable car which rose steeply to the top of the hill. From the peak we were able to get a marvelous panorama ofthe entire harbor with Kowloon in the back- ground. During the rare moments when the air was clear and the sun shining this was a camera fans delight The boat landing far below was diminutive from these heights . . . I I , iv-' ' Scanning the scene below, a pa- goda on a small hill could be seen rising above the surrounding build- ings. Being inquisitive we made our way down to the storied struc- ture and took some photographs in the beautiful surrounding gardens. Although to Occidental tastes there was too much ginger bread, we were amazed at the infinite amount of time and labor that must have gone into its construc- tion and maintenance. We had the feeling that, in China, time was of slight or no significance. 1 -,-,--.,, v '.1- , if-f .,.:, -fs ,.f-,- v 1 M355- '-b xiii QT: , tk ' . .g 3 .,1.1g,.:'--..',.' i5:ufgg:1J, :j, Q ,5 i:hggW.:g.:'f:., . - lf' '11-Q nf., .ii.'.:fr1,- :gl 'T g - .:s'.Z'1fQ'.-'lj ' ?:2-i f -Q' r .-.:.j. 5-3 .... .,.:l,5.555,,..' Qltvgl V 10... V- 'Fa 'ff a'1g.51gggg ' :.1i,gqzi'22f113-.W qt . .j.,gIlgsjz2.f2.ffgzg. ff5LjffIf.f.'ff .YE 21- - +112'ff'.'5i::f:. Q ' fffifilfifs? fQf'5fSi:15.zj.2f'524' 5 Q -xfffzfrf 3:i'lI5 -::ff..,, A 0,-fliii. an zz-'Jiang ,I . E 2 'gh E SP L 1 Z Some of us went over to Kowloon, across from Victoria, and toured the city and adjoining countryside., Here prices were lower, and the people less spoiled by western civilization. As we crossed the harbor, the ever-present junks with H f f 2 sw s-ww Q 9'5fl'54 -WS SY ii' Q ' ' N ' vff gvfyy 1 ff. SW H4 -I' 01- if M N Q1 v, , P KY .Q 1,553 QW ,Qwysgff i 1 L EQ 'X EWWWW f W awww -Q 'Q . N ff t 0225? Tf their many colored sails and their see- ing eyes painted on the bows were found on every hand. ' 1f2Er,Q,,F rsfr fu, 6,046 SPI mfr w-my 'me vnufv fairer, W W 5 l ,vs vllwx? ,Q ew, Q , 1 1 ,- ir i JCLQ l ' Q i i ll lf N- Mi 'll 7 gi Sfeve Z Caravan Q V Jg,IgElll212 ffhafff on cv-45 f e? There were manytthings strange to us which were commonplace to the Chinese. So, as we wandered around the cluttered streets, we were surprised to find a public writer who had set up his stand and was doing a thriving business. Scores of the natives live all their lives in sampans, and floating restaurants moved among them crying their wares. Everyone's time was not devoted to riding rickshaws or taking in the sights. There were numerous official functions requiring the presence of the Admiral, the Captain, and others. WELL,NOVV,A GAL COULl7N'T ALLOW YoU TIGHT PANT5 ADMHZAL9 ou CHARLIE VICTOR EOUE FIVE TO PUT IN WITHOUT PAEE1Nca You A LINE... NICE To mow THE ELAE WAE EEING SHOWN EY EUcH A 4.0 OUTFIT... PULL UP A COLLISION MAT AND -snow ME How MUCH YoU'vE LEAEUED ASOUT JET PEOPULEIQN !! T Ifi A , ,,.,V.,1s:-f ferf -V1-':f:.1.. My ,.,, i U U T if M EET fr,l:1sfT.,,,,,r lliiizliigiviiviigiiii i X i 'sigz , Q .,L,s1 1 W T N 56:33 A L L A+ Q4 i 'liiii ' '1-i l,l:f 1 A2 ' T TtL1fl12 A A L 5651- wisfveg T0 The EANE ow THE VALLEYEQEEE 5-om Amee LACE an za fzr --I- vac iiiliii iiii IQ 418 X I As we became acquainted with the Orientals, we were able to dis- tinguish one from another. On the whole the Chinese appeared well nourished and content, whether they lived ashore or afloat. All of them were interesting. Q The ship got underway on Zl February, for Tsingtao, and again we were busy with our individual tasks. The ingenuity of the men in the machine shop was called for many times in making repairs to machinery and equipment. The Master-at-Arms force is essential in keeping an orderly routine. . 'l 1 I l Y, L , ll ln S 4 lg: A' 'I n i X '1t.1 2 lzir. When General Quarters was sounded, we donned bat- tle dress and took our sta- tions. Even then, in the midst of drills, some had time to imagine adventures in our next port of call. Wx? A5 re W, i .,,,s: it 4 W 'i i iii'i ' Qv,,:.,55., 1 i+:,'5i:,113,15,E:E,'.,,55i,1,E., ,,,, 1 :pf 'sf At General Quarters every- one from the bridge to the fire rooms had responsibili- ties. The battle problem over, however, the most im- portant thing became the next meal jiingfao I After five and a half increasingly cold days the ship approached the former German Naval Base of Tsingtao. The wind was bitterly cold and the YELLOW SEA a turmoil of muddy water as our ship anchored on 26 February. The low lying, bleak looking city appeared depressing and uninviting as we lined the rail to get our first glimpse of it. Chinese natives embarked in sampans and dressed in heavy quilted suits and coats sculled their way across the choppy water and stood by expectantly in the lee of the mighty VALLEY FORGE. The twin spires of the Roman Catholic Cathedral dominated the city's skyline, otherwise the buildings were low and unpretentious, though modern in appearance. Those who braved the wintry gusts soon found that Tsingtao was quite unlike Hong Kong. By comparison the people in Hong Kong seemed well nourished and happy. Here there was a look of sadness and malnutrition on the faces of nearly everyone. Poverty was evident in the tatters and rags worn by many of the coolies as well as in the frightful crowding of families in the available houses. This was the postwar China we had heard about. mf 'F' A 'l ' l'ii'il ..'i- - ,... Q ' - ,.,..:g, 3 -g'5'l 'l repay, ii i -1.1'S'-'lu'h l7 Arriving at Pagoda Pier we made our way up the main street of Tsingtao. St. Mary's Cathedral was the principal sight to behold. We paused to watch rug makers' nim- ble fingers flying at designs. And still farther on we found shrines to visit. Chinese Midshipmen, who were being trained by the American Navy, came aboard to inspect our ship. In the meantime many of us were reconnoitering temples and shops in the city. The bitter wind made the warm buildings enticing. Buddhist shrines were numerous in Tsingtao. But we also found Christian centers of worship. The architecture of the city itself was pre- dominately European having been built by the Germans prior to World War l. Street vendors were not as numerous in this city as they had been in Hong Kong, but beggars and urchins were everywhere. --un-......,, Rickshaws were plentiful and it was a strug- gle to get by the boys without giving in to their persuasion. But having escaped, we triumph- antly went our way. The Temple of Five Vir- tues was magnificent and other shrines were equally fascinating. Each day that a new liberty party arrived at Pagoda Pier you could be certain that new sights would be discovered and visited. Pagodas are always fascinating. By this time we were becoming quite adept at bargaining. haf fgfiyffr Io fe' ,W W A! W. md! View 3' 'G ff We so J i 211225 New mA,,0wmwmwf?' f y W: J 'l 7 A 5 21 - ,L - - 'fin . f ff va- 4,1 - , -1 1 ' 1 , if :Im - gl? ' 1' f it ,I 1 ' . .1 I . x ,H X, . A ' .7 s :Y fem. T' . A.-ni A Q' ' .' F' .. ,, ,,, ' IQ 5, -f1:z?s ?f. f.a?, 42-f - ff, . - H -Y JA O.-Wyh? -n a .. . .41 M , ' V ' ' -' ' A ' ,,. - ,. ., ,-.. - - A-- Wd. , .- ' ,-- . ,. . .. , I it Before returning to the ship we stopped for a cup of hot tea. As we retraced our steps to Pagoda Pier, we could see the tide running out and the Chinese swarm- ing over Beacon Beach in search of stranded fish. Aboard, Supply working par- ties were busily reprovision- ing for the continuance of our voyage. Between ports, leisure hours had to be accounted for. lt was dis- covered that there were a large number of men who had talent for entertainment, so programs were produced for the enjoyment of all hands. Hobbies, too, took their full share of leisure moments. 'All these things helped to keep morale high and interest keen. We could bask in the sun with a few friends, play cards, day-dream about the softball games we last played, the dances we had attended aboard, or some liberty we had made. , ,, ag , 2 K 2 4 X rw aa s '-l: Q llil Of course none of us could quite forget the long hours we had worked loading ship, but we didn't choose to dream of those things. We always considered gunnery practices interesting, and inspections a necessary nuisance. ' . N- --' V ' f a . 1 lll . 'flR5f5m52- , , r , , ..,,, ,.,. Q .Yi is L ' ., f'. V 433' illl fllrif ., X. w, , 1 4, , .L 5zli4l25i5'5b v. - ' P J 1 X51 4 ,will if-1:1 Qigighiu AIX .. . 1 -A 3- , ,,-vw, omg, jc.. i -2iVfY'3311t , - ' X + 7 -'r'fS3 I ' Ji' . ,,:qe?5L:lgl5Vi '55,--: xx. '. 2 Q71 1' 9 ' ' c -'Jia ii1':Fix 4'7 J ' A3 V ' uf 1 'Fw 'Vs ingayaore VALLEY FORGE accompanied by USS LAWE and USS THOMAS steamed steadily southward and arrived off the Malay Peninsula the morning of March. Approaching the Island of Singapore the ship passed between the,Peninsula and the Islands of Bintan and Batam. The low lying land with its narrow white beach was planted in row upon row of trees. The air was filled with the humid, musty odor of a tropical jungle. Floating coconuts dotted the harbor. In the shallow water just off shore on the Singapore side were the wrecks of ships damaged and beached during the war. Between brief showers the sun shone and everything literally steamed. Storied Singapore came into view as we entered KEPPEL Harbor. There was a multitude of cargo ships in the harbor, and here and there small boats darted in and out between them. The city sprawled along the water front, its low skyline here and there accentuated by the steeple of a church, a mosque or the top of a tall building. Behind the breakwater small ships were being unloaded at tropical pace into small barges, and behind them, in the shallow protected waters, were boats of all descriptions and in all stages of repair. This was Singapore, the cross roads of the World, and the stage for many fabulous stories . . . the place where the Orient and Occident with all their peoples and cultures have intermingled for centuries and formed a conglomerant found nowhere else in the World. We saw Europeans rubbing shoulders with Indians in their flowing robes and turbans, Malaysians in their sarongs, Chinese in their khaki shorts and shirts or in breech-cloths, Moslem women in their volum- inous costumes and veils, and others in apparel representing peoples too numerous to mention. We were soon to find, after visiting the shops, the RAF- FLES HOTEL, the several WORLDS, and riding trishaws and taxis, that prices were high but that everything was plentiful. Evidently there was greater prosperity in this port than the others we had visited in the Orient. The landing in Singapore was always crowded with natives who seemed to have nothing else to do but stand around and watch America-ns. lt was interesting to go out on some ofthe small piers nearby to see the sampans. The Capitol build- ing was the most imposing structure in Singapore, but most of us passed it by to visit the small shops. 3,3411- f ,ag -.,- . -,'- ityl 4371-4-'I--- 3 ',,,, . - ,,.,, 5 ---.---1---' c ' ,',' 1 4' ,,V. gi .,,V. y:,,,,,,,,,,4 'A3,1,,3:ZLaL,bV,A.,, : e' 5'-7 'V ,.., K, I -- kv ' 1 K' aaa-gi f Q- -1 . - . .24 Q2 Qfjpi . f2,Qq '5j,f3 1. -.. .xi L-...-.J 2-v n......,.--f- .'QE5:-'mx' It was always easy to find a trishaw, which is really a bicycle with a sidecar. Rickshaws have been abolished in Singa- pore. A snake charmer plied his trade nearby and always had a small group around him. Some of us visited the fabulous Palace of the Sultan of Johore just outside of Singapore. G wvsd-o lkahammm.- X VA . ,1.r E:i:E2:,, ra a s , 9' - ' Ig ,'4. fx s 1,- 'K -- in amz... my -- Q - Q- L A Ji ' l IH Ax., iss, 1.?.F7,.L.,3 Others visited a rubber plantation and the Tiger BaIm estate. HoWever, most of us chose to stay in the city and shop. ,T ,Q , -f f lf-455 ' L, g l was , ' nge-'f rvfgiff 'Serif D V 'f Qs' T5 N- K' Ni M510 ls fy siifggif 'iff f Stepping into one of the Buddhist temples we were awed by the immensity of one of the idols. And we could easily see that as much care was put into the making of these huge figures as was put into the beautifully created jewel boxes we found in many of the shops. i i l l a , i l i Q V , 4 i! l , l iz il 1 I ,. il f ,iw E il' i il f l ' il f 'l i 5 1 iff ' 21 1' if -i X I ' if 'c li il it l yi 9 fl i I lie , f It 5? There were outdoor shrines in Singapore, too, which were elabo- rately decorated with dragons, cranes, and other Oriental,motifs. It was pleasant after a long walk around town to sit down for a few moments. , .0 ....,...,,....,,.-.,.,-. I i 'iiV- f' in eb, if - r ,i'r 2 t Q -f.Q, ,.1:. ,.-5-1? 2-img Q0 0' -rr-f CEZ.....J--3 25'-ff mqmuwW----- . While at sea, getting a seat at the movies was always a scramble. The films were a welcome relaxation. 'Q kwin f 3 My lx ,- is A, , lim WM we S x Each new day brought new jobs. The elec- tronic gang were kept busy with maintenance. VALLEY FORGE fueled our destroyers. Our SecNav guests were fascinated with the variety of activities aboard. V A W- I 5 ' , ,,v-frm:--:f.,1-1-11. : :ff . ,,. . ' V '- v- -1.1. .f., ,4,, , .,.. - , . . V -.W -H. . .. ' -',.' -- ,jx -V--.:f.,,.:,,ff-fr -QT ,lfflx ,:f,4,i,,....4,.x,. .lcfgxz-yy .V 1 4:51 fgg,e,a,..'-4.'2..f'2wf.f: 'f ' f- -' ,,-Lp 13,13 .. 3' 1 xgqg- J ,..-4...4, .iczggi g .-1 ,gigqfm - .. .S nb, l U'lCOI'I'la, 89 After steaming through Malacca Straits VALLEY FORGE crossed the Bay of Bengal and headed for the Northeastern coast of Ceylon and the harbor of Trincomalee. Early on the morning of l5 March Foul Point Light, just outside the harbor, was sighted. HAPPY VALLEY proceeded to the mouth of the harbor and through the narrow, twisting channel and moored to buoy number ONE. The jungle surrounded harbor is the only one in Ceylon or lndia that is completely sheltered. The British Naval Base is located here. The town of Trincomalee has a population of some l0,000. As the liberty parties disembarked at Pepper Pot Pier they were greeted by naked boys who were diving for coins in the clear water. Passing through the gates the men were deluged with rickshaw drivers desperately trying to get the American bluejackets to give them their business, and Ceylonese and Singhalese hawkers who all but dragged them into their hastily impro- vised shops. lt seemed that every business house in Colombo had sent salesmen with goods to Trincomalee. There were ebony elephants, precious stones, leopard skins, mats, coconut carvings, wood carvings, and fresh fruits, along with many other items, being sold. The fine featured, dark complexioned, colorfully saronged natives watched the Americans inquisi- tively as they started their bargaining. We had become practiced hands in the Oriental art of haggling over prices. ln spots, the air reverberated with the shouting of native salesmen and American bluejackets having it out over the price of some item. Here and there the spectacle was interesting enough to have drawn a large crowd who stopped to watch and listen. In the pastures along the open road sacred cows grazed peacefully and bands of monkeys frolicked in the trees. Two-wheeled carts drawn by oxen creaked by on the road. The British Forces extended many courtesies to the officers and men including tours to the two ancient ruins of Polonnaruwa and Anuradapura. These cities, 3 hours distant from Trincomalee, thrived in the 6th Century B.C. The small villages which were passed were very primitive. Finally as the long, hard ride neared its end, the ancient dams and reservoirs came into view. Their preservation is remarkable. The extent of the ancient cities and their surrounding suburbs was surprising. The ancient shrines and other sacred buildings have been partially excavated, so we could see the glory of this ancient city. It was hard to realize we were walking through the remains of so old a civilization. The enormous dagabas built of earth and covered with clay brick were shaped like half-spheres or bells and the manhours consumed in their construction must have compared with those on the Egyptian pyramids. There are numerous small shrines which have been restored. Buddhist priests in their yellow robes and shaved heads were occasionally seen. But this was only a part of our experience in Ceylon. 1 llalfgi f, X far., '-m.r-L'x.f-LVN.:-UL Ju-..rx.n y ff FP I Q 6 1 'Ml ll I f ft .115 . in rryyr we frrl 5 in fy 'i,' V. I' e f . L ' P an 4 A . P lifllm 1-, , h unmwm. mmnmumunu ' 1, aww , V - ' ' Q- Q, ff' ck ? a 1 : he VAA, AV.,.4,,, ,,,., A.V., , . , There were several British Men-o'-War anchored'in the harbor. The dense jungle border- ing it was the habitat of many species of wild life. 2 3 3 5' 3 Those who couldn't go on the tours spent their time along the shore of Trincomalee watching the native boats and the surf, or taking in the shops. ln the meantime VALLEY FORGE entertained many visitors. ' It is not hard to imagine that the boats in use today in Ceylon are of the same description as those used in ancient times. s I The touring parties were interested in various statues of Buddha in the excava- tions. But we readily retraced our steps to the Trincomalee dock in anticipation fl fi 4 il H fi ii , 's of the ship's early departure. llia ' gb-,X I H 532 .3 . 4,33 xg. Lf-:lf ,V V25 4 -. ',.l. 'WK' - . as: f ef! -f 1 gi J ,.,:gf,!' F: i , J . ii - :ff 1 LJ! Qi' ri -.J Q, - fa' gf' ,sf We were soon underway from Trincomalee and again busy at our duties at sea. The radiomen had difficulty keeping the RBO system channeled because of the distance involved. With extensive operations continuing, the Air Group mechan- ics were kept busy with mainte- nance in order to assure a high degree of availability. The photog- raphers, with all the photos taken during the visit in Ceylon, worked day and night filling official orders for prints and in maintenance work on their cameras. WP 5 l ' cy my , ,VFW X L-,I fly XX A .1 H, g au t 1 ' ,If-, A I J ., 1. ,A N r hh v v 7 .lta ,.eQ239-- f f 1 During a typical day at sea one might wit- ness boxing ata Happy Hour or a peak load at the laundry. We also had a drone unit on board, and the buzzing midgets were frequent targets for ship's gunnery. ln off moments the ship's fountains were open and doing a thriving business. And after working hours or during the noon period, we sometimes lay in the sun to keep up that athletic tan. , pad janufd V Sailing through the Gulf of Oman and then through the Straits of Hormuz, VALLEY FORGE proceeded Northward into the Persian Gulf to dust-shrouded RAS TANURA, Saudi Arabia. The yellowish haze was encountered as far as one hundred miles out in the Gulf of Oman. In the morning of 24 March the ship anchored off the sand spit where ARAMCO had located its refinery. The concession to the vast reserve, where oil gushes from scores of desert wells, is held by the Arabian American Oil Company, a combine of four major American companies. A f 1 The visit to Ras Tanura was a gesture of good-will on the part of the American Government toward a country whose history is woven into antiquity. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Sa'ud ibn 'Abdul 'Aziz ibn 'Abdur Rahman AI Faisal Al Sa'ud lSaud, for shortll, and his retinue came aboard to inspect the ship and observe Air and Gunnery L operations. Unfavorable visibility caused by an untimely shamal lsand storml restricted the extensive exercises planned for the Prince. However, the Royal Party was fascinated by the limited operations, the ship's underway routine, and by the film, The Fighting Lady. The ship returned in the afternoon in time for officers to attend the Banquet given by the Crown Prince in Damam. K l I l I l l V V , ur , . ,,,. K ' ', ,F ,., V . 1 VV ar, V. C , X 1 y K . I., .Q 5K' r K' 'W f .-V313 l :rl 'if XV . 073 4 Vi- - 51 5 , .:. ll M V f V V , Q V iz. 1 V vm, ,A VK . . , KK,?V,i,AKVV.V,V,K ,.3,5.V,VK.V,Kf,V7sQ2K . .1 A, V J g N 1 MK I Ia. A l K V 'w .V H 5 1 K , . fssa V VV . ., V- V V. 1 . V . S . A , X Wy- 4 -V V V ,- I' Q. , . V' M-Q2 W 5' E ' ' ' .- , . 92' 1 . Nj V X 12 ,'VfAiL75 ,V V - ' 'XV f ,N -' 47'iQ'f V ,, 4 . ,K , , . ,, ami, KU , . ,Ve . A A K, . 1. KK 1 ,N , Y .K . , K V W- ,V K , ' M . V V X V ..,. . as-nw, ..,, f.-V ...W ,,,. V, -V A K 1 Kg- Va K M.. W ., w5.VV..s-Vg, W ,,,m,, K I , , i V , V Vxuff' '- 'fig ,V , X WV-V' X KK K . xi ' . ,msg . -NV., V V V V I ,A ,7 VK LVN V. .W V, V ,J A QMKLVVQM. Kfaw:MMsVM,.,,V H ,c Q, M, ,ygf ,W-Vw-V 4- Mfrs-vw V 'Ms Mr K V - - QV, V V V4 . .V sy, , ,459 ,c V . , 4 MVVV- . ly, ,, V fKK' , VU'-' ' 'jf-xmgsf ,.sV, ,Z ,K ,, , . ., Vg: W .,f-sf,w,,gg,gKZ-VV V 'WQWMK' .--V V -Vfw,WW ., l, NK I K KXKJWE., K.,V-fswaipgj p5wsKV,c.,,i,4, KV fa., ,W5 N X . ,V K 5 V. V, 4 X , V sf my-yay VNV .wfwsw .V .V VV V V I ws, ,V as-V AMMV - K ,V, WV. wQ,l443VVKf0 QM, K- ,5,AV,g,,4.s,,, Vo V -X ,, - , V, f VT-sW'f'ff5K4,' W fVf'V c 'Usf X V V-aymf V AK, - 7 K s .,g.f 21 ,VV5KfK-7V,sQ,fgystMy-QV, 4, l .V Vwfw'3esg..V,.- fV sf ' , . ''Vi',.l,Vf:i,W,4Vff'Z,W W, ,Vwir .,,.. V , - ,. .V Ref... K. V, ,Mwfwa-V .. U., t V g 04,6 V l ,V, VVKKKQKU .fc ...,,sVV.WKV.Q. I -V01 Avila 1:1 mg V V- P55901 fi-V O X' X f s f , K,QWKKK,.,g,:gsV., -VW..-,K I V- X sVsV , me 4ssqsVVwKs,A as V 'MK K ,,.i,' KX-, QQ ' A Q, VV- K V, ,V K, V . 4, . V., VV-V,,M6,VW-fyf ,WAV VV . ,. .V ., ,A VcV.gVmM.V , , , fVf V K ,,W.V-V.,,- 'fbi XVVV V . V 4, K K if f--- X K . VVV V f V V V V4 ff'sW4wVwffa , V,--VMVXV V ,f-V.VV.-V sf X VVsV.,.,VcV ws X Q f Vs 'V X X - SOC? -' I - ' f Mm XA X K V 'K ,VV V wwf: ,.-VV K, V ,. V. V V V K2 , Kb Weak V Vw-V . . K 'Mm 'YK'Vs'K-,V V? ,QV X ,,.,V3V,V,V fm ig. . . K K I I , ,. VV K ' V K ,K V , , ,, V -V V V ,K a s .,,V QV K ,..,VV.,.. . . ,. .. K K V7,,WV,s:V.'Wa.f2.s V, The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia bears strong resemblance to his father. His long flowing robes gave him a graceful appearance as he moved about the ship and his stature made him tower far above most of us. After the banquet at Damam, the Crown Prince pre- sented a pair of beautiful Arabian horses to the Admiral. l l l QU , 0 LQ X E ll F 1 322:rfgz,s.'g:jf:2I'zj,1f '.,f , A V. ' 'iflgil JN, ' ,:2:I?ifff33 ig? ll ' A ' ' .-dill' Q f ' gli, 9- ME- fi 1 f,., nf 9 , 3 Zi .K W ,, K i k, .-.. -f--A '01 l l l , 1 l l l l l l l I l l l l x l f,k.f IAQ. If mW..,,fv-'.,v1-f 0 f., f Z ,, ,, The Prince was fascinated by the oper- ations in the pilot house and had every- thing explained to him. His personal bodyguards showed interest in the entire ship. This was their first visit aboard a carrier. We couldn't disassociate them from the desert which we had visited the day before when ARAMCO gave a beach party for us . . . complete with burros. - r - ---Ii X. -'1 s X- . . 1 f K. W. . .QV ,V x A A J. y 5 if J , , W. - . Q ' . 5' ' 1 f 3 - A ' - - ' '7'Y?5f X' Z f ff' - 'K if 5 N 7 ' ., ' 4. 37 ' il' ' i v 'sa,,,' , - 'N I in V fu.-. 1.1: LCM N aa , - - A. r f .,i' ffW , ' H . , A VQ., E ESS . . 5' f R ,X 5 q V'fL' f .',,, I rffgfff J K : ,k,V . L,KV. pig '.-'h 1 gk-TSQA-i:L112,l2x ' A l 'm1i4iQfifX-x' r ' mfg a- eggs .gguk 71-,Is L ,V e ' l ff? V 1 . ,kV- L it L:k.1lx,I1i kfkr be-1 r se' .,r,' www Afgquvfk ,v 3-4.4 3 N Hi' The visit of the Arabians proved to be a pageant from the time they embarked. The elaborately embroidered costumes and their intricately designed daggers, swords, sheaths, and holsters were masterpieces. Even their rifles were inlaid with precious stones, silver, and ivory. The colorful spectacle seemed anachronous in the 'setting of VALLEY FORGE. Whenever the opportunity presented itself we met and talked with the Arabs who conversed in English. lt was interesting to compare ideas on varied subjects and amusing to try on their costumes. The Prince personally presented gifts to some of us including: swords daggersp camel hair burnoosesg and gold pocket watches fllffwfy Wwamy Wfww Wf!f1y MW! of 'V WWW Vi' nx C7 x X 1 I view 4 xvqlgxx .- .g s. 1 1 . 5 WM? ww' 'wa The experience the Arabs had aboard eating American food was just as much a change for them as it was that night for the Americans who ate Arabian food at the Prince's banquet at Damam. lr 5 'U ii.liyf ff We regretted that the shamal continued. However, the Arabs seemed to enjoy ex- ceedingly our limited operations and appre- ciated the tour of the ship. We hoped that they got as much outof their trip with us as we did from our attendance at their banquet. Our guests watched the flight operations intently, the activity on the flight deck as well as in the air. They were intrigued by their tour of the ship. IVT7' f P Ralf, L ,. ..... . .... r 411' .ll Y M ,,,. , :':.:1,:4-:-.W .T U X 1 Nl, ,J 9 IMI, f 'R ' I ,,...,.1.:.: 4 mf ::1:s -5121: f t'V0'fWvff' nrfrrrnoror l f J O v 157 tty J After two days at Ras Tanura we got underway agam Health aboard was good due to the vlgllance of the Medical and Dental Depart ments Therr preventative medl crne was effective On 26 March HAPPY VALLEY got underway on another leg of her World Cruise. The air was still filled with fine dust particles stirred up by the shamal the previous day. Passing southward through the Persian Gulf, we cautiously made our way into the Gulf of Oman and around to the Gulf of Aden. The trip from Ras Tanura to Gibraltar was the second longest without liberty that the ship made during the entire cruise. lt was l6 days in all from the time we left the anchorage at Ras Tanura until we put into Gibraltar. Five days of steady sailing put us through the Gulf of Aden, the Straits of Bab El Mandeb, and into the Red Sea. In that area we saw several colorful Arabian dhows, our first. Every- one was pleasantly surprised at the delightful temperature in the Red Sea, since we had been told it would be extremely hot this time of the year. Passing northward through these his- toric waters, we passed Jidda, the seaport of the sacred Mohammedan city of Mecca. On 3 April VALLEY FORGE entered the Straits of Jubal and the Gulf of Suez. That same day we passed Suez, entered the Canal, and anchored in Great Bitter Lake. The destroyers proceeded through the canal and stayed over at Port Said. Underway again on Sunday 4 April, we completed our transit. ln places the canal was so narrow that you felt you could reach out and touch the sides. Camels loped along the roadway on the Egyp- tian side. VALLEY FORGE was the first big U. S. carrier and the longest ship to transit the canal. The primitive scene along the West bank was intensely interesting . . . primitive methods of cultivating the soil, water wheels lifting the water U22 from ditches to irrigate the crops, camel transportation. ln the late afternoon we came to Port Said and proceeded through it to the Mediterranean. We operated with units of the Mediterranean Fleet in the Aegean Sea and the Candia Sea for two days. The ship steamed so close to Greece we could see the beautiful Spring greens on the lower hills and the snow on the distant peaks. We also passed close-by Pantelleria on our way to Gibraltar. gig' r 1 From the time we entered the canal at Suez until we left at Port Said, there was an everchanging scene. After an all-day run from Great Bitter Lake, HAPPY VALLEY finally came to col- orful Port Said. The canal runs through the middle of this thriving port so we had a good view of the buildings and the people who were gaping at us along the banks. An Egyptian band played for us as they followed in a motor launch. We passed DeLes- seps Monument, and shortly thereafter were in the Medi- terranean. In our mind's eye these things Could still be seen . . . they would remain vivid memories for the rest of our lives. Perhaps, though none of us would admit it, sometime we would tell our children and our grandchildren that we were on the first large United States carrier to transit the Canal.' gba ACU' Early Sunday, ll April, we sighted the Rock rising loftily above the rolling hills of Spain. This grim British sentinel guarding the straits, classically known as the Pillars of Hercules, was awe-inspiring. It was a bright Spring day and the invigorating breeze and billowy white clouds reminded us of other days at home. Around the sloping base of the gigantic formation the city huddled in its white and pastel shades. We were scheduled to have a five-day visit in this charmingly mixed English and Spanish city. However, our visit was extended to nearly two weeks, which gave us ample opportunity to get acquainted with the people. The architecture of the buildings was predominately Spanish, but generally the furnishings and mode of life was a combination of both countries. The colorful mosaics in the doorways of many buildings were very attractive. xThe people were hospitable and friendly, and seemed pleased to have our Force present. x i , , I ,.L:-,,.1,:::i,,:i:i,?j:ig:Z:5,V:A,,EA:.5,,Ev,, eeuoenruakaaa r fifth? X, f 'ifiiinin s A . LUEQNRZKKQXNR, a,aa st, 1,g,y fif ' Milk' X ASF C 'Q Cv V- f 2 2 awezf glib? Q as V+ ami WGN Helix i- 1... X 9 ' Y QM I ,f X l Nb' T k Qin-T as 1 Q W l ff-4' A T. ' 'Wei 2 ix :T 1 1 5+ :iTg 2?g?EQ:'A To Some of us had the op- portunity to fly over the Rock. It was thrilling to see it at different angles and from high altitudes. The sloping smooth areas are concrete surfaces for water sheds and it is from these that the Rock gets all its fresh water. This was one way to cover the city quickly, and we got a good panorama of it. There are reputed to be vast natural caves as well as man made cisterns and passages in the Rock. The formation is geo- logically related to North Africa. Spring in Gibraltar and Spain was a pleasant contrast to the desola- tion of Arabia. Wild flowers bloomed, and the countryside, dressed in its fresh vernal greens, was most pleasant to behold. For those who had the opportunity to do so flying over the peaceful scene was an lnsplratlon angier Four large liberty parties were transported to Tangier by our destroyers and by British tugs. This colorful inter- national city was a beehive of activity. Its hodge podge of peoples and cultures was a pageant. The colors were riotous. The Ancient City with its walls and arched gates is picturesque, and the Casbah's relics and intricately carved woodwork are captivating. fs? ,N 11 ' A yvleiiaiiligiegsgig 5 '.-,- ' 21 L1 wif: ' 'g1fw1egtif2i l H' lfliix lil' X it a V -1,' Rambling over Tangier, we were entranced by the great variety of costumes, particu- larly in the native quarter and at busy crossroads. The market place in the center of the city is a garish and re- markable scene. There we saw all kinds of vegetables, fruits, and flowers in riots of hues. When we returned to the HAPPY VALLEY our sailing orders had been re- ceived. Steaming out of Gibraltar 23 April we com plied with our modified schedule which would take us to Norway and England. Training was intensified in preparation for the forthcoming operational readiness inspection. ln fact, we were so busy we had difficulty finding time to get haircuts. S ,742r.'fgfiQ N-lf 1: Q 'ij E J 9 4f L lf llrsff 1 A, rw lf 5 X if as Q 2,7 f X 79 I xvvxv x I , 4 xx N NI? ' x X X X 7 f ' l L- 5 , l x 2 ' I Xl 9 'w-.uv +Q The semaphore and the blinker were vital adjuncts to our ship's communication system. lThey were fre- quently utilized during flight operations and inter-type exercises. i efgefl Leaving Gibraltar 24 April, after a I3-day visit, we started northward to Bergen, Norway. We passed Portugal and France and proceeded thence into the Irish Sea. The rugged hills of Emerald lsle and Caledonia cast bluish shadows over the rich greens of the lowlands. The temperature gradually dropped as we moved closer to the Arctic regions. Farther to the North, the Shetlands and Orkneys displayed their cragged, snowy grandeur. On 29 April the shoreline of Norway came in sight. Soon the ship entered the narrow, treacherous fjord. It was a blustery Spring day and from time to time snow squalls so obscured the view that visibility was reduced to less than a hundred feet. This coupled with the menacingly protruding rocks of the fjord made the 25-mile trip a navigator's night- mare. As we proceeded up Puddefjord the sun shone for brief moments and we saw Norwegian houses, picturesque in their unusual colors and jewel-like settings. They were located in the snow-crowned hills and wooded vales.' We were reminded of Norway's principal industry by the penetrating odor of fish by-products. As we rounded a bend, the city suddenly appeared before us. It nestles at the foot of a mountain rising sharply to a height of some 3,000 feet . . . the Floyen. Coming nearer the buildings we saw how sturdily they were constructed and how well suited they were to the rigorous climate. There was considerable snow in the upper regions of the hills. Everything, including the harbor, gave the appearance of thrift and neatness. Several spotless cargo ships lay in the harbor. The ship was set for operation pinwheel lplanes were arranged facing inboard on both sides of the flight deck with engines turning overl to aid the pilot in getting HAPPY VALLEY to the dock. The dock was crowded with spectators fascinated by the operation and the ship. The warehouse on the dock was covered with heavy, wet snow which occasionally slid down amongst the throng. All of us were enthralled by the ruddy faces that looked up at us. A Norwegian Army Band and the Ship's Band played alternately as we moored. By the time the sound of the last plane engine died down, the lines were doubled up, and special details were secured. Spirits were high in anticipation of seeing Norway. We had numerous Diplomatic and Military officials visit us soon after we moored in Bergen. While in Bergen, VALLEY FORGE flew the flag of ADMI- RAL CONOLLY, Commander-in-Chief Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Fleets. A Q l 'in Q Our first liberty party found some unique stores and were charmed by the rosy-cheeked youngsters who gathered around window shoppers. A battalion of us paraded over the main thoroughfare before throngs of local citizens. The superb view from the Floyen is capti- vating. '- fjiiiiiifg ig 551, 'Tf ..,.-Jgi i fir, ,,V,i A-:pi aelaq The cable car climbing to the top ofthe Floyen was fas- cinating to watch, and thrill- ing to ride. The steep incline led to a view of especial beauty. We were told that during winter months the citizenry rode the cable car to the top and slalomed down a narrow, twisting road which was built into the hillside. Having walked down the steep road, we realized what a feat that was. lt is no won- der that these sturdy people are lively dancers. f I 1 f 4 4? No matter what we did or where we went, there was always a queue of children following or watching. We were impressed with their robustness and general healthy appearance. Though the weather gave us a snowy greeting upon our arrival, the Norwegians extended warm- hearted friendships. We liked Bergen and the Norwegians. Dur- ing our last evening in Bergen, HAPPY VALLEY was pleased to play host aboard to PATRICE MUNSEL and many new found friends. u e ar? , Q1 V! 'X Q e i Q f:,:f:,'v:z1 -A ',' 1'- I . 4 8 X f f , an 'L A j ,f t hx, f X QS.. ' f 4 -V., , .,.,,,. ,iii ,Gm . Shortly after leaving Bergen, the Air Group was launched and flew a parade formation over the city spelling out the King's name, HAAKON Vll. X .s',p-'ww ,Z V- f 15, f 13 X . , we Q If f X7 , K! ' Liberty was over for everyone from' the galley to the bridge when we got underway 3 May. Many of us looked forward to a warmer cllme and more shlp s plcnlcs p0I ff5l'i'L0lfl, A Early on the morning of 5 May we were off Southern England. Approaching Ports- mouth, the historic base of the British Home Fleet, we fired a Zl-gun salute to the flag of the United Kingdom. lt was a sunny Spring day and the countryside was a brilliant green. The ancient harbor was a beehive of activity, ferries and small boats by the score darted between the men-o'-war lying at anchor. We passed imposing HMS DUKE OF YORK and the tugs began to assist us in mooring to the pier ahead of her. We could see the entire Navy Yard from a vantage point on the flight deck. There were a few ships in the yard being dismantled and there was considerable work in progress in this Norfolk of the British Navy. Nearby, in the world's oldest drydock, HMS VICTORY, ADMIRAL NELSON'S flagship, could be seen. V Portsmouth had been heavily bombed during the recent War and we could see numerous gutted buildings and devastated homes, scars of a valiant people. This was our introduction to the land of our cultural background. M X .fi x , ,,V.,A T .. ,..,.,..,, ,l,14,. ,.A. .T gb- og it 5.5 'Q- C mana V If g 5 T -JW is 6 Approaching historic PORTSMOUTH, we remembered that this was the birth- place of Dickens and the mooring of HMS VICTORY, the Flagship of ADMI- RAL NELSON. We could see the his- toric man-o'-war as we pulled into our . berth. She was the object of many first visits ashore in the dockyard. She is in striking contrast to our modern carrier and it is hard to believe that so few years ago such primitive instruments of war were in wide use or that she was a dreaded enemy. m Two 72-hour leaves were granted in Lon- don. All the landmarks of history were on the must see list. The change of the Guard at Buckingham Palace was an un- expected treat for many of us. Here is Number lO Downing Street and there, nearby, Parliament buildings and chiming Big Ben. g Feeding the pigeons at Nelson's Monument, visiting Buckingham Palace, exploring historic London Tower, or tarry- ing at St. PauI's were delightful ways of spending time in London. Our heads were swlmmlng as we thought of all the places we would luke to vlslt In the short trme we had But on the whole we dld falrly well If we planned our time Plccadllly Circus served as a meeting place Tourlng around the clty we were amazed at the extent of the bombed out areas and were astounded that so many bulldlngs were unscathed In the Immediate vlclnlty of these places ,ac-,K ........- ' - ' v:v-1'-11,11-12-ran'::,-.,.-::':-:1:2::r14--f-r- H ... .,.. V . -.--, 4 ':':'1'f'f 'if'fif.f'I5ff?r ++ -'+f ',':TZ2fQ2..ffQff'f,fffffQfll23f'lv '-in--I'i. 'fI'f?E.-v--wi -iA -, ff 'iiffflfs , ,,,,.,..,., -:Sm-13I:1'1,f:1:::-.-V:az--2'fs:1:2f:f1-:??7PP!P ' ,.,. , ,.,.,,. , ., , ,A.,,.,.,., ,,',. . . Av f1?3lfl'a?vf??Ql, A .ig 5. - ,. f 1121fI:Z2E1f - 152225 Q. ls, 4 :nfl V V ' lr? , , - 1. - 1, - - -,f -r :bf gig? I ' f,'1 il'f-'MW . is ,, Q .5 41 - v T: A A 'H IL 'f fl '. 1 . ff 1 5 n . 1-:gf .,.' ,N L ivff- '? ff-X55 lf! 'VLQZI if fag ,j H . I V I . ' WY f iff? ', fef f xx R- ,Q - k y MJ k iff S 5 Secured for sea again we moved out of the harbor. We had flight operations when weather permitted, and played when time allowed. However, we had a rough crossing and were soon con- vinced that the Pacific offers smoother sailing than the Atlantic. Our experiences ran the gamut of shipboard life, everyone had his duties and his own special interests. V if Luz! , K -R r - 5 . , . - M f x.,x... Na. f ,.-, 4 -.-v g . -f...- 1 41:34 ..., -..v... ,,...,., 3' ,.,,, ,,v. , , ,., ,,,, Although our casualties were extremely-low, we still had acci- dents aboard when planes landed. They all added to the excitement of a day at sea. I ,n-1 :2221::22ZaE2::s::a:s,1..,. 31:g.,4,,..,...,,.,,4...,, ' ' ' ' , Aw.- 1 '21211:zr:1-32145.-1 vz22?Er-24 2:' ' s:Q114:+:.:41z3fw-' 'f , -Yr.:-.-:5-was-,12 :zfgzg-3315135 -,155-zgzfz-. - :Q . f..:zrg,11:5,::-,2:,:: -,mrzilzzkgzgzlf 1 -1-1:1151161:xs:rs:Q:gm5:3g,:m,1r:s:w:1:2 Wm The beginning of the end! On blustery 22 May we steamed majestically into New York Harbor. All hands peered eagerly through the overhanging haze to catch the first glimpse of wonderful MISS LlBERTY, welcoming us back to our homeland. High ranking Naval and Air Force officers made the first helicopter landing aboard VALLEY FORGE shortly yo PL before we entered the harbor area. An eternity seemed to pass while customs and agricultural officials cleared the ship after she was docked at pier 32, North River. At last liberty call sounded and many of us were again united with families and sweethearts. During our brief visit many who lived nearby were granted leave. N 3 5 All of us enjoyed the endless activities of America's first city and strolled through Central Park, along Fifth Ave- nue, and other familiar places. The ship was jammed with visitors who came to inspect our globe-trotting carrier. Mayor O'Dwyer declared our sojourn VALLEY FORGE Days. Chief of Naval Opera- tions, ADMIRAL LOUIS DENFELD vis- ited the ship in New York. Air Group ELEVEN made an ex- cellent record for itself in the very small number of crashes aboard during the cruise. Although the operations went smoothly most of the time, an occasional accident served to remind us that carrier operations are serious business, and require constant vigilance, both by the pilots and the ship. iw ff. Yarra 1,2 Y ' -' -. 1 ' - . ' .fi l- 1 P -1 , X- 'M N Q F ,,, s ' Z' f , X Q',F ? Q 'I of- lv '-ri - 1 fi f X. 1 rr ' I 5 xxx 1731 , '-- 1 6-3 ' Most of the time the deck crews can see the crash coming and they go into action even before the 'plane settles. The fire fighters are first on the scene to eliminate the danger of burning gasoline. Right with them comes a detail to rescue the pilot with medical men to assist in case of injury. After the risk of fire is eliminated and the aircrew safely clear of the plane, the task of clearing the awkward wreckage begins. The arresting gear crews swiftly re-rig the barriers and everything is made ready for continuing operations in less time than one would believe possible. ff 11 ,f l 1? operation. We crept out of Gatun Locks into man-made Gatun Lake where fresh water from the lake was used to flush out all the fire mains. A tug guided us through the narrows approaching San Miguel Locks. As we moved into 6'U'LCl,Ifl'lCl, l June, a new month and a new port. For the second time within one year the HAPPY VALLEY prepared to transit the Panama Canal. After' a pleasing one night Cristobal liberty, the ship cautiously felt her way through the first set of locks, narrowly clearing the sides. Per- sonnel crowded all vantage points to watch the exacting i , the locks fish could be seen darting about. Soon Miraflores Locks were transited and HAPPY VALLEY was in home waters, the PACIFIC! We topped off our shopping bags with purchases in Panama City and Balboa, and on 4 June departed for San Diego. Whether it was our first transit or our fifty-first, we were all intensely interested in going through the locks. The dense jungle on some of the islands and along the banks of the canal was a scene of nature gone wild. HAPPY VALLEY being the counter- part of a little city, it was necessary to have men skilled to handle a great variety of tasks. Aside from the neces- sary services required ashore, there were the added responsibilities of operating the ship. Keeping her functioning as a unit in a Mobile Striking Force required all of us to be trained for numerous military duties such as condition watches in addition to our routine work. Q ' M ,,f-ffw Q 0 X' 0 A Www A ff f ,off W 1 94 ff VX - 5? f f w ,vxr ' ,. 0 WU' ' XM KQWW X 'ff 4 9' ,597 .mv '-f gvfz 2 'fm- rf ff f 1 W 1 Q f f f f W , f , Q o h, .NNW-' f WW. ,-:,.-,-MM.-3 ,f , ,:g,. ,, A- J 1, ,., -.,fg,g, , my , s- ,. , 9, ..., ,,s,.,,M. -,y ,wa ,I K M , J wwf X 4 3? ., M... .. Q, Q- -1 3,5-VQ., V: ,W Q A gf 4-by ,favs if 'N . ' 5 ,V aj jU5,,,v5yf 4 iw , , WM? ,ax Wy ti. K W M5 M y ., .. , l r 1, Www 7 f WMM rx Kg V, Q i m, ,6,. .f, f, 'A 0 Y M y A H to ,, ' 4 9 ,M4g,f-,a',,., ,M A . ,, ., fc AS, , 9 if M., 5 f sf 4:'v'f-qfif-,4 -2, , v 0 - 4 ew My 'awi Maw of sv QMS' f' 5. X M12 ,.,. , 1 ' ' V - 1 M W wtf fi WW eff as 1 - f b if ' ' f ful, ,fa-jij1,,,t,c1, ' S as P 4700 'Ag 5 ul Q A5 2' Nba W h : sf L MQ f ewpwo- ., swfl' - 7531- Jealo - MMP5' - s. .ww-2 an gwm M if QQ ,. y , fl a f r- . A y 5 . f ' V The long anticipated day finally came. On ll June we passed Los Coronados and soon saw Pt. Loma, San Diego's landmark. Shortly after entering the harbor we were met by two Navy fire-fighting tugs, one on eHher dde of us. They spouted saluHng sprays skyward as they escorted VALLEY FORGE to North Island. A Navy helicopter buzzed overhead as we exchanged honors with Naval units in the harbor. Nearing the dock we saw throngs of families and friends who were impatiently waiting to greet us. Secured from quarters, those who expected relatives went to the rail to see if they could spot them in the crowd. The pushing tugs slowly brought the huge carrier to her berth. Excitement ran high, but no one was permitted to come aboard or go ashore until the ship had cleared with customs and agricul- tural inspectors. Shortly after clearance, visitors came aboard and greetings were exchanged . . . a fitting climax to the eight-month long cruise. F X fy f , f X?-H necessary for all hands to study m If order to meet the requirements of their va rlous ratmgs. During the entlre crulse It was - -Zim -AIIIIIW xx--.x. i f A an lk' will Exercise each morning at quarters keeps us limbered and toned for the duties ahead. Sick call is sounded daily for the sick, the lame, and occasionally, the lazy. X 5 3 ir-4 fa: A U S carrier around the world U S carrier to transit the Suez Canal U S carrier to conduct flight operations in Persian Gulf Pilot fCDR R L FOWLER USN! to operate from U S carrrerm Persian Gulf f Z7 1 2. . . ' sf 4 STATlSTICS -i-- Longest ship to transit Suez Canal 13, Hours not underway-3,042 Escort destroyers lUSS WILLIAM C. LAWE 14. Surgicaloperationsperformed--48 and LLOYD TH0MA5l hold Speed record for 15. Mostjunior person embarlced-Australian stow- transit of Suez Canal 17.5 hoursl ' , away Hours flown by CVG-ll-5'763'4 16. Most senior person embarked-Crown Prince Miles flown by CVG-1 1-1,037,412 1 Ibn Saud Ta ke-offs-3,612 La ndings-3,627 Barrier crashes-5 Miles steamed-44,783 Fuel oil consumed-6,345,209gallons- Destroyer fuelingsL4l 3 Fuel pumped to destroyers-778,871 gallons Hours underway-2,698 1 17 Loaded--4,000,000 pounds of liquids and solids in 45 hours 1Tsingtaol 18. Food consumed by all messes: potatoes ...... beans . beef . coffee . eggs . 294,355 pounds 10,000 pounds 102,845 pounds 30,065 pounds 332,6l38 0l'Lgl Cl, fblfd f0l g 86561905 - 1, We were not alone in think- vY A . . OF THE NC Ii mg our job was well done. 4 1 ET AR ON ' 5209 YUNGT ' THE ANNE Q0 la?-5-on' Evita on W O05 ,xeti ig-,ana 1 gall? saute thin 1 B the suo0 .N 6 wnywMP'v-vMxm'wWE empva 11 5 .b qs! ye 1' tmp GS 1100 , . of miie 963955 .ng npn ruin.. Gte,x Tying a Q 1750 officer. 5-the-1006 0 x-,hi-S mme' we 4-MBA offs! m 'chef' than Z bhpif 'xoun euro 050 at same Yurgose, A to dba' Hue Q KOH' 0 . NEW Y for much we or we 'od n of ffeoglo west L . ' L0 1-9 09980 A 9609108 the Onan? f me S 1 n a 'mum' I-,ue tfpubxe gov-5 'as is 5 V56 O a by ima OFFHR NAVY DE 1 ot-9057 to OYQBB tho oAQmi it vgeafheaae OF THE iz PARTUENT of aemo t nay-,Lon 1 box of fre wg team W EF op NAU Q sf Que.. 'T' A HW A to . 'S '1'Gr0 L OPERA!! as 'DU' not only cord,-1n0.'59 the iofla -, N 25, D. C ONS - is xy' a I ' fine ibm? world, ' fin, is cruise 'Ioan and oonfldenos I su We we In Q I'-09' u h e 987g , . A 1105 A 195' ' 6 Rio E, 51 hui-1 ti' ' N,-yubL09' vhulgi NRG ry, but '00 is our ob 366 Stltelmn-5 b me rf-g,t0 .that 17132 CHI J' fbfe-Lan be ff9QdOW' cms, EF . ww in , qw We ,Q You In OPERATIONS MA V194 ue as of W' -4. 'BW' E CRUISE fo' the in TRW -min dug-,199 1911' X BOOK QF IHE Us K SALE ion' Y FURG vw . E Wmls Q15 3 V hee officer ALLEY F 0111-plat. s and ORGEII lon of me 'Hz 11 of' the3::d my silfcme-71101-able Wait YOu h ew' are e021 world c - k V ,I stilligto obsersrwlvisited gratulgtiogzuge 0 A, ew Stl-en 't ufvive hat W 1175-Dy 1 0 th, A, S' ' ' Y f 9-111: 9-Hd :M -: A , 1-Ooks gtg to meet SIU, how blog fear, il?-t alld have h I America e te8t5 .YQ olerancg ad the ' I us on 112 dt Imdefstefznod assist iof the fig: country ma'ndToPPr3pPo' .-3.4 1 1 11 , Ur . U t Ss 1gnQfv,. rue freedo ng betwseibrglng uf Fbr tg retain 3 T ' a y In and and n-nati0ns e bonds ofay the Wo AULH1.- f hajetter seour cruise Urlng peaceWhich alonelasting ' d A . also maalmn. I On the 1 Can de you am oe ' carry better rte-in th FQQGE - . ,at , ha K cltlzens oftiygfs igflrgfe each of you - ti on GXPSI' ' and the lance w01'ld Mn LOUIS W 'ral' UDEQNPELD . .lhwy CINCPACFLT WELCOMES COMCARDIV 5 WITH VALLEY FORGE AND COMDESRON 13 WITH WILLIAM C LAWE AND LLOYD THOMAS BACK IN THEIR HOME WATERS AND EXTENDS CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL HANDS ON THE COMPLETION OF A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL CRUISE X WELL DONE 'ff'-1-11 'ff'w-,2ff v's , 'H' -P- H -1 :-Q :-,ffwz-f ' ,iw , w 'fw'fv'r2f'v-1 -'Z + P-111' 'rt- -m N'1 'f : ' ffl -z .1 -' 4 i' ommiffee i' EDITOR ..... . . ....... . . ASSISTANT EDITOR .... . LAYOUTS AND NARRATIVE . . BUSINESS COMMITTEE . . ENS. R. E. SCHWARTZ, ART .... CONTINUITYP. . . . LCDR. F. M. BLANCHARD, ' ENS. D. J. CLEMENTS, JR., ENS. B. A. BECKEN, if orfd -lr SAN DIEGO, PEARL HARBOR, AND PANAMA .... . . . LT. J. B. BURTON, ENS. F. M. BACON, EQUATOR, SYDNEY, AND HONG KONG . . LTJG. T. HARDENBERGH SINGAPORE, TRINCOMALEE, AND TSINGTAO RAS TANURA, SUEZ, AND GIBRALTAR . . BERGEN, PORTSMOUTH, AND NEW YORK . LCDR J.J MITCHELL ir .x4cLn0w!ec!gemenfd ir To publish a book such as this is no mean task. Our thanks go to all hands aboard who contributed toward making it possible. We especially want to mention: the ship's photographers who worked tirelessly to furnish pictures, Milton Caniff, New York cartoonist, for his contributions, and Continental Distilling Corporation, Philadelphia, for presenting to the U. S. S. Valley Forge the original painting Washington's Headquarters at Valley Forge by James R. Bingham. .R . . CDR. J. P. LUNGER, . CDR. D. L. KAUFFMAN, . . CDR. J. R. MCINTYRE, DC, CDR. P. R. MCPHEE, CHC, LT. R. E. Mcvov, sc, . CDR. J. G. DEAN, SC, ENS. D. W. CAMMACK, ENS. s. N. ROSS: . . .... LTJG. M. W. JASPER, ENS. H. F. MUNNIKHUYSEN, . . . LCDR. G. W. BROOKS, ENS. L. H. SMITH, ' 0 RNs. R. M.'DEF'FENBAuCH,' USN USN USN USN USN USN USN USN USN USN USN USN USN USN USN USN USN USN USN USN USN l Now that we have come to the last page of our book, it can be seen that ours was neither an ordinary cruise nor an ordinary ship. However, everything that could be told is not related on these pages. But each page will 'remind us of our own personal experiences, about which volumes could be written, andto our friends the book will serve as a panorama of our travels. Each of us who made the cruise not only visited places around the globe, but we also got better acquainted with each other and came to feel that USS VALLEY FORGE was home. We have gained much from our personal associations with our shipmates. A In retrospect, we're glad that we had the privilege of showing our country's flag to the world, and hope that in some small measure we have contributed toward international good-will. We wish a bon voyage to those who follow us in similar cruises. .!4lfLt0gl l1l0 if X f E I V I ii li 4: J E E 1 X
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