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USS Bellatrix (AKA-3)


25 Messages - Group 25 to 49
Current Message 25 - April 25, 1999
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Entry: 2996
USS Bellatrix (AKA-3)

info wanted

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JAMES MCMAHON wrote on 1999-04-25 00:00:00.0

Comments: Any information of interest on USS Bellatrix AKA 3 while on duty in Korea.

Keywords:

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Crew member

On Sun, 25 Apr 1999 
Jim McMahon Email address wrote:

  Street: 16 Holyoke St.
      City: Easthampton
State/Prov: Ma. 
       ZIP: 01027
   Country: USA

     Phone: 413 527 3808
       Fax: 
     Email: VGMJJM@AOL.COM

Served aboard the Bellatrix AKA3, Ex Merchant Marine Ship Raven during
the Korean war. Carried Army trucks and supplies from Japan to Korea 
and took part in a few amphibious landings there. Did not see the
Bellatrix in the list of AKA's. At that time I was QM(s) 2/c
Jim McMahon SMCS USN, (RET)

Ship news article

From: VGMJJM@aol.com

Date: Thu, 4 Nov 1999 

This article appears in the Amphibious Force Pacific Fleet newspaper 
"The Amphibian, dated Saturday December 6 1952 " USS Bellatrix Saves 
Fishermen From Seas.

Twelve Okinawa fishermen were saved from possible drowning recently when 
they were rescued from the sea by a lifeboat crew from the USS Bellatrix 
(AKA-3).

The sea rescue took place as the Bellatrix was enroute to Hong Kong from 
Yokosuka, Japan, after having been diverted from her usual course by a 
typhoon.

While the ship was steaming about sixty miles southeast of Formosa, M.C. 
Smith, SN, a lookout, sighted an object. As the ship drew nearer, the 
object was identified as a closely-packed group of men clinging to the 
wrecked remains of a wooden boat. 

Under the supervision of C.H. Webster, BMC,. the ship's lifeboat was 
lowered to rescue the men. Kenneth A. Hubbard served as boat coxswain, 
and returned the survivors to the Bellatrix.

Once of board, the fishermen were all given an examination by the 
Medical Officer. Two men, who were badly injured, were taken to the 
ship's sick bay for treatment.

The survivors were originally from a small island of the Okinawa group 
lying 130 miles east of Formosa.Their 150-foot boat had been torn apart
by a typhoon and 15 of the 27 crewmen had washed overboard.

Those picked up by the Bellatrix had been clinging to the remainder of 
their boat for two days.

Later the Bellatris was routed to return the shipwrecked fisher-men to 
their homes at Okinawa.