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Entry: 81811 USS CURRITUCK (AV-7)	SHIP HISTORY
PHILLIP ROGER PACKER wrote on January 21, 2012 City and State: Unit: Service or Relationship: NAVY VETERAN Comments: ~ UNOFFICIAL HISTORY OF THE U.S.S. CURRITUCK (AV-7) WRITTEN AND COMPILED FROM INFORMATION TAKEN FROM THE SHIP'S LOG, RECORDS, AND PERSONAL INTERVIEWS. U.S.S. CURRITUCK (AV-7) (DP. 14,000; L. 54015; B. 6913; DR. 2213-11; s. 19 K.; CPL. 1247; A. 4 511) THE COMBATANT SHIPS OF OUR NAVY PLAYED AN OUTSTANDING AND VITAL ROLE IN SWEEPING THE JAPANESE NAVY AND JAPANESE SHIPPING FROM THE SEAS AND IN PUTTING TROOPS ASHORE AND SUPPORTING THEM, BUT WITHOUT THE AUXILIARY SHIPS OF THE FLEET DOING THEIR DUTY AS TRANSPORTSI SUPPLY SHIPS, AND TENDERS OF ALL TYPES OF VESSELS ENGAGED IN OFFENSIVE AS WELL AS DEFENSIVE TACTICS, THIS MAGNIFICENT ACHIEVEMENT COULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE. VESSELS SUCH AS THE U.S.S. CURRITUCK (AV-7) CLASSIFIED AS A SEAPLANE TENDER, TAKING AN ACTIVE PART IN ALL TYPES OF OPERATIONS AIDED IN MOLDING TOGETHER AS ONE FIGHTING UNIT THE COMBAT SHIPS AND THE AUXILIARY SHIPS SERVING AS A COMPONENT OF THE NAVY. THE CURRITUCK WAS LAID DOWN AS ONE OF THE NEWEST AND LARGEST SEAPLANE TENDERS HAVING ALL MODERN OPERATIONAL FACILITIES AS FOUND ON BOARD ALL CAPITAL SHIPS PRIMARILY DESIGNED FOR OPERATIONING AIRCRAFT, SUCH AS: OPERATIONS Room, AIR PLOT, COMBAT INFORMATION CENTERS, AEROLOGICAL LAB, PILOTS READY Room, AND LATEST UP TO DATE COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES, AND AS SUCH IT WAS DESTINED TO PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART IN THE WAR IN THE PACIFIC. OTHER THAN BEING AN OPERATIONS CONTROL SHIP IT WAS TO ACT AS A MOTHER SHIP AND TEND TO THE REPAIR AN]) SERVICING OF SQUADRONS OF LONG DISTANCE SEAPLANES IN THE SAME MANNER AS OPERATIONS ARE CARRIED ON IN THE LARGER AIRCRAFT CARRIERS, THE DIFFERENCE BEING THAT THE TENDER USED THE SURROUNDING WATER TO LAUNCH AND RECOVER PLANES. THE ORIGINAL TENDERS FOR THIS TYPE OF WORK WERE FOUND TO BE LACKING IN CERTAIN DESIGN QUALIFICATIONS BY WHICH THE CURRITUCK PROFITED. THE SHIP BEING LARGER IN STORAGE SPACE AND LIVING QUARTERS BELOW DECKS BY WHICH SHE WAS BETTER ABLE TO PROVIDE COMFORTABLE LIVING QUARTERS FOR MORE PLANE CREWS. THE EXTRA SIZE OF SPACE OF THE AFT-DECK ALLOWED THE CREW OF THE AIR MAINTENANCE DIVISION ADDED WORKING ROOM IN WHICH THEY COULD OPERATE WITHOUT INTERFERENCE FROM THE HANGER AREA AND LARGE AND COMPLETE MACHINES AND VITAL SHOPS WERE ADDED. USS CURRITUCKIS KEEL WAS LAID MONDAY 14 DECEMBER 1942 IN THE U.S NAVY YARD, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA AND LIAUNCHED ON 11 SEPTEMBER 1943; SPONSORED BY MRS. MILO F. DRAEMEL, WIFE OF THE COMMANDANT, FOURTH NAVAL DISTRICT NAVY YARD, PHIADELPHIA, PA. ON THE 26TH DAY OF JUNE 1944, CAPTAIN W. A. EVANS, USN., OF ALEXANDRIA, VA ASSUMED COMMAND OF THE SHIP IN APPROPRIATE CEREMONIES AND GAVE THE ORDER TO SET THE WATCH AND THE COMMISSIONING AND RAISING OF THE PENNANT TOOK PLACE@ THIS WELL ATTENDED CEREMONY HELD IN TRADITIONAL MANNER TOOK PLACE IN THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, WHERE THE KEEL WAS LAID IN DECEMBER 1942. THUS THE U.S.S. CURRITUCK, NAMED FOR THE CURRITUCK SOUND IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA IN THE VICINITY OF KITTY HAWK, THE SITE WHERE THE WRIGHT BROTHERS FIRST GAVE BIRTH TO THE AVIATION IN THIS COUNTRY, BECAME AFTER A YEAR AND A HALF FROM THE TIME HER KEEL WAS LAID AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE U.S. FLEET AND DESTINED TO DO HER PART IN DEFEATING THE ENEMIES OF THE ALLIED NATIONS. I ON THIS DAY COMMANDER F. D. POWERS, USNR., OF UPPER MONTCLAIR, NJ, ASSUMED OFFICE AS THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER. His PREVIOUS SERVICE WAS AS COMMANDER OF A SUBCHASER IN WORLD WAR 1, AND AS SUCH EARNED THE COVETED NAVY CROSS FOR SKILL AND DARING IN HANDLING AND PROTECTING SHIPPING LANES. COMMANDER POWERS REMAINED IN THE ACTIVE FLEET RESERVE, AND WAS RECALLED TO DUTY AS A COMMANDER IN JANUARY 1941. HE REMAINED ABOARD THE CURRITUCK FROM THE TIME OF HER COMMISSIONING IN JUNE UNTIL OCTOBER 1944, WHEN HE RECEIVED COMMAND OF THE U.S.S. WRIGHT IN THE MANUS ISLANDS AND WAS PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF CAPTAIN. WHILE THE SHIP WAS BEING CONSTRUCTED THE OFFICERS AND CREW WERE QUITE GREEN AS TO THEIR DUTIES ABOARD. THERE WAS NO OPPORTUNITY FOR DRILLS OR TRAINING ABOARD SHIP BUT THIS WAS A PROBLEM WHICH WAS MET AND SOLVED DURING THE TIME OF SHAKEDOWN CRUISE. UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF ENSIGN B.M. THROCKMORTON OF SAN FRANCISCO, CA., WHO CAME UP FROM THE RANKS TO ASSUME DUTIES AS THE FIRST LIEUTENANT OF THE SHIP WITH THE RANK OF FULL LIEUTENANT, THE DAMAGE CONTROL ORGANIZATION WAS SOON WHIPPED INTO SHAPE, AIDING LIEUTENANT THROCKMORTON IN SETTING UP THE DAMAGE CONTROL ORGANIZATION WAS CHIEF WARRANT CARPENTER THOMAS H. ERNST, OF DAYTON, OH. IMMEDIATELY THE CREW UNDERWENT INTENSIVE INSTRUCTION AND DRILL IN ALL SHIPBOARD OPERATIONS, ROUTINE AND EMERGENCY. THE GUNNERY DEPARTMENT BECAME A CONCISE AND COORDINATED GROUP, WORKING AS ONE UNIT AND PLAYED THEIR PART SO WELL LATER ON THAT THE SHIP RETURNED STATESIDE WITH NO MATERIAL BATTLE CASUALTIES. ON THE LAST DAY OF AUGUST 1944, THE SHIP LEFT FOR ITS OVERSEAS DESTINATION, WHICH WAS TO BE FINSCHAVEN, NEW GUINEA, TO SERVE AS THE FLAGSHIP FOR THE COMMANDER AIRCRAFT, SEVENTH FLEET, AT BALBOA, CANAL ZONE, SHE EMBARKED PASSENGERS FOR TRANSPORTATION TO MANUS ISLAND IN THE ADMIRALTY ISLANDS ON SATURDAY 9 SEPTEMBER 1944. CURRITUCK CROSSED THE EQUATOR ON SUNDAY 17 SEPTEMBER AND THE INTERNATIONAL DATELINE ON TUESDAY 26 SEPTEMBER 1944. PERSONNEL ABOARD TOOK THE CROSSING TIME OF 23 DAYS IN GOOD SPIRITS, FINDING TIME FROM THEIR ROUTINE DUTIES TO HOLD THE SHELLBACK CEREMONIES WHEN THEY CROSSED THE EQUATOR. ARRIVING IN NEW GUINEA, THE 3RD OF OCTOBER 1944, THE SHIP WAS IMMEDIATELY ORDERED TO PROCEED TO MANUS ISLAND OF THE ADMIRALTY GROUP WHERE THE COMMANDER AIRCRAFT, SEVENTH FLEET, REAR ADMIRAL FRANK B. WAGNER, USN., CAME ABOARD WITH HIS STAFF AND RAISED HIS FLAG ON 5 OCTOBER 1944. DURING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER THERE WAS A QUICK SUCCESSION OF SHUTTLE TRIPS BETWEEN WOENDI, MANUS, MOROTAX, AND KosSEL PASSAGE AND THE PALAUS. THE SHIP SERVED NOT ONLY AS AN AIRCRAFT TENDER, BUT OPERATED AS A TRANSPORT AS WELL, CARRYING CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS AND LARGE AMOUNTS OF CARGOES TO THE ISLANDS NEEDING MEN AND SUPPLIES. IN THE MONTHS OF NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER AT TACLOBAN, IN THE LEYTE AREA, THE SHIPS FORCE WAS KEPT BUSY WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK OPERATING AND TENDING SEAPLANES, BECOMING ACCUSTOMED TO BEING CALLED REGULARLY TO GENERAL QUARTERS AND ACTING AS A SUPPLY AND EMERGENCY BASE FOR NUMEROUS NON- AVIATION UNITS WHICH HAD NOT CONTEMPLATED RECEIVING SUCH SERVICES. DURING THIS CRITICAL AND HAZARDOUS PERIOD THEY WERE MORE THAN A SEAPLANE TENDER, ACTING AS A DISPATCH AND COMMUNICATION SHIP, THEY SERVED EVERY MILITARY 2 EFFORT IN THE TACLOBAN-JINAMOC AREA. COOPERATING WITH THE ARMY, THE SHIP PROVIDED A WELL BALANCED DIET OF FOOD TO ITS CREW AND GUESTS OF WHICH-THERE WERE OVER 1700 WHO CAME ABOARD FOR A DRY PLACE TO SLEEP AND A CHANCE FOR A REAL MEAL, THEREBY GETTING THE REPUTATION OF BEING A HFLOATING HOTELO. DURING THIS TIME THE WELFARE OF THE MEN AND FEEDING THEM FELL TO THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CHIEF PAY CLERK, HARRY BARNHORST, USN., OF EAST PROVIDENCE, RI., A VETERAN OF SOME THIRTY (30) YEARS OF SERVICE IN THE NAVY. THE SHIP WAS WELL EQUIPPED AS THERE WERE ENOUGH STORES ON BOARD TO FEED 1200 MEN FOR A PERIOD OF 90 DAYS. DURING THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER THE CURRITUCK WAS THE ONLY MAJOR SHIP IN THE SAN PEDRO BAY AREA OF THIS LARGE LEYTE GULF. ON NOVEMBER THE 14TH AT 0738 IN THE MORNING ZEKES ATTACKED FROM THE STARBOARD QUARTER AND THE GUNNERS ENGAGED THEM IN A RUNNING BATTLE RESULTING IN ONE ZEKE BEING SHOT DOWN, THERE BEING NO DAMAGE TO THE SHIP OR PERSONNEL. DURING THE MONTH OF DECEMBER WHILE LYING AT ANCHOR OFF THE LEYTE BEACHHEAD THE CREW WAS GIVEN A RESPITE BY THE ENEMY, AND EXCEPT FOR AN OCCASIONAL SOUND OF THE ALERT SIREN THERE WAS NO ENEMY CONTACT OR ACTIVITY, AND THE CREW HAD A CHANCE TO RELAX COMPLETELY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER A MONTH. THE MORNING OF 6 JANUARY 1945 FOUND THE SHIP RIGGED FOR SEA AND EVERY MAN ALERT AT HIS BATTLE STATION AS THEY TOOK THEIR ASSIGNED POSITION IN TASK FORCE 79. ON THE MORNING OF THE INVASION OF LINGAYEN GULF IN THE PHILIPPINES THE 9TH OF JANUARY 1945 THE CURRITUCK, ACCOMPANIED BY THE USS BARATARIA, A SMALL SEAPLANE TENDER, FORMEI) A SMALL BUT ACTIVE PART OF THE HUGE ARMADA CONTAINING MANY TYPES OF SHIPS. IT WAS A WELL PLANNED AND COORDINATED AMPHIBIOUS OPERATION, EVERY UNIT WENT ABOUT ITS BUSINESS AND CARRIED OUT ITS ASSIGNED DUTIES. THE TWO TENDERS IMMEDIATELY WERE DETACHED UPON ARRIVING IN THE CENTRAL BAY AREA AND PROCEEDED TO CARRY OUT THEIR ASSIGNED MISSIONS OF LAYING SEAPLANE MOORINGS. SHORTLY BEFORE DROPPING THE HOOK THE CURRITUCK HAD COME TO A HALT NEAR SOME LARGE COMBATANT SHIPS WHICH WERE POUNDING THE SHORES WITH THEIR GUNS AND UNKNOWN TO THE CREW ABOARD THE CURRITUCK, THEY WERE CREDITED WITH BEING A PART OF THE BOMBARDMENT GROUP WHICH EARNED THE NAME OF THE FIGHTING TENDER, ACTUALLY HOWEVER THE SHIP PLAYED NO PART IN THE BOMBARDMENT OF THE BEACHHEAD. DURING THE PERIOD OF 6 NOVEMBER 1944 TO 6 JANUARY 1945 THE SENIOR MEDICAL OFFICER OF THE CURRITUCK WAS RECOMMENDED FOR THE AWARD OF THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL AND CITATION BY COMMANDER AIRCRAFT, SEVENTH FLEET. TH SENIOR MEDICAL OFFICER BEING AT THAT TIME COMMANDER FRANKLIN G. BALCH, (MC), USNR. THE CEREMONIES TOOK PLACED ABOARD SHIP, WITH THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE SHIP MAKING THE PRESENTATION, ON 11 AUGUST 1945. COMMANDER BALCH WHOSE HOME IS IN NEWTON CENTER, MA., RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING CITATION FROM COMMANDER AIRCRAFT, SEVENTH FLEET IN THE NAME OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. UFOR DISTINGUISHING HIMSELF BY MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT IN CONNECTION WITH OPERATIONS AGAINST THE ENEMY. DURING THE PERIOD BETWEEN 6 NOVEMBER 1944 AND 6 JANUARY 1945, AS SENIOR MEDICAL OFFICER OF THE CURRITUCK DURING ITS STAY IN LEYTE GULF, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, COMMANDER FRANKLIN G. BALCH, JR., (MC), USNR, DISPLAYED OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP, INTELLIGENCE AND PROFESSIONAL SKILL. AS A RESULT OF HIS EFFORTS THE HEALTH AND MORALE OF PERSONNEL OF UNITS IN COMMANDER AIRCRAFT, SEVENTH FLEET, BASED ABOARD THE CURRITUCK, DURING THIS HAZARDOUS AND CRITICAL PERIOD WAS MAINTAINED AT A HIGH STANDARD. HE FURNISHED EMERGENCY SURGICAL AND MEDICAL SERVICES TO SEVERAL NEARBY UNITS DURING THE 3 EARLY WEEKS OF THE INVASION OF LEYTE. His OUTSTANDING SERVICE AND CONDUCT THROUGHOUT THIS PERIOD WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE NAVY OF THE UNITED STATES. DURING THE NEXT FEW DAYS, IN JANUARY, THE SHIP WAS ALERTED AGAIN AND AGAIN, BECAUSE OF SUICIDE SWIMMERS AND CERTAIN TYPES OF MIDGET SUBMARINES AND BAKAH BOATS OPERATING IN THE VICINITY. IT WAS DURING THIS TIME THAT 3 JAP PRISONERS WERE BROUGHT ABOARD AND FOUND TO BE CARRYING A DEADLY CHARGE OF EXPLOSIVES IN THEIR FANATICAL SUICIDE ATTEMPTS TO HARASS AND DESTROY SHIPPING IN THE HARBOR. HOWEVER, THESE ATTEMPTS PROVED VERY UNSUCCESSFUL DUE TO THE ALERTNESS OF THE LOOKOUTS ABOARD THE NAVAL VESSELS IN THE HARBOR AREA. FROM ITS SEADROME, ITS flBLACK CATU SQUADRONS ROAMED THE CHINA SEA, PRODUCING VERY EFFECTIVE RESULTS. IT WAS ABOUT THIS TIME ONE JAP BOMBER FLYING LOW BETWEEN THE MASTS LET GO WITH A BOMB WHICH EXPLODED IN THE WATER AND SCORED A NEAR MISS. JAP ARTILLERY WAS COMING UNCOMFORTABLY CLOSE IN THE FORM OF HEAVY CONCENTRATION RATHER THAN ACCURACY AND FORCED BOTH TENDERS TO SHIFT TO NEW MOORINGS IN LINGAYEN GULF. THAT SAME EVENING A BOMBER MADE A PASS AT THE SHIP BUT THE GUN CREWS, WORKING UNDER THE DIRECTION OF LIEUTENANT (JG) MILTON T. McPHERSON, USN., OF SAN DIEGO, CA, SHOT DOWN THE ATTACKER WHICH CRASHED INTO THE SEA IN FLAMES AND EXPLODED AND GAVE THE SHIP ANOTHER TALLY IN ITS BOX SCORE OF ENEMY PLANES DESTROYED. THE SHIP CONTINUED OPERATIONS AT ITS NEW MOORINGS AND THE ROUTINE FLIGHTS OF THE PATROL BOMBERS CONTINUED IN AND ACROSS THE CHINA SEA. DURING THE TIME THE SHIP WAS UNDER FIRE FROM AIR ATTACKS FOUR MEN WERE WOUNDED BY SHRAPNEL. NONE OF THE MEN RECEIVED VITAL INJURIES AND LATER RECEIVED THE ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART. THE FOUR RECEIVING THE AWARD WERE WILLIAM M PERKINS, SIC, OF WALLA WALLA, WA., AND HENRY J. ANNUNZIATA, SC3c, OF SEA CLIFF, NY., HOWARD J. KORPACY, SIC, OF PITTSBURGH, PA, AND Guy B. ELLINGER, SIC, OF CRIMORA, VA. DURING THE TIME OF THE SHIP'S OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES A FEW OF THE OFFICERS AND MEN RECEIVED THE AIR MEDAL FOR FLIGHTS OVER ENEMY TERRITORY; WHEN ACTING IN THE ROLE OF TECHNICAL OBSERVERS THEY FLEW WITH THE SQUADRONS. THE LAST WEEK IN JANUARY THE CURRITUCK WAS RELIEVED BY THE USS TANGIER (AV-8) AND WHILE ENROUTE To TACLOBAN, LEYTE SHE STOPPED OFF AT SAN JOSE AREA OF MINDORO, WHERE THE MAINTENANCE CREW OF THE OV DIVISION SET A RECORD BY CHANGING 7 AIRCRAFT ENGINES FOR VP-25's SEAPLANES BASED THERE IN FIVE DAYS. FEBRUARY AGAIN FOUND THE SHIP CARRYING OUT ROUTINE DUTIES ACTING AS A SEAPLANE TENDER AND SENDING FORTH BOMBER PATROLS WHICH FLEW NIGHTLY IN OPERATIONS WHICH TOOK THEM AS FAR NORTH AS FORMOSA ALONG THE CHINA COAST AND BACK TO THE SHIP BY THE BREAK OF DAWN. THEIR MAIN OBJECTIVE A'r THIS TIME DURING THE TWO MONTHS WAS TO ATTACK AND HARASS JAPANESE SHIPPING SUPPLY LINES BETWEEN THE HOME ISLANDS AND ITS CONQUERED TERRITORIES. THE PLANES FROM THE TENDER IN FLYING THEIR ASSIGNED SECTORSI CONTRIBUTED MATERIALLY IN BRINGING AN END TO THE HOSTILITIES BY THEIR STRAFING AND BOMBING OF SHIPS AND LAND BASED JAP AIRFIELDS AND TAKING PART IN BOMBING MISSIONS OVER ENEMY OCCUPIED TERRITORY. DURING THE EARLY DAYS OF MARCH SHE SAILED TO THE VARIOUS ISLANDS IN THE PHILIPPINE GROUP CARRYING FREIGHT AND PASSENGERS AND ACTING AS A TROOP TRANSPORT. SATURDAY 3 MARCH FOUND THE CURRITUCK OFF OF NAVAL BASE AND 4i NAVAL AIR STATION, SAMAR ISLAND, P.I., LOADING AVIATION SUPPLIES ON HER WAY TO MANILA BAY. ON MARCH 6, THE SHIP ENTERED MANILA BAY FOR THE FIRST TIME, ESTABLISHING A SEADROME OFF OF SANGLEY POINT, CAVITE, P.I. AND THIS WAS DONE WHILE THE ffRoCKO (CORREGIDOR) WAS UNDERGOING HER FINAL ASSAULTS BY THE AGGRESSIVE ARMY AIR FORCE ATTACK AND BOMBING PLANES. ADMIRAL WAGNER WAS BACK TO WHERE HE HAD STARTED AS PATROL WING 10, COMMANDER, WHEN CAVITE HAD BEEN BOMBED ON WEDNESDAY 10 DECEMBER 1941. IN MARCH 1945, WORD WAS RECEIVED THAT THREE PBM'S HAD GONE DOWN DUE TO WATER IN THE FUEL. ONE CRASHED ON LAND, WHILE THE OTHERS WERE ABLE TO LAND ON WATER, ABOUT 90 MILES DOWN THE COAST FROM LINGAYEN GULF. THE CREWS WERE PICKED UP BY FRIENDLY PHILIPPINOS AND TAKEN TO A MAKE-SHIFT HOSPITAL SEVERAL MILES INLAND, ALL SUFFERING FROM SECOND AND THIRD DEGREE BURNS. CURRITUCK DISPATCHED A MEDICAL TEAM CONSISTING OF LT. TOPOL, DC, USNR, LT. GREEN, MC, USNR, ALBERT KEENAN, PHM2 AND WAYNE HACKLEY, PHM3 IN A CRASH BOAT DOWN THE COAST. RUBBER RAFTS WERE USED TO GET ASHORE AND UPON LANDING THEY LOCATED A U.S. ARMY RADIO STATION AND WERE TOLD THERE WERE JAPANESE SOLDIERS IN THE AREA TRYING TO AVOID CAPTURE. AFTER A TREKKING THROUGH WILD AND HAZARDOUS TERRITORY, THE HOSPITAL WAS LOCATED. THERE WAS NO MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AT THIS LOCATION AND THE BURNS HAD BEEN COVERED WITH BAMBOO LEAVES AND IT SEEMED UNLIKELY THAT THESE MEN WOULD SURVIVE. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS PROVIDED BY ADMINISTERING MORPHINE AND SULPHA POWDER. BLOOD PLASMA WAS STARTED AND THE MEN WERE MOVED BACK TO THE COAST* THE SOLDIERS FROM THE RADIO STATION SENT CODED MESSAGES TO THE SHIP REQUESTING SEAPLANES TO PICK THEM up,u(NOTE; THE CODE NAME FOR THE USS CURRITUCK WAS FIREFLY,) KEENAN TOOK THE FIRST TWO CASUALITIES ON THE FIRST PLANE AND OTHER SEAPLANES FOLLOWED BRINGING ALL THE MEN BACK TO THE SHIP WHERE THE FULL HOSPITAL CREW ADMINISTERED TREATMENT. Two OF THE MEN SURVIVED AND SPENT CONSIDERABLE TIME ABOARD SHIP BEFORE BEING TRANSFERED TO A HOSPITAL SHIP AND LATER RETURNED TO THE STATES. AGAIN, COMMMANDER FRANKLIN BALCH, MC, USNR, TOGETHER WITH ALL THE HOSPITAL CREW DESERVED CREDIT FOR THEIR EFFORTS IN PROVIDING MEDICAL ATTENTION IN SPITE OF THE GREAT ODDS AGAINST THEM. ON THIS SAME DAY, SQUADRON VPB-20 WAS TAKEN ABOARD WHEN THEY ARRIVED FROM MINDORO THE TYPE OF PLANES BEING PBM-5's. OPERATIONS COMMENCED ON THE BTH DAY OF MARCH, 3 PLANES DAILY MAKING ROUTINE FLIGHTS TO THE CHINA COAST, WHICH OPERATIONS CONTINUED THRU TO MAY 1945 WHEN THE SHIP SENT OUT 4 PLANES TO ATTACK A JAP CONVOY THAT WAS TRYING TO PULL A SNEAK TO ITS HOME WATERS COMING UP FROM THE SOUTH ALONG THE CHINA COAST. THE CONVOY WAS SIGHTED AND FOUND TO BE A GROUP OF NINE SHIPS COMPOSED OF TRANSPORTS AND DESTROYERS. THE PLANES OF THE SQUADRON BESIDES SCORING POSSIBLE HITS KEPT HARASSING THE CONVOYS AND FORCED THEM TO BREAK UP, AND RUN FOR COVER IN PROTECTIVE COVES IN THE AREA. ALL PLANES RETURNED TO THE MOTHER SHIP WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE, AND ITS ENTIRE CREW OF 14 PERSONNEL ABOARD WERE DECLARED OFFICIALLY MISSING IN ENEMY ACTION OFF THE CHINA COAST. THE SHIP ASSUMED ROUTINE DUTIES UNTIL 10 JUNE AT SANGLEY POINT, CAVITE AND ATTENDED IN ADDII'l,@)N TO ITS OWN PLANES, TRANSIENT VPB PLANES WHICH WERE USING THE SHIP AS AN OPERATIONAL BASE. COMMANDER AIRCRAFT, SEVENTH FLEET DISEMBARKED AND ESTABLISHED HEADQUARTERS ASHORE AT SANGLEY POINT, I JUNE 1945. ON JUNE IOTH THE SHIP DEPARTED FROM THE MANILA AREA AND RETURNED TO ITS OWN'OPERATING BASE OFF CABALITIAN ISLAND, LINGAYEN GULF. CAPTAIN EVANS NOW ACTING AS COMMANDER TASK FORCE 73.1 AND SENIOR OFFICER PRESENT AFLOAT RELIEVE]) THE USS TANGIER OF SUPPORT AND PATROL BOMBING. AGAIN WAS AN OLD FRIEND THE USS BARATARIA ANCHORED NEAR BY AND TOGETHER THEY USEI) THE PORT 5 SUAL AREA AS A BASIC OPERATIONAL ADVANTAGE POINT UNTIL V-J DAY, WEDNESDAY 15 AUGUST 1945.. ON AUGUST 14-15 AIR PATROLS FROM THIS SHIP ENGAGED JAPANESE SMALL CRAFT OFF THE CHINA COAST AS A FITTING CONCLUSION OF ITS HISTORY AND ACTIVE PART PLAYED IN THE WAR. THE SHIP RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING DISPATCH FROM COMMANDER AIRCRAFT, SEVENTH FLEET, NNIGHT MARES WORK ON NIGHT OF 13TH AND 14TH WAS AN EXCELLENT FINALE FOR COMBAT OPERATIONS THIS AREA. ALSO FROM USS SAN PABLO TO CURRITUCK THE FOLLOWING CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE WAS RECEIVED, OWE ARE WELL AWARE OF THE SUPERLATIVE OFFENSIVE YOUR TASK GROUP HAS CARRIED ACROSS THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND THE ENTHUSIASM YOUR COMBAT AIRCREWS HAVE CONSISTENTLY DISPLAYED. WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH THE CURRITUCK IN THE PHILIPPINES. BEST REGARDS. GEORGE E. HUGHES, COMMANDING. TWENTY AUGUST 1945 FOUND THE SHIP UNDERWAY TO SUBIC BAY, LUZON ISLAND, P.I. WHERE SHE PICKED UP SUPPLIES AND GOT UNDERWAY FOR CAVITE FOR REFUELING AND ROUTINE DUTIES. SHE COMPLETED HER DUTY UNDER THE COMMANDER AIRCRAFT, SEVENTH FLEET ON THE 28TH OF AUGUST AND REPORTED TO THE COMMANDER, SEVENTH FLEET FOR DUTY. THE 29TH OF AUGUST FOUND CAPTAIN EVANS OF THE CURRITUCK AS THE COMMANDER OF TASK FORCE 70.4 COMPRISING THE USS BARATARIA (AVP-33), USS PRATT (DE- 363) AND USS ROMBACH (DE-364), AND ON 30 AUGUST ACCOMPANIED BY THE USS HALF MOON (AVP-26) AS AN ADDED MEMBER OF THE FORCE SET SAIL FOR OKINAWA, RYUKYU ISLANDS. WHILE UNDERWAY TO OKINAWA THEY RAN INTO A TYPHOON OFF THE NORTHEAST COAST OF LUZON AND DUE TO ITS STRENGTH THE HALF MOON AND BARATARIA WERE GIVEN PERMISSION TO LEAVE THEIR POSITION AND PROCEED INDEPENDENTLY. By 0800 THE WIND WAS IN EXCESS OF 90 KNOTS AND THE SHIP WAS OBLIGED TO HEAVE TO, AND RIDE OUT THE TYPHOON. EXCEPT FOR FLOODING OF THE FORWARD MAGAZINES AND TAKING WATER THROUGH VENTS IN THE 3RD DECK AFT BERTHING COMPARTMENTS WHERE THE DAMAGE CONTROL CREWS WORKED THROUGHOUT THE STORM, THE SHIP SUFFERED NO DAMAGE AND SOON AFTER THE STORM PROCEEDED ON HER WAY. ON 3 SEPTEMBER THE SHIP DROPPED ANCHOR IN BUCKNER BAY, OKINAWA AND SERVED AS A MAINTENANCE BASE FOR THE SEAPLANES BASED THERE. AFTER THE WAR'S END, THE PLANES ATTACHED TO THE SHIP ENGAGED IN FOUR AIR SEA RESCUE MISSIONS To LST's OF WHICH THREE WERE SUCCESSFUL AND ONE WAS A FAILURE DUE TO THE HEAVY SEAS OFF OKINAWA. THE MEDICAL OFFICER AND THE ASSISTANT TAKING PART IN THE MERCY FLIGHTS WERE LIEUTENANT ROBERT L. ROUEN, (MC), USN., OF GOSHEN, INDIANA AND AUBURN P. RATCLIFF, PHMIC, OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS. CURRITUCK DEPARTED BUCKNER BAY FOR JINSEN (INCHON), KOREA AS PART OF THE REOCCUPATION FORCE FOR THIS REGION, ARRIVING THERE ON SUNDAY 9 SEPTEMBER, WHERE SHE SET UP A TEMPORARY SEADROME. SHE DEPARTED JINSEN, KOREA FOR SHANGHAI, CHINA, ARRIVING THERE ON FRIDAY 21 SEPTEMBER 1945. CURRITUCK SET UP A SEADROME OFF THE OLD PAN AMERICAN AIRWAYS SEAPLANE STATION A SHANGHI. SHE REMAINED IN THE FAR EAST IN SUPPORT OF RE- ESTABLISHING GENERAL CHIANG KAI SHEK'S REGIME BACK INTO CIVIL GOVERNMENT THROUGHOUT THE MAJOR SEAPORTS OF CHINA. CURRITUCK PROCEEDED TO SET UP SEAPLANE OPERATIONS AT TAKU ON MONDAY I OCTOBER, THEN ON To TSINGTAO ON MONDAY 8 OCTOBER 1945. CURRITUCK RETURNED TO OKINAWA ON SUNDAY 28 OCTOBER, WHERE SHE DID LIMITED OPERATIONS AT CHIMA-WAN AND BUCKNER BAY. 6 ONE YEAR AND FIVE MONTHS AFTER COMMISSIONING, THE SHIP UNDERWENT A CHANGE OF COMMAND ON THE 19TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 1945, WHEN CAPTAIN JOHN E. CLARK, USN., OF LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS, ASSUMED COMMAND RELIEVING CAPTAIN EVANS, AND BECAME THE SECONI) SKIPPER OF THE USS CURRITUCK. ALSO THERE HAD BEEN FOUR CHANGES IN THE EXECUTIVE OFFICERS' DURING THE TIME THE SHIP WAS COMMISSIONED WHEN COMMANDER POWERS FIRST ASSUMED THE EXECUTIVE OFFICERS' DUTIES, LIEUTENANT COMMANDER GORDON BEAL, USNR., OF NARBETH, PA., SUCCEEDED COMMANDER POWERS ON 6 OCTOBER 1944 AS THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER UNTIL 29 OCTOBER 1945 WHEN HE WAS RELIEVED By LIEUTENANT COMMANDER DAVID C. MILLER, USNR., WHO TURNED OVER DUTIES OF HIS OFFICE ON NOVEMBER 7TH, TO LIEUTENANT JACK N. PARKER, USN., OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN. CURRITUCK GOT UNDERWAY FOR STATESIDE ON THURSDAY 6 DECEMBER 1945, STOPPING OFF AT GUAM ON HER WAY TO SAN FRANCISCO. RETURNING TO ITS HOME WATERS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SIXTEEN MONTHS, CARRYING 570 NAVAL PERSONNEL AND 34 ARMY PERSONNEL AS PASSENGERS TO HAWAII AND THE UNITED STATES, AND AVIATION MARINE FIGHTER PLANES AND AVIATION GEAR WHICH WAS UNLOADED AT PEARL HARBOR. ON 13 DECEMBER THE SHIP THEN PROCEEDED TO SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ARRIVING ON 30 DECEMBER 1945 WHERE IT ENTERED DRYDOCK FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE ITS COMMISSIONING DATE OF 26 JUNE 1944; BRINGING TO A SUCCESSFUL CLIMAX ITS FIRST CRUISE AS A SEAPLANE TENDER OF THE FLEET. WHILE AT NAVAL SHIPYARD HUNTERS POINT, SHE WAS REFITTED AND PREPARED FOR HER NEXT ASSIGNMENT. HER Bow 40 MM GUN TUB AND FORWARD 5 TURRET WERE REMOVED AND A HELICOPTER DECK WAS INSTALLED FOR OPERATION HIGH JUMP. OHIGH JUMP WAS A COLD WEATHER EXERCISE, DURING WHICH AMERICA'S NEWEST ANTARTIC EXPEDITION WAS TASKED IN AMBITIOUS AERIAL MAPPING OF THIS SUBCONTINENT. THIS ASSIGNMENT WAS THE MOST EXTENSIVE IN THE HISTORY OF POLAR EXPLORATION. AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHIC-MAPPING MISSIONS WERE FLOWN ALL OVER THE VAST UNEXPLORED AND TO THAT DATE, UNCHARTED AREAS OF THE ANTARTICA. THIS OPERATION WAS CODE NAMED TASK FORCE 68, AND IT WAS COMMANDED BY REAR ADMIRAL RICHARD EVELYN BYRD, USN, WHO HELD OVERALL TECHNICAL CONTROL, ADMIRAL BYRD WAS ONE OF THE WORLD'S FOREMOST NOTED AVIATION PIONEERS, AND AN EXPERIENCED ANTARTIC EXPLORER. REAR ADMIRAL RICHARD H. CRUZEN, USN WAS ACTUAL TASK FORCE COMMANDER. IN ORDER TO HAVE MAXIMUM DAYLIGHT FOR THIS EXPEDITION, THE UNITS OF TASK FORCE 68 HAD TO LEAVE THE STATES FOR THE POLAR REGION DURING DECEMBER. THIS EXPEDITION WAS MADE UP INTO THREE GROUPS, WITH THE CENTRAL GROUP MAKING UP ITS HEADQUARTERS ABOARD THE FLAGSHIP USS MT. OLYMPUS (AGC-8) AND HER SUPPORT UNITS SAILING FROM VARIOUS EAST COAST PORTS, THE SECOND GROUP, AKA THE EASTERN GROUP, WAS BUILT AROUND THE USS PINE ISLAND (AV-12) WHICH SAILED FROM NORFOLK, VIRGINIA. THE THIRD GROUP WAS BUILT AROUND THE USS CURRITUCK (AV-7) AKA THE WESTERN GROUP, SAILED FROM SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA ON MONDAY 2 DECEMBER 1946. NOT PART OF THE EXPEDITION, BUT SUPPORTING IT, THE USS PHILIPPINE SEA (CV-47), FERRING SIX SKI-EQUIPPED R4D'S, LEFT NORFOLK IN EARLY JANUARY 1947. SHE TRAVELED THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL AND STEAMED TO A POINT APPROXIMATELY 500 MILES OFF THE ANTARTIC SHELF. FROM THERE SHE LAUNCHED THE R4D's WITH THE ASSIST OF JATO, AND THEY FLEW ON To LITTLE AMERICA, ANTARTICA. THIS WHOLE OPERATION WAS A FIRST IN NAVAL AVIATION. 7 THE TASK FORCE ALSO INCLUDE]) THE USS YANCEY (AKA- 93), USS MERRICK (AKA-97), USS SENNET (SS-408), USCG NORTHWIND (WAGB-282), USCG BURTON ISLAND (WAGB-283), USS CANISTEO (AO-99), USS BROWNSON (DD-868), USS CACAPON (AO-52) AND USS HENDERSON (DD- 785). DURING THIS EXPEDITION THE R4D's OPERATED FROM THE LITTLE AMERICA 13ASE AND THEY WERE TASKED IN PHOTO- MAPPING THE ENTIRE CENTRAL REGIONOF THIS CONTINENT$ MEANWHILE, THE PBM'S OPERATING FROM THE TWO SEAPLANE TENDERS, PHOTO-MAPPED THE COASTAL REGIONS OF THIS VAST POLAR CONTINENT. ONE OF THE MAJOR OBJECTIVES OF THIS EXPEDITION WAS TO EVALUATE HOW EVERY DAY, STANDARD NAVY EQUIPMENT WOULD PERFORM UNDER SUCH COLD WEATHER AND ADVERSE USAGE CONDITIONS. THIS EXPEDITION WAS CONDUCTED DURING DECEMBER 1946 To APRIL 1947, AND IT WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A VERY SUCCESSFUL OPERATION. FROM THEIR OPERATING AREA IN THE ANTARTIC REGION, CURRITUCK SAILED TO SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA FOR A SIX DAY LAY-OVER, FROM 13 To 20 MARCH 1947, BEFORE PROCEEDING BACK TO STATESIDE. USS CURRITUCK RETURNEI) TO NAVAL BASE NORFOLK, VIRGINIA BY WAY OF THE PANAMA CANAL, ARRIVING THERE ON FRIDAY 18 APRIL 1947. UPON THE COMPLETION OF OFFLOADING STORES AND AMMUNITION THE CURRITUCK PROCEEDED To NAVAL SHIPYARD, PHILADELPHIA WHERE IT WAS PLACED OUT OF COMMISSION AND IN THE ATLANTIC RESERVE FLEET ON 7 AUGUST 1947. USS CURRITUCK WAS RECOMMISSIONED ON WEDNESDAY I AUGUST 1951, WHEN CAPTAIN JOHN H. McELROY, USN READ THE COMMISSIONING ORDERS AND ASSUMED COMMAND. COMMANDER WALTER S. REID, USN, WAS THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER. COMMANDER REID WAS THE CO-PILOT ON THE OTRUCULENT TURTLEO, A P2V WHICH MADE AN HISTORIC FLIGHT AND RECORD FROM PERTH, AUSTRALIA TO COLUMBUS, OHIO, A DISTANCE OF 11,236 MILES IN 55 HOURS, 17 MINUTES, WITHOUT REFUELING. AFTER REFITTING, CURRITUCK GOT UNDERWAY ON 17 DECEMBER 1951 FOR NORFOLK, VIRGINIA AND THEN ON TO A FOUR MONTH SHAKEDOWN CRUISE. THIS EXERCISE TOOK HER THROUGH THE CARIBBEAN REGION, MAKING PORT CALLS AT HAITI, TRINIDAD, JAMAICA, SAN JUAN AND PANAMA, COVERING SOME 8,687 MILES, BEFORE RETURNING To NORFOLK, DURING THE TIME FRAME OF 28 JANUARY TO 14 APRIL 1952. COMMANDER FRANK D. HEYER USN, RELIEVED COMMANDER REID As EXECUTIVE OFFICER ON 23 APRIL 1952 AND ON 13 JUNE 1952, CAPTAIN HARVEY P. BURDEN, USN, ASSUMEID COMMAND OF THE CURRITUICK. ON 23 AUGUST 1952, CURRITUCK DEPARTED NORFOLK FOR A CRUISE, OPERATION MAINBRACE, WHICH INCLUDED VISITS To TRONDHEIM, NORWAY AND LEITH, SCOTLAND. DEPARTING EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND ON 7 OCTOBER THE SHIP ARRIVED IN PHILADELPHIA ON 17 OCTOBER 1952 TO REPAIR VOYAGE DAMAGE, RETURNING TO NORFOLK IN DECEMBER 1952. OPERATION SPRINGBOARDO, WAS CONDUCTED FRom 6 JANUARY To 29 MARCH 1953 IN THE SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO AREA SERVICING \tP SQADRONs 49, 34, 44, 45 AND 661. CAPTAIN J. D. BLACK, USN RELIEVED CAPTAIN BURDEN AS COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE CURRITUCK ON 28 MAY 1953. CURRITUCK DEPARTEX) NORFOLK ON 24 AUGUST 1953, PASSING THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL ON HER CRUISE TO ESTABLISH A SPECIAL OPERATION IN THE 8 GALAPAGOS ISLANDS. IN THIS LOCATION, SHE SERVED AS A MOBILE BASE FOR OPERATION CHURCHYN AND SKYHOOK. THESE OPERATIONS INVOLVED A SCIENTIFIC GROUP STUDYING COSMIC RADIATION IN THE STRATOSPHERE DURING AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER 1953. CURRITUCKIS AIRCRAFT AFT WORK DECK WAS UTILIZED To SPREAD OUT THE HUGE PLASTIC BALLOONS FROM WHICH MANY SCIENTIFIC TELEMETERING GADGETS WERE SUSPENDED. UPON RELEASE, THESE BALLOONS WOULD REACH HEIGHTS OF 100,000 FEET. DURING THESE BALLOON EXERCISES, CURRITUCK LAUNCHED THIRTEEN OF THEM WITH THE PBM's OF VP-45, USS ELLYSON (DMS-19) AND USS RODMAN (DMS-21) PROVIDING THEIR SERVICES IN TRACKING AND RECOVERING THEM AND THEIR GONDOLAS WHICH DROPPED BACK TO SEA, IN MOST CASES, HUNDREDS OF MILES AWAY FROM CURRITUCK. CURRITUCK RETURNED To NORFOLK ON 25 SEPTEMBER FOR FOUR MONTHS OF DUTY IN LOCAL OPERATING AREAS, ON 6 OCTOBER 1953 COMMANDER EDWARD W. BISHOP, USN, BECAME THE CURRITUCK'S NEW EXECUTIVE OFFICER. SHE DEPARTED I FEBRUARY 1954 TO TAKE PART IN FLEET MANEUVERS WHILE BASED AT GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA, RETURNING To NORFOLK 2 APRIL FOR A SCHEDULE OF TACTICS OFF THE VIRGINIA CAPES, SHE THEN DID A TOUR OF DUTY WHILE BASED AT BERMUDA FROM 24 APRIL To 3 JUNE 1954. WITH CAPTAIN J. B. VREDENBURGH, USN COMMANDING AND COMMANDER E. W. BisHop, USN As EXECUTIVE OFFICER, CURRITUCK DEPARTED ON 6 JULY 1954 FOR A EUROPEAN CRUISE TO MILFORD HAVEN, WEST WALES, OPERATING A SEADROME AND SERVICING VP-44 UNTIL STEAMING TO VISIT TARANTO, ITALY IN AUGUST AND THEN RETURNING TO MILFORD HAVEN AND VISITING PORTSMOUTH, ENGLAND, SHE RETURNED TO NORFOLK ON 18 SEPTEMBER 1954. CURRITUCK PARTICIPATED IN LOCAL AND CARIBBEAN OPERATIONS UNTIL DEPLOYING ON A EUROPEAN CRUISE ON 26 AUGUST 1956. As PART OF THE SIXTH FLEET SHE VISITED PRINCIPAL PORTS AND RETURNED To NORFOLK ON 13 DECEMBER 1956. AFTER COMPLETING VARIOUS LOCAL OPERATIONS CURRITUCK PROCEEDED TO PHILADELPHIA NAVAL SHIPYARD ON 9 JANUARY 1958 FOR INACTIVATION AND WAS PLACED OUT OF COMMISSION ON 12 FEBRUARY 1958 FOR MODERNIZATION AND OVERHAUL. CURRITUCK WAS RECOMMISSIONED ON 20 AUGUST 1960 AND FOLLOWING A SHAKEDOWN AND TRAINING CRUISE ALONG THE EAST COAST AND CARIBBEAN, STEAMED THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL TO HER NEW HOME PORT OF SAN DIEGO ARRIVING ON 3 DECEMBER 1960. SHE DEPLOYED TO THE WESTERN PACIFIC ON 27 JUNE 1961 ON HER FIRST TOUR WHERE SHE SERVED As FLAGSHIP FOR COMMANDER, TAIWAN PATROL FORCE, REAR ADMIRAL BERNARD M. STREAM. THIS FORCE, COMPRISED OF BOTH AIR AND SURFACE PATROL, PROVIDED SURVEILLANCE PATROLS ALONG THE COAST LINES OF SOVIET SIBERIA, NORTH KOREA., NORTH VIETNAM AND THE COMMUNIST-HELD CHINA MA,INLAND. IN A WARM-UP CRUISE, PRIOR TO HER NEXT WEST-PAC DEPLOYMENT, CURRITUCK MADE AN ALASKAN VOYAGE THAT SPANNED THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS, OPERATING WITH VP-47 EQUIPPED WITH P5M MARLIN SEAPLANES. CURRITUCK, ON THIS OPERATION, PROVIDED THE RARE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT THE PORT OF ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, AND BECAME THE LARGEST SHIP EVER TO VISIT THAT PORT. CURRITUCK BEGAN HER SECOND WEST-PAC TOUR ON 19 APRIL 1963 AND AGAIN IN EARLY 1964 OPERATING IN LINGAYEN GULF IN EXERCISE OMINUTE MANDO, THE LOCATION OF HER SEA]DROME IN JANUARY 1945, SOME TWENTY YEARS PRIOR, THIS 9 TIME SERVICING VP-48. RETURNING TO MANILA ON 29 MAY 1964 SHE PARTICIPATED IN EXERCISE OLIGTASO, A 7 NATION, 75 SHIP TASK FORCE MASSIVE AMPHIBIOUS/AIRBORNE EXERCISEI DURING WHICH CURRITUCK SERVED AS COMMAND INFORMATION CENTER. NEXT WAS A VISIT TO SAIGON, SOUTH VIETNAMI WHEREIN SHE HAD TO NAVIGATE UP THE SAIGON RIVER THROUGH HOSTILE TERRITORY. ARRIVING OFF SAIGONI SHE NEGOTIATED A 180 DEGREE TURN BY MAKING A PLANNED MANEUVER OF RUNNING HER ROW AGROUND ON THE RIVER BANK AND SWINGING HER STERN UPSTREAM UNTIL SHE HAD REVERSED HERSELF. CURRITUCK DEPLOYED FOR A SUBSEQUENT WEST-PAC CRUISE ON 23 APRIL 1965 TO BECOME FLAGSHIP SEVENTH FLEET. AFTER VISITS To KOH SAMUI AND BANGKOK, THAILAND SHE ESTABLISHED A SEADROME OFF OF CON SON, POULO CONDORES ISLANDS, REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM ON 29 MAY 1965 AND BEGAN SERVICING AIRCRAFT OF VP-40. DURING THIS PERIOD CURRITUCK ESTABLISHED A NUMBER OF NFIRSTSO. ON 22 JUNE 1965, CURRITUCK BECAME THE FIRST.SHIP OF HER CLASS TO ]DELIVER SHORE BOMBARDMENT AGAINST ENEMY POSITIONS IN THE MEKONG DELTA REGION OF VIETNAM. SHE ALSO ESTABLISHED A RECORD OF 67 ]DAYS OF CONTINUOUS SEAPLANE OPERATIONS IN AN ADVANCED-BASE AREA. UPON LEAVING VIETNAM, SHE VISITED HONG KONG, B.C.C., KEELUNG AND KAOHSIUNG, TAIWAN, YOKOSUKA, SASEBO AND KOBE, JAPAN, SUBIC BAY, P.I. WHEN NOT AT BUCKNER BAY OPERATING WITH VP-50. THE SHIP WAS COMMANDED BY CAPTAIN MARTIN G. O'NEILL, USN AND COMMANDER KEITH E. BAILEY, USN SERVED As EXECUTIVE OFFICER. THE SHIP RETURNED TO SAN DIEGO ON I DECEMBER 1965 AND ON 13 JANUARY 1966 DEPARTED FOR A TWO WEEK TRAINIG CRUISE WITH STOPS AT MAGDELINA BAY AND LA PAZ, MEXICO, RETURNING TO SAN DIEGO ON 27 JANUARY. CURRITUCK's FINAL DEPLOYMENT TO WEST-PAC INCLUDED OPERATIONS FROM A SEADROME AT HER ANCHORAGE IN CAm RANH BAY, SOUTH VIETNAM WHERE SHE SERVICE THE P5M's OF VP-40 DURING OPERATION NMARKET TIME. OPERATING FROM CURRITUCK, VP-40 PARTICIPATED IN THE LAST SEAPLANE TENDER OPERATIONS CONDUCTED BY THE U.S. NAVY AND CLOSED THIS PHASE OF U.S. NAVAL AVIATION HISTORY AFTER OPERATING THERE FROM 19 MARCH TO 12 APRIL 1967. VP-40 LOGGED A TOTAL OF 860 FLIGHT HOURSI UTILIZING BUT SEVEN AIRCRAFT FROM CURRITUCKI WHICH MAINTAINED AN AVAILABILITY OF 94.38 PERCENT. ON 23 MAY 1967, CURRITUCK RETURNED TO HER HOMEPORT OF SAN DIEGO AND IN SO DOING BROUGHT DOWN THE CURTAIN ON ONE OF THE MORE COLORFUL FACETS OF NAVAL AVIATION OPERATIONS. SHE WAS THE LAST ACTIVE SEAPLANE TENDER IN THE U.S. NAVY. IN LATE SUMMER, USS CURRITUCK STEAMED TO PUGET SOUND NAVAL SHIPYARD, BREMERTON, WASHINGTON FOR DECOMMISSIONING. THERE SHE JOINED HER WEST-PAC SISTERS: USS PINE ISLAND (AV-12) AND USS SALISBURY SOUND (AV-13) ALREADY IN THE SAME STATUS. SHE WAS LATER STRUCK FROM THE NAVAL RECORDS AND DISMANTLED AT THE LEARNER SHIPYARD, OAKLANDs CALIFORNIA IN JUNE 1972. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE MANY MEMBERS WHO PROVIDED INFORMATION FROM THEIR PERSONAL FILES. AS ADDITIONAL HISTORIC INFORMATION IS ACQUIRED ABOUT THE SHIP AND HER HISTORYI THIS INFORMATION WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE NEWSLETTERSI SO THAT EACH OF THE MEMBERS WHO SO DESIRE, MAY CREATE THEIR OWN HISTORICAL FILES ON THE USS CURRITUCK. 10 Keywords:

Entry: 81810 USS CURRITUCK (AV-7)	SHIP HISTORY
PHILLIP ROGER PACKER wrote on January 21, 2012 City and State: Unit: Service or Relationship: NAVY VETERAN Comments: ~ UNOFFICIAL HISTORY OF THE U.S.S. CURRITUCK (AV-7) WRITTEN AND COMPILED FROM INFORMATION TAKEN FROM THE SHIP'S LOG, RECORDS, AND PERSONAL INTERVIEWS. U.S.S. CURRITUCK (AV-7) (DP. 14,000; L. 54015; B. 6913; DR. 2213-11; s. 19 K.; CPL. 1247; A. 4 511) THE COMBATANT SHIPS OF OUR NAVY PLAYED AN OUTSTANDING AND VITAL ROLE IN SWEEPING THE JAPANESE NAVY AND JAPANESE SHIPPING FROM THE SEAS AND IN PUTTING TROOPS ASHORE AND SUPPORTING THEM, BUT WITHOUT THE AUXILIARY SHIPS OF THE FLEET DOING THEIR DUTY AS TRANSPORTSI SUPPLY SHIPS, AND TENDERS OF ALL TYPES OF VESSELS ENGAGED IN OFFENSIVE AS WELL AS DEFENSIVE TACTICS, THIS MAGNIFICENT ACHIEVEMENT COULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE. VESSELS SUCH AS THE U.S.S. CURRITUCK (AV-7) CLASSIFIED AS A SEAPLANE TENDER, TAKING AN ACTIVE PART IN ALL TYPES OF OPERATIONS AIDED IN MOLDING TOGETHER AS ONE FIGHTING UNIT THE COMBAT SHIPS AND THE AUXILIARY SHIPS SERVING AS A COMPONENT OF THE NAVY. THE CURRITUCK WAS LAID DOWN AS ONE OF THE NEWEST AND LARGEST SEAPLANE TENDERS HAVING ALL MODERN OPERATIONAL FACILITIES AS FOUND ON BOARD ALL CAPITAL SHIPS PRIMARILY DESIGNED FOR OPERATIONING AIRCRAFT, SUCH AS: OPERATIONS Room, AIR PLOT, COMBAT INFORMATION CENTERS, AEROLOGICAL LAB, PILOTS READY Room, AND LATEST UP TO DATE COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES, AND AS SUCH IT WAS DESTINED TO PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART IN THE WAR IN THE PACIFIC. OTHER THAN BEING AN OPERATIONS CONTROL SHIP IT WAS TO ACT AS A MOTHER SHIP AND TEND TO THE REPAIR AN]) SERVICING OF SQUADRONS OF LONG DISTANCE SEAPLANES IN THE SAME MANNER AS OPERATIONS ARE CARRIED ON IN THE LARGER AIRCRAFT CARRIERS, THE DIFFERENCE BEING THAT THE TENDER USED THE SURROUNDING WATER TO LAUNCH AND RECOVER PLANES. THE ORIGINAL TENDERS FOR THIS TYPE OF WORK WERE FOUND TO BE LACKING IN CERTAIN DESIGN QUALIFICATIONS BY WHICH THE CURRITUCK PROFITED. THE SHIP BEING LARGER IN STORAGE SPACE AND LIVING QUARTERS BELOW DECKS BY WHICH SHE WAS BETTER ABLE TO PROVIDE COMFORTABLE LIVING QUARTERS FOR MORE PLANE CREWS. THE EXTRA SIZE OF SPACE OF THE AFT-DECK ALLOWED THE CREW OF THE AIR MAINTENANCE DIVISION ADDED WORKING ROOM IN WHICH THEY COULD OPERATE WITHOUT INTERFERENCE FROM THE HANGER AREA AND LARGE AND COMPLETE MACHINES AND VITAL SHOPS WERE ADDED. USS CURRITUCKIS KEEL WAS LAID MONDAY 14 DECEMBER 1942 IN THE U.S NAVY YARD, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA AND LIAUNCHED ON 11 SEPTEMBER 1943; SPONSORED BY MRS. MILO F. DRAEMEL, WIFE OF THE COMMANDANT, FOURTH NAVAL DISTRICT NAVY YARD, PHIADELPHIA, PA. ON THE 26TH DAY OF JUNE 1944, CAPTAIN W. A. EVANS, USN., OF ALEXANDRIA, VA ASSUMED COMMAND OF THE SHIP IN APPROPRIATE CEREMONIES AND GAVE THE ORDER TO SET THE WATCH AND THE COMMISSIONING AND RAISING OF THE PENNANT TOOK PLACE@ THIS WELL ATTENDED CEREMONY HELD IN TRADITIONAL MANNER TOOK PLACE IN THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, WHERE THE KEEL WAS LAID IN DECEMBER 1942. THUS THE U.S.S. CURRITUCK, NAMED FOR THE CURRITUCK SOUND IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA IN THE VICINITY OF KITTY HAWK, THE SITE WHERE THE WRIGHT BROTHERS FIRST GAVE BIRTH TO THE AVIATION IN THIS COUNTRY, BECAME AFTER A YEAR AND A HALF FROM THE TIME HER KEEL WAS LAID AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE U.S. FLEET AND DESTINED TO DO HER PART IN DEFEATING THE ENEMIES OF THE ALLIED NATIONS. I ON THIS DAY COMMANDER F. D. POWERS, USNR., OF UPPER MONTCLAIR, NJ, ASSUMED OFFICE AS THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER. His PREVIOUS SERVICE WAS AS COMMANDER OF A SUBCHASER IN WORLD WAR 1, AND AS SUCH EARNED THE COVETED NAVY CROSS FOR SKILL AND DARING IN HANDLING AND PROTECTING SHIPPING LANES. COMMANDER POWERS REMAINED IN THE ACTIVE FLEET RESERVE, AND WAS RECALLED TO DUTY AS A COMMANDER IN JANUARY 1941. HE REMAINED ABOARD THE CURRITUCK FROM THE TIME OF HER COMMISSIONING IN JUNE UNTIL OCTOBER 1944, WHEN HE RECEIVED COMMAND OF THE U.S.S. WRIGHT IN THE MANUS ISLANDS AND WAS PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF CAPTAIN. WHILE THE SHIP WAS BEING CONSTRUCTED THE OFFICERS AND CREW WERE QUITE GREEN AS TO THEIR DUTIES ABOARD. THERE WAS NO OPPORTUNITY FOR DRILLS OR TRAINING ABOARD SHIP BUT THIS WAS A PROBLEM WHICH WAS MET AND SOLVED DURING THE TIME OF SHAKEDOWN CRUISE. UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF ENSIGN B.M. THROCKMORTON OF SAN FRANCISCO, CA., WHO CAME UP FROM THE RANKS TO ASSUME DUTIES AS THE FIRST LIEUTENANT OF THE SHIP WITH THE RANK OF FULL LIEUTENANT, THE DAMAGE CONTROL ORGANIZATION WAS SOON WHIPPED INTO SHAPE, AIDING LIEUTENANT THROCKMORTON IN SETTING UP THE DAMAGE CONTROL ORGANIZATION WAS CHIEF WARRANT CARPENTER THOMAS H. ERNST, OF DAYTON, OH. IMMEDIATELY THE CREW UNDERWENT INTENSIVE INSTRUCTION AND DRILL IN ALL SHIPBOARD OPERATIONS, ROUTINE AND EMERGENCY. THE GUNNERY DEPARTMENT BECAME A CONCISE AND COORDINATED GROUP, WORKING AS ONE UNIT AND PLAYED THEIR PART SO WELL LATER ON THAT THE SHIP RETURNED STATESIDE WITH NO MATERIAL BATTLE CASUALTIES. ON THE LAST DAY OF AUGUST 1944, THE SHIP LEFT FOR ITS OVERSEAS DESTINATION, WHICH WAS TO BE FINSCHAVEN, NEW GUINEA, TO SERVE AS THE FLAGSHIP FOR THE COMMANDER AIRCRAFT, SEVENTH FLEET, AT BALBOA, CANAL ZONE, SHE EMBARKED PASSENGERS FOR TRANSPORTATION TO MANUS ISLAND IN THE ADMIRALTY ISLANDS ON SATURDAY 9 SEPTEMBER 1944. CURRITUCK CROSSED THE EQUATOR ON SUNDAY 17 SEPTEMBER AND THE INTERNATIONAL DATELINE ON TUESDAY 26 SEPTEMBER 1944. PERSONNEL ABOARD TOOK THE CROSSING TIME OF 23 DAYS IN GOOD SPIRITS, FINDING TIME FROM THEIR ROUTINE DUTIES TO HOLD THE SHELLBACK CEREMONIES WHEN THEY CROSSED THE EQUATOR. ARRIVING IN NEW GUINEA, THE 3RD OF OCTOBER 1944, THE SHIP WAS IMMEDIATELY ORDERED TO PROCEED TO MANUS ISLAND OF THE ADMIRALTY GROUP WHERE THE COMMANDER AIRCRAFT, SEVENTH FLEET, REAR ADMIRAL FRANK B. WAGNER, USN., CAME ABOARD WITH HIS STAFF AND RAISED HIS FLAG ON 5 OCTOBER 1944. DURING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER THERE WAS A QUICK SUCCESSION OF SHUTTLE TRIPS BETWEEN WOENDI, MANUS, MOROTAX, AND KosSEL PASSAGE AND THE PALAUS. THE SHIP SERVED NOT ONLY AS AN AIRCRAFT TENDER, BUT OPERATED AS A TRANSPORT AS WELL, CARRYING CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS AND LARGE AMOUNTS OF CARGOES TO THE ISLANDS NEEDING MEN AND SUPPLIES. IN THE MONTHS OF NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER AT TACLOBAN, IN THE LEYTE AREA, THE SHIPS FORCE WAS KEPT BUSY WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK OPERATING AND TENDING SEAPLANES, BECOMING ACCUSTOMED TO BEING CALLED REGULARLY TO GENERAL QUARTERS AND ACTING AS A SUPPLY AND EMERGENCY BASE FOR NUMEROUS NON- AVIATION UNITS WHICH HAD NOT CONTEMPLATED RECEIVING SUCH SERVICES. DURING THIS CRITICAL AND HAZARDOUS PERIOD THEY WERE MORE THAN A SEAPLANE TENDER, ACTING AS A DISPATCH AND COMMUNICATION SHIP, THEY SERVED EVERY MILITARY 2 EFFORT IN THE TACLOBAN-JINAMOC AREA. COOPERATING WITH THE ARMY, THE SHIP PROVIDED A WELL BALANCED DIET OF FOOD TO ITS CREW AND GUESTS OF WHICH-THERE WERE OVER 1700 WHO CAME ABOARD FOR A DRY PLACE TO SLEEP AND A CHANCE FOR A REAL MEAL, THEREBY GETTING THE REPUTATION OF BEING A HFLOATING HOTELO. DURING THIS TIME THE WELFARE OF THE MEN AND FEEDING THEM FELL TO THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CHIEF PAY CLERK, HARRY BARNHORST, USN., OF EAST PROVIDENCE, RI., A VETERAN OF SOME THIRTY (30) YEARS OF SERVICE IN THE NAVY. THE SHIP WAS WELL EQUIPPED AS THERE WERE ENOUGH STORES ON BOARD TO FEED 1200 MEN FOR A PERIOD OF 90 DAYS. DURING THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER THE CURRITUCK WAS THE ONLY MAJOR SHIP IN THE SAN PEDRO BAY AREA OF THIS LARGE LEYTE GULF. ON NOVEMBER THE 14TH AT 0738 IN THE MORNING ZEKES ATTACKED FROM THE STARBOARD QUARTER AND THE GUNNERS ENGAGED THEM IN A RUNNING BATTLE RESULTING IN ONE ZEKE BEING SHOT DOWN, THERE BEING NO DAMAGE TO THE SHIP OR PERSONNEL. DURING THE MONTH OF DECEMBER WHILE LYING AT ANCHOR OFF THE LEYTE BEACHHEAD THE CREW WAS GIVEN A RESPITE BY THE ENEMY, AND EXCEPT FOR AN OCCASIONAL SOUND OF THE ALERT SIREN THERE WAS NO ENEMY CONTACT OR ACTIVITY, AND THE CREW HAD A CHANCE TO RELAX COMPLETELY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER A MONTH. THE MORNING OF 6 JANUARY 1945 FOUND THE SHIP RIGGED FOR SEA AND EVERY MAN ALERT AT HIS BATTLE STATION AS THEY TOOK THEIR ASSIGNED POSITION IN TASK FORCE 79. ON THE MORNING OF THE INVASION OF LINGAYEN GULF IN THE PHILIPPINES THE 9TH OF JANUARY 1945 THE CURRITUCK, ACCOMPANIED BY THE USS BARATARIA, A SMALL SEAPLANE TENDER, FORMEI) A SMALL BUT ACTIVE PART OF THE HUGE ARMADA CONTAINING MANY TYPES OF SHIPS. IT WAS A WELL PLANNED AND COORDINATED AMPHIBIOUS OPERATION, EVERY UNIT WENT ABOUT ITS BUSINESS AND CARRIED OUT ITS ASSIGNED DUTIES. THE TWO TENDERS IMMEDIATELY WERE DETACHED UPON ARRIVING IN THE CENTRAL BAY AREA AND PROCEEDED TO CARRY OUT THEIR ASSIGNED MISSIONS OF LAYING SEAPLANE MOORINGS. SHORTLY BEFORE DROPPING THE HOOK THE CURRITUCK HAD COME TO A HALT NEAR SOME LARGE COMBATANT SHIPS WHICH WERE POUNDING THE SHORES WITH THEIR GUNS AND UNKNOWN TO THE CREW ABOARD THE CURRITUCK, THEY WERE CREDITED WITH BEING A PART OF THE BOMBARDMENT GROUP WHICH EARNED THE NAME OF THE FIGHTING TENDER, ACTUALLY HOWEVER THE SHIP PLAYED NO PART IN THE BOMBARDMENT OF THE BEACHHEAD. DURING THE PERIOD OF 6 NOVEMBER 1944 TO 6 JANUARY 1945 THE SENIOR MEDICAL OFFICER OF THE CURRITUCK WAS RECOMMENDED FOR THE AWARD OF THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL AND CITATION BY COMMANDER AIRCRAFT, SEVENTH FLEET. TH SENIOR MEDICAL OFFICER BEING AT THAT TIME COMMANDER FRANKLIN G. BALCH, (MC), USNR. THE CEREMONIES TOOK PLACED ABOARD SHIP, WITH THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE SHIP MAKING THE PRESENTATION, ON 11 AUGUST 1945. COMMANDER BALCH WHOSE HOME IS IN NEWTON CENTER, MA., RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING CITATION FROM COMMANDER AIRCRAFT, SEVENTH FLEET IN THE NAME OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. UFOR DISTINGUISHING HIMSELF BY MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT IN CONNECTION WITH OPERATIONS AGAINST THE ENEMY. DURING THE PERIOD BETWEEN 6 NOVEMBER 1944 AND 6 JANUARY 1945, AS SENIOR MEDICAL OFFICER OF THE CURRITUCK DURING ITS STAY IN LEYTE GULF, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, COMMANDER FRANKLIN G. BALCH, JR., (MC), USNR, DISPLAYED OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP, INTELLIGENCE AND PROFESSIONAL SKILL. AS A RESULT OF HIS EFFORTS THE HEALTH AND MORALE OF PERSONNEL OF UNITS IN COMMANDER AIRCRAFT, SEVENTH FLEET, BASED ABOARD THE CURRITUCK, DURING THIS HAZARDOUS AND CRITICAL PERIOD WAS MAINTAINED AT A HIGH STANDARD. HE FURNISHED EMERGENCY SURGICAL AND MEDICAL SERVICES TO SEVERAL NEARBY UNITS DURING THE 3 EARLY WEEKS OF THE INVASION OF LEYTE. His OUTSTANDING SERVICE AND CONDUCT THROUGHOUT THIS PERIOD WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE NAVY OF THE UNITED STATES. DURING THE NEXT FEW DAYS, IN JANUARY, THE SHIP WAS ALERTED AGAIN AND AGAIN, BECAUSE OF SUICIDE SWIMMERS AND CERTAIN TYPES OF MIDGET SUBMARINES AND BAKAH BOATS OPERATING IN THE VICINITY. IT WAS DURING THIS TIME THAT 3 JAP PRISONERS WERE BROUGHT ABOARD AND FOUND TO BE CARRYING A DEADLY CHARGE OF EXPLOSIVES IN THEIR FANATICAL SUICIDE ATTEMPTS TO HARASS AND DESTROY SHIPPING IN THE HARBOR. HOWEVER, THESE ATTEMPTS PROVED VERY UNSUCCESSFUL DUE TO THE ALERTNESS OF THE LOOKOUTS ABOARD THE NAVAL VESSELS IN THE HARBOR AREA. FROM ITS SEADROME, ITS flBLACK CATU SQUADRONS ROAMED THE CHINA SEA, PRODUCING VERY EFFECTIVE RESULTS. IT WAS ABOUT THIS TIME ONE JAP BOMBER FLYING LOW BETWEEN THE MASTS LET GO WITH A BOMB WHICH EXPLODED IN THE WATER AND SCORED A NEAR MISS. JAP ARTILLERY WAS COMING UNCOMFORTABLY CLOSE IN THE FORM OF HEAVY CONCENTRATION RATHER THAN ACCURACY AND FORCED BOTH TENDERS TO SHIFT TO NEW MOORINGS IN LINGAYEN GULF. THAT SAME EVENING A BOMBER MADE A PASS AT THE SHIP BUT THE GUN CREWS, WORKING UNDER THE DIRECTION OF LIEUTENANT (JG) MILTON T. McPHERSON, USN., OF SAN DIEGO, CA, SHOT DOWN THE ATTACKER WHICH CRASHED INTO THE SEA IN FLAMES AND EXPLODED AND GAVE THE SHIP ANOTHER TALLY IN ITS BOX SCORE OF ENEMY PLANES DESTROYED. THE SHIP CONTINUED OPERATIONS AT ITS NEW MOORINGS AND THE ROUTINE FLIGHTS OF THE PATROL BOMBERS CONTINUED IN AND ACROSS THE CHINA SEA. DURING THE TIME THE SHIP WAS UNDER FIRE FROM AIR ATTACKS FOUR MEN WERE WOUNDED BY SHRAPNEL. NONE OF THE MEN RECEIVED VITAL INJURIES AND LATER RECEIVED THE ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART. THE FOUR RECEIVING THE AWARD WERE WILLIAM M PERKINS, SIC, OF WALLA WALLA, WA., AND HENRY J. ANNUNZIATA, SC3c, OF SEA CLIFF, NY., HOWARD J. KORPACY, SIC, OF PITTSBURGH, PA, AND Guy B. ELLINGER, SIC, OF CRIMORA, VA. DURING THE TIME OF THE SHIP'S OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES A FEW OF THE OFFICERS AND MEN RECEIVED THE AIR MEDAL FOR FLIGHTS OVER ENEMY TERRITORY; WHEN ACTING IN THE ROLE OF TECHNICAL OBSERVERS THEY FLEW WITH THE SQUADRONS. THE LAST WEEK IN JANUARY THE CURRITUCK WAS RELIEVED BY THE USS TANGIER (AV-8) AND WHILE ENROUTE To TACLOBAN, LEYTE SHE STOPPED OFF AT SAN JOSE AREA OF MINDORO, WHERE THE MAINTENANCE CREW OF THE OV DIVISION SET A RECORD BY CHANGING 7 AIRCRAFT ENGINES FOR VP-25's SEAPLANES BASED THERE IN FIVE DAYS. FEBRUARY AGAIN FOUND THE SHIP CARRYING OUT ROUTINE DUTIES ACTING AS A SEAPLANE TENDER AND SENDING FORTH BOMBER PATROLS WHICH FLEW NIGHTLY IN OPERATIONS WHICH TOOK THEM AS FAR NORTH AS FORMOSA ALONG THE CHINA COAST AND BACK TO THE SHIP BY THE BREAK OF DAWN. THEIR MAIN OBJECTIVE A'r THIS TIME DURING THE TWO MONTHS WAS TO ATTACK AND HARASS JAPANESE SHIPPING SUPPLY LINES BETWEEN THE HOME ISLANDS AND ITS CONQUERED TERRITORIES. THE PLANES FROM THE TENDER IN FLYING THEIR ASSIGNED SECTORSI CONTRIBUTED MATERIALLY IN BRINGING AN END TO THE HOSTILITIES BY THEIR STRAFING AND BOMBING OF SHIPS AND LAND BASED JAP AIRFIELDS AND TAKING PART IN BOMBING MISSIONS OVER ENEMY OCCUPIED TERRITORY. DURING THE EARLY DAYS OF MARCH SHE SAILED TO THE VARIOUS ISLANDS IN THE PHILIPPINE GROUP CARRYING FREIGHT AND PASSENGERS AND ACTING AS A TROOP TRANSPORT. SATURDAY 3 MARCH FOUND THE CURRITUCK OFF OF NAVAL BASE AND 4i NAVAL AIR STATION, SAMAR ISLAND, P.I., LOADING AVIATION SUPPLIES ON HER WAY TO MANILA BAY. ON MARCH 6, THE SHIP ENTERED MANILA BAY FOR THE FIRST TIME, ESTABLISHING A SEADROME OFF OF SANGLEY POINT, CAVITE, P.I. AND THIS WAS DONE WHILE THE ffRoCKO (CORREGIDOR) WAS UNDERGOING HER FINAL ASSAULTS BY THE AGGRESSIVE ARMY AIR FORCE ATTACK AND BOMBING PLANES. ADMIRAL WAGNER WAS BACK TO WHERE HE HAD STARTED AS PATROL WING 10, COMMANDER, WHEN CAVITE HAD BEEN BOMBED ON WEDNESDAY 10 DECEMBER 1941. IN MARCH 1945, WORD WAS RECEIVED THAT THREE PBM'S HAD GONE DOWN DUE TO WATER IN THE FUEL. ONE CRASHED ON LAND, WHILE THE OTHERS WERE ABLE TO LAND ON WATER, ABOUT 90 MILES DOWN THE COAST FROM LINGAYEN GULF. THE CREWS WERE PICKED UP BY FRIENDLY PHILIPPINOS AND TAKEN TO A MAKE-SHIFT HOSPITAL SEVERAL MILES INLAND, ALL SUFFERING FROM SECOND AND THIRD DEGREE BURNS. CURRITUCK DISPATCHED A MEDICAL TEAM CONSISTING OF LT. TOPOL, DC, USNR, LT. GREEN, MC, USNR, ALBERT KEENAN, PHM2 AND WAYNE HACKLEY, PHM3 IN A CRASH BOAT DOWN THE COAST. RUBBER RAFTS WERE USED TO GET ASHORE AND UPON LANDING THEY LOCATED A U.S. ARMY RADIO STATION AND WERE TOLD THERE WERE JAPANESE SOLDIERS IN THE AREA TRYING TO AVOID CAPTURE. AFTER A TREKKING THROUGH WILD AND HAZARDOUS TERRITORY, THE HOSPITAL WAS LOCATED. THERE WAS NO MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AT THIS LOCATION AND THE BURNS HAD BEEN COVERED WITH BAMBOO LEAVES AND IT SEEMED UNLIKELY THAT THESE MEN WOULD SURVIVE. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS PROVIDED BY ADMINISTERING MORPHINE AND SULPHA POWDER. BLOOD PLASMA WAS STARTED AND THE MEN WERE MOVED BACK TO THE COAST* THE SOLDIERS FROM THE RADIO STATION SENT CODED MESSAGES TO THE SHIP REQUESTING SEAPLANES TO PICK THEM up,u(NOTE; THE CODE NAME FOR THE USS CURRITUCK WAS FIREFLY,) KEENAN TOOK THE FIRST TWO CASUALITIES ON THE FIRST PLANE AND OTHER SEAPLANES FOLLOWED BRINGING ALL THE MEN BACK TO THE SHIP WHERE THE FULL HOSPITAL CREW ADMINISTERED TREATMENT. Two OF THE MEN SURVIVED AND SPENT CONSIDERABLE TIME ABOARD SHIP BEFORE BEING TRANSFERED TO A HOSPITAL SHIP AND LATER RETURNED TO THE STATES. AGAIN, COMMMANDER FRANKLIN BALCH, MC, USNR, TOGETHER WITH ALL THE HOSPITAL CREW DESERVED CREDIT FOR THEIR EFFORTS IN PROVIDING MEDICAL ATTENTION IN SPITE OF THE GREAT ODDS AGAINST THEM. ON THIS SAME DAY, SQUADRON VPB-20 WAS TAKEN ABOARD WHEN THEY ARRIVED FROM MINDORO THE TYPE OF PLANES BEING PBM-5's. OPERATIONS COMMENCED ON THE BTH DAY OF MARCH, 3 PLANES DAILY MAKING ROUTINE FLIGHTS TO THE CHINA COAST, WHICH OPERATIONS CONTINUED THRU TO MAY 1945 WHEN THE SHIP SENT OUT 4 PLANES TO ATTACK A JAP CONVOY THAT WAS TRYING TO PULL A SNEAK TO ITS HOME WATERS COMING UP FROM THE SOUTH ALONG THE CHINA COAST. THE CONVOY WAS SIGHTED AND FOUND TO BE A GROUP OF NINE SHIPS COMPOSED OF TRANSPORTS AND DESTROYERS. THE PLANES OF THE SQUADRON BESIDES SCORING POSSIBLE HITS KEPT HARASSING THE CONVOYS AND FORCED THEM TO BREAK UP, AND RUN FOR COVER IN PROTECTIVE COVES IN THE AREA. ALL PLANES RETURNED TO THE MOTHER SHIP WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE, AND ITS ENTIRE CREW OF 14 PERSONNEL ABOARD WERE DECLARED OFFICIALLY MISSING IN ENEMY ACTION OFF THE CHINA COAST. THE SHIP ASSUMED ROUTINE DUTIES UNTIL 10 JUNE AT SANGLEY POINT, CAVITE AND ATTENDED IN ADDII'l,@)N TO ITS OWN PLANES, TRANSIENT VPB PLANES WHICH WERE USING THE SHIP AS AN OPERATIONAL BASE. COMMANDER AIRCRAFT, SEVENTH FLEET DISEMBARKED AND ESTABLISHED HEADQUARTERS ASHORE AT SANGLEY POINT, I JUNE 1945. ON JUNE IOTH THE SHIP DEPARTED FROM THE MANILA AREA AND RETURNED TO ITS OWN'OPERATING BASE OFF CABALITIAN ISLAND, LINGAYEN GULF. CAPTAIN EVANS NOW ACTING AS COMMANDER TASK FORCE 73.1 AND SENIOR OFFICER PRESENT AFLOAT RELIEVE]) THE USS TANGIER OF SUPPORT AND PATROL BOMBING. AGAIN WAS AN OLD FRIEND THE USS BARATARIA ANCHORED NEAR BY AND TOGETHER THEY USEI) THE PORT 5 SUAL AREA AS A BASIC OPERATIONAL ADVANTAGE POINT UNTIL V-J DAY, WEDNESDAY 15 AUGUST 1945.. ON AUGUST 14-15 AIR PATROLS FROM THIS SHIP ENGAGED JAPANESE SMALL CRAFT OFF THE CHINA COAST AS A FITTING CONCLUSION OF ITS HISTORY AND ACTIVE PART PLAYED IN THE WAR. THE SHIP RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING DISPATCH FROM COMMANDER AIRCRAFT, SEVENTH FLEET, NNIGHT MARES WORK ON NIGHT OF 13TH AND 14TH WAS AN EXCELLENT FINALE FOR COMBAT OPERATIONS THIS AREA. ALSO FROM USS SAN PABLO TO CURRITUCK THE FOLLOWING CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE WAS RECEIVED, OWE ARE WELL AWARE OF THE SUPERLATIVE OFFENSIVE YOUR TASK GROUP HAS CARRIED ACROSS THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND THE ENTHUSIASM YOUR COMBAT AIRCREWS HAVE CONSISTENTLY DISPLAYED. WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH THE CURRITUCK IN THE PHILIPPINES. BEST REGARDS. GEORGE E. HUGHES, COMMANDING. TWENTY AUGUST 1945 FOUND THE SHIP UNDERWAY TO SUBIC BAY, LUZON ISLAND, P.I. WHERE SHE PICKED UP SUPPLIES AND GOT UNDERWAY FOR CAVITE FOR REFUELING AND ROUTINE DUTIES. SHE COMPLETED HER DUTY UNDER THE COMMANDER AIRCRAFT, SEVENTH FLEET ON THE 28TH OF AUGUST AND REPORTED TO THE COMMANDER, SEVENTH FLEET FOR DUTY. THE 29TH OF AUGUST FOUND CAPTAIN EVANS OF THE CURRITUCK AS THE COMMANDER OF TASK FORCE 70.4 COMPRISING THE USS BARATARIA (AVP-33), USS PRATT (DE- 363) AND USS ROMBACH (DE-364), AND ON 30 AUGUST ACCOMPANIED BY THE USS HALF MOON (AVP-26) AS AN ADDED MEMBER OF THE FORCE SET SAIL FOR OKINAWA, RYUKYU ISLANDS. WHILE UNDERWAY TO OKINAWA THEY RAN INTO A TYPHOON OFF THE NORTHEAST COAST OF LUZON AND DUE TO ITS STRENGTH THE HALF MOON AND BARATARIA WERE GIVEN PERMISSION TO LEAVE THEIR POSITION AND PROCEED INDEPENDENTLY. By 0800 THE WIND WAS IN EXCESS OF 90 KNOTS AND THE SHIP WAS OBLIGED TO HEAVE TO, AND RIDE OUT THE TYPHOON. EXCEPT FOR FLOODING OF THE FORWARD MAGAZINES AND TAKING WATER THROUGH VENTS IN THE 3RD DECK AFT BERTHING COMPARTMENTS WHERE THE DAMAGE CONTROL CREWS WORKED THROUGHOUT THE STORM, THE SHIP SUFFERED NO DAMAGE AND SOON AFTER THE STORM PROCEEDED ON HER WAY. ON 3 SEPTEMBER THE SHIP DROPPED ANCHOR IN BUCKNER BAY, OKINAWA AND SERVED AS A MAINTENANCE BASE FOR THE SEAPLANES BASED THERE. AFTER THE WAR'S END, THE PLANES ATTACHED TO THE SHIP ENGAGED IN FOUR AIR SEA RESCUE MISSIONS To LST's OF WHICH THREE WERE SUCCESSFUL AND ONE WAS A FAILURE DUE TO THE HEAVY SEAS OFF OKINAWA. THE MEDICAL OFFICER AND THE ASSISTANT TAKING PART IN THE MERCY FLIGHTS WERE LIEUTENANT ROBERT L. ROUEN, (MC), USN., OF GOSHEN, INDIANA AND AUBURN P. RATCLIFF, PHMIC, OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS. CURRITUCK DEPARTED BUCKNER BAY FOR JINSEN (INCHON), KOREA AS PART OF THE REOCCUPATION FORCE FOR THIS REGION, ARRIVING THERE ON SUNDAY 9 SEPTEMBER, WHERE SHE SET UP A TEMPORARY SEADROME. SHE DEPARTED JINSEN, KOREA FOR SHANGHAI, CHINA, ARRIVING THERE ON FRIDAY 21 SEPTEMBER 1945. CURRITUCK SET UP A SEADROME OFF THE OLD PAN AMERICAN AIRWAYS SEAPLANE STATION A SHANGHI. SHE REMAINED IN THE FAR EAST IN SUPPORT OF RE- ESTABLISHING GENERAL CHIANG KAI SHEK'S REGIME BACK INTO CIVIL GOVERNMENT THROUGHOUT THE MAJOR SEAPORTS OF CHINA. CURRITUCK PROCEEDED TO SET UP SEAPLANE OPERATIONS AT TAKU ON MONDAY I OCTOBER, THEN ON To TSINGTAO ON MONDAY 8 OCTOBER 1945. CURRITUCK RETURNED TO OKINAWA ON SUNDAY 28 OCTOBER, WHERE SHE DID LIMITED OPERATIONS AT CHIMA-WAN AND BUCKNER BAY. 6 ONE YEAR AND FIVE MONTHS AFTER COMMISSIONING, THE SHIP UNDERWENT A CHANGE OF COMMAND ON THE 19TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 1945, WHEN CAPTAIN JOHN E. CLARK, USN., OF LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS, ASSUMED COMMAND RELIEVING CAPTAIN EVANS, AND BECAME THE SECONI) SKIPPER OF THE USS CURRITUCK. ALSO THERE HAD BEEN FOUR CHANGES IN THE EXECUTIVE OFFICERS' DURING THE TIME THE SHIP WAS COMMISSIONED WHEN COMMANDER POWERS FIRST ASSUMED THE EXECUTIVE OFFICERS' DUTIES, LIEUTENANT COMMANDER GORDON BEAL, USNR., OF NARBETH, PA., SUCCEEDED COMMANDER POWERS ON 6 OCTOBER 1944 AS THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER UNTIL 29 OCTOBER 1945 WHEN HE WAS RELIEVED By LIEUTENANT COMMANDER DAVID C. MILLER, USNR., WHO TURNED OVER DUTIES OF HIS OFFICE ON NOVEMBER 7TH, TO LIEUTENANT JACK N. PARKER, USN., OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN. CURRITUCK GOT UNDERWAY FOR STATESIDE ON THURSDAY 6 DECEMBER 1945, STOPPING OFF AT GUAM ON HER WAY TO SAN FRANCISCO. RETURNING TO ITS HOME WATERS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SIXTEEN MONTHS, CARRYING 570 NAVAL PERSONNEL AND 34 ARMY PERSONNEL AS PASSENGERS TO HAWAII AND THE UNITED STATES, AND AVIATION MARINE FIGHTER PLANES AND AVIATION GEAR WHICH WAS UNLOADED AT PEARL HARBOR. ON 13 DECEMBER THE SHIP THEN PROCEEDED TO SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ARRIVING ON 30 DECEMBER 1945 WHERE IT ENTERED DRYDOCK FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE ITS COMMISSIONING DATE OF 26 JUNE 1944; BRINGING TO A SUCCESSFUL CLIMAX ITS FIRST CRUISE AS A SEAPLANE TENDER OF THE FLEET. WHILE AT NAVAL SHIPYARD HUNTERS POINT, SHE WAS REFITTED AND PREPARED FOR HER NEXT ASSIGNMENT. HER Bow 40 MM GUN TUB AND FORWARD 5 TURRET WERE REMOVED AND A HELICOPTER DECK WAS INSTALLED FOR OPERATION HIGH JUMP. OHIGH JUMP WAS A COLD WEATHER EXERCISE, DURING WHICH AMERICA'S NEWEST ANTARTIC EXPEDITION WAS TASKED IN AMBITIOUS AERIAL MAPPING OF THIS SUBCONTINENT. THIS ASSIGNMENT WAS THE MOST EXTENSIVE IN THE HISTORY OF POLAR EXPLORATION. AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHIC-MAPPING MISSIONS WERE FLOWN ALL OVER THE VAST UNEXPLORED AND TO THAT DATE, UNCHARTED AREAS OF THE ANTARTICA. THIS OPERATION WAS CODE NAMED TASK FORCE 68, AND IT WAS COMMANDED BY REAR ADMIRAL RICHARD EVELYN BYRD, USN, WHO HELD OVERALL TECHNICAL CONTROL, ADMIRAL BYRD WAS ONE OF THE WORLD'S FOREMOST NOTED AVIATION PIONEERS, AND AN EXPERIENCED ANTARTIC EXPLORER. REAR ADMIRAL RICHARD H. CRUZEN, USN WAS ACTUAL TASK FORCE COMMANDER. IN ORDER TO HAVE MAXIMUM DAYLIGHT FOR THIS EXPEDITION, THE UNITS OF TASK FORCE 68 HAD TO LEAVE THE STATES FOR THE POLAR REGION DURING DECEMBER. THIS EXPEDITION WAS MADE UP INTO THREE GROUPS, WITH THE CENTRAL GROUP MAKING UP ITS HEADQUARTERS ABOARD THE FLAGSHIP USS MT. OLYMPUS (AGC-8) AND HER SUPPORT UNITS SAILING FROM VARIOUS EAST COAST PORTS, THE SECOND GROUP, AKA THE EASTERN GROUP, WAS BUILT AROUND THE USS PINE ISLAND (AV-12) WHICH SAILED FROM NORFOLK, VIRGINIA. THE THIRD GROUP WAS BUILT AROUND THE USS CURRITUCK (AV-7) AKA THE WESTERN GROUP, SAILED FROM SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA ON MONDAY 2 DECEMBER 1946. NOT PART OF THE EXPEDITION, BUT SUPPORTING IT, THE USS PHILIPPINE SEA (CV-47), FERRING SIX SKI-EQUIPPED R4D'S, LEFT NORFOLK IN EARLY JANUARY 1947. SHE TRAVELED THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL AND STEAMED TO A POINT APPROXIMATELY 500 MILES OFF THE ANTARTIC SHELF. FROM THERE SHE LAUNCHED THE R4D's WITH THE ASSIST OF JATO, AND THEY FLEW ON To LITTLE AMERICA, ANTARTICA. THIS WHOLE OPERATION WAS A FIRST IN NAVAL AVIATION. 7 THE TASK FORCE ALSO INCLUDE]) THE USS YANCEY (AKA- 93), USS MERRICK (AKA-97), USS SENNET (SS-408), USCG NORTHWIND (WAGB-282), USCG BURTON ISLAND (WAGB-283), USS CANISTEO (AO-99), USS BROWNSON (DD-868), USS CACAPON (AO-52) AND USS HENDERSON (DD- 785). DURING THIS EXPEDITION THE R4D's OPERATED FROM THE LITTLE AMERICA 13ASE AND THEY WERE TASKED IN PHOTO- MAPPING THE ENTIRE CENTRAL REGIONOF THIS CONTINENT$ MEANWHILE, THE PBM'S OPERATING FROM THE TWO SEAPLANE TENDERS, PHOTO-MAPPED THE COASTAL REGIONS OF THIS VAST POLAR CONTINENT. ONE OF THE MAJOR OBJECTIVES OF THIS EXPEDITION WAS TO EVALUATE HOW EVERY DAY, STANDARD NAVY EQUIPMENT WOULD PERFORM UNDER SUCH COLD WEATHER AND ADVERSE USAGE CONDITIONS. THIS EXPEDITION WAS CONDUCTED DURING DECEMBER 1946 To APRIL 1947, AND IT WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A VERY SUCCESSFUL OPERATION. FROM THEIR OPERATING AREA IN THE ANTARTIC REGION, CURRITUCK SAILED TO SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA FOR A SIX DAY LAY-OVER, FROM 13 To 20 MARCH 1947, BEFORE PROCEEDING BACK TO STATESIDE. USS CURRITUCK RETURNEI) TO NAVAL BASE NORFOLK, VIRGINIA BY WAY OF THE PANAMA CANAL, ARRIVING THERE ON FRIDAY 18 APRIL 1947. UPON THE COMPLETION OF OFFLOADING STORES AND AMMUNITION THE CURRITUCK PROCEEDED To NAVAL SHIPYARD, PHILADELPHIA WHERE IT WAS PLACED OUT OF COMMISSION AND IN THE ATLANTIC RESERVE FLEET ON 7 AUGUST 1947. USS CURRITUCK WAS RECOMMISSIONED ON WEDNESDAY I AUGUST 1951, WHEN CAPTAIN JOHN H. McELROY, USN READ THE COMMISSIONING ORDERS AND ASSUMED COMMAND. COMMANDER WALTER S. REID, USN, WAS THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER. COMMANDER REID WAS THE CO-PILOT ON THE OTRUCULENT TURTLEO, A P2V WHICH MADE AN HISTORIC FLIGHT AND RECORD FROM PERTH, AUSTRALIA TO COLUMBUS, OHIO, A DISTANCE OF 11,236 MILES IN 55 HOURS, 17 MINUTES, WITHOUT REFUELING. AFTER REFITTING, CURRITUCK GOT UNDERWAY ON 17 DECEMBER 1951 FOR NORFOLK, VIRGINIA AND THEN ON TO A FOUR MONTH SHAKEDOWN CRUISE. THIS EXERCISE TOOK HER THROUGH THE CARIBBEAN REGION, MAKING PORT CALLS AT HAITI, TRINIDAD, JAMAICA, SAN JUAN AND PANAMA, COVERING SOME 8,687 MILES, BEFORE RETURNING To NORFOLK, DURING THE TIME FRAME OF 28 JANUARY TO 14 APRIL 1952. COMMANDER FRANK D. HEYER USN, RELIEVED COMMANDER REID As EXECUTIVE OFFICER ON 23 APRIL 1952 AND ON 13 JUNE 1952, CAPTAIN HARVEY P. BURDEN, USN, ASSUMEID COMMAND OF THE CURRITUICK. ON 23 AUGUST 1952, CURRITUCK DEPARTED NORFOLK FOR A CRUISE, OPERATION MAINBRACE, WHICH INCLUDED VISITS To TRONDHEIM, NORWAY AND LEITH, SCOTLAND. DEPARTING EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND ON 7 OCTOBER THE SHIP ARRIVED IN PHILADELPHIA ON 17 OCTOBER 1952 TO REPAIR VOYAGE DAMAGE, RETURNING TO NORFOLK IN DECEMBER 1952. OPERATION SPRINGBOARDO, WAS CONDUCTED FRom 6 JANUARY To 29 MARCH 1953 IN THE SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO AREA SERVICING \tP SQADRONs 49, 34, 44, 45 AND 661. CAPTAIN J. D. BLACK, USN RELIEVED CAPTAIN BURDEN AS COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE CURRITUCK ON 28 MAY 1953. CURRITUCK DEPARTEX) NORFOLK ON 24 AUGUST 1953, PASSING THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL ON HER CRUISE TO ESTABLISH A SPECIAL OPERATION IN THE 8 GALAPAGOS ISLANDS. IN THIS LOCATION, SHE SERVED AS A MOBILE BASE FOR OPERATION CHURCHYN AND SKYHOOK. THESE OPERATIONS INVOLVED A SCIENTIFIC GROUP STUDYING COSMIC RADIATION IN THE STRATOSPHERE DURING AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER 1953. CURRITUCKIS AIRCRAFT AFT WORK DECK WAS UTILIZED To SPREAD OUT THE HUGE PLASTIC BALLOONS FROM WHICH MANY SCIENTIFIC TELEMETERING GADGETS WERE SUSPENDED. UPON RELEASE, THESE BALLOONS WOULD REACH HEIGHTS OF 100,000 FEET. DURING THESE BALLOON EXERCISES, CURRITUCK LAUNCHED THIRTEEN OF THEM WITH THE PBM's OF VP-45, USS ELLYSON (DMS-19) AND USS RODMAN (DMS-21) PROVIDING THEIR SERVICES IN TRACKING AND RECOVERING THEM AND THEIR GONDOLAS WHICH DROPPED BACK TO SEA, IN MOST CASES, HUNDREDS OF MILES AWAY FROM CURRITUCK. CURRITUCK RETURNED To NORFOLK ON 25 SEPTEMBER FOR FOUR MONTHS OF DUTY IN LOCAL OPERATING AREAS, ON 6 OCTOBER 1953 COMMANDER EDWARD W. BISHOP, USN, BECAME THE CURRITUCK'S NEW EXECUTIVE OFFICER. SHE DEPARTED I FEBRUARY 1954 TO TAKE PART IN FLEET MANEUVERS WHILE BASED AT GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA, RETURNING To NORFOLK 2 APRIL FOR A SCHEDULE OF TACTICS OFF THE VIRGINIA CAPES, SHE THEN DID A TOUR OF DUTY WHILE BASED AT BERMUDA FROM 24 APRIL To 3 JUNE 1954. WITH CAPTAIN J. B. VREDENBURGH, USN COMMANDING AND COMMANDER E. W. BisHop, USN As EXECUTIVE OFFICER, CURRITUCK DEPARTED ON 6 JULY 1954 FOR A EUROPEAN CRUISE TO MILFORD HAVEN, WEST WALES, OPERATING A SEADROME AND SERVICING VP-44 UNTIL STEAMING TO VISIT TARANTO, ITALY IN AUGUST AND THEN RETURNING TO MILFORD HAVEN AND VISITING PORTSMOUTH, ENGLAND, SHE RETURNED TO NORFOLK ON 18 SEPTEMBER 1954. CURRITUCK PARTICIPATED IN LOCAL AND CARIBBEAN OPERATIONS UNTIL DEPLOYING ON A EUROPEAN CRUISE ON 26 AUGUST 1956. As PART OF THE SIXTH FLEET SHE VISITED PRINCIPAL PORTS AND RETURNED To NORFOLK ON 13 DECEMBER 1956. AFTER COMPLETING VARIOUS LOCAL OPERATIONS CURRITUCK PROCEEDED TO PHILADELPHIA NAVAL SHIPYARD ON 9 JANUARY 1958 FOR INACTIVATION AND WAS PLACED OUT OF COMMISSION ON 12 FEBRUARY 1958 FOR MODERNIZATION AND OVERHAUL. CURRITUCK WAS RECOMMISSIONED ON 20 AUGUST 1960 AND FOLLOWING A SHAKEDOWN AND TRAINING CRUISE ALONG THE EAST COAST AND CARIBBEAN, STEAMED THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL TO HER NEW HOME PORT OF SAN DIEGO ARRIVING ON 3 DECEMBER 1960. SHE DEPLOYED TO THE WESTERN PACIFIC ON 27 JUNE 1961 ON HER FIRST TOUR WHERE SHE SERVED As FLAGSHIP FOR COMMANDER, TAIWAN PATROL FORCE, REAR ADMIRAL BERNARD M. STREAM. THIS FORCE, COMPRISED OF BOTH AIR AND SURFACE PATROL, PROVIDED SURVEILLANCE PATROLS ALONG THE COAST LINES OF SOVIET SIBERIA, NORTH KOREA., NORTH VIETNAM AND THE COMMUNIST-HELD CHINA MA,INLAND. IN A WARM-UP CRUISE, PRIOR TO HER NEXT WEST-PAC DEPLOYMENT, CURRITUCK MADE AN ALASKAN VOYAGE THAT SPANNED THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS, OPERATING WITH VP-47 EQUIPPED WITH P5M MARLIN SEAPLANES. CURRITUCK, ON THIS OPERATION, PROVIDED THE RARE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT THE PORT OF ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, AND BECAME THE LARGEST SHIP EVER TO VISIT THAT PORT. CURRITUCK BEGAN HER SECOND WEST-PAC TOUR ON 19 APRIL 1963 AND AGAIN IN EARLY 1964 OPERATING IN LINGAYEN GULF IN EXERCISE OMINUTE MANDO, THE LOCATION OF HER SEA]DROME IN JANUARY 1945, SOME TWENTY YEARS PRIOR, THIS 9 TIME SERVICING VP-48. RETURNING TO MANILA ON 29 MAY 1964 SHE PARTICIPATED IN EXERCISE OLIGTASO, A 7 NATION, 75 SHIP TASK FORCE MASSIVE AMPHIBIOUS/AIRBORNE EXERCISEI DURING WHICH CURRITUCK SERVED AS COMMAND INFORMATION CENTER. NEXT WAS A VISIT TO SAIGON, SOUTH VIETNAMI WHEREIN SHE HAD TO NAVIGATE UP THE SAIGON RIVER THROUGH HOSTILE TERRITORY. ARRIVING OFF SAIGONI SHE NEGOTIATED A 180 DEGREE TURN BY MAKING A PLANNED MANEUVER OF RUNNING HER ROW AGROUND ON THE RIVER BANK AND SWINGING HER STERN UPSTREAM UNTIL SHE HAD REVERSED HERSELF. CURRITUCK DEPLOYED FOR A SUBSEQUENT WEST-PAC CRUISE ON 23 APRIL 1965 TO BECOME FLAGSHIP SEVENTH FLEET. AFTER VISITS To KOH SAMUI AND BANGKOK, THAILAND SHE ESTABLISHED A SEADROME OFF OF CON SON, POULO CONDORES ISLANDS, REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM ON 29 MAY 1965 AND BEGAN SERVICING AIRCRAFT OF VP-40. DURING THIS PERIOD CURRITUCK ESTABLISHED A NUMBER OF NFIRSTSO. ON 22 JUNE 1965, CURRITUCK BECAME THE FIRST.SHIP OF HER CLASS TO ]DELIVER SHORE BOMBARDMENT AGAINST ENEMY POSITIONS IN THE MEKONG DELTA REGION OF VIETNAM. SHE ALSO ESTABLISHED A RECORD OF 67 ]DAYS OF CONTINUOUS SEAPLANE OPERATIONS IN AN ADVANCED-BASE AREA. UPON LEAVING VIETNAM, SHE VISITED HONG KONG, B.C.C., KEELUNG AND KAOHSIUNG, TAIWAN, YOKOSUKA, SASEBO AND KOBE, JAPAN, SUBIC BAY, P.I. WHEN NOT AT BUCKNER BAY OPERATING WITH VP-50. THE SHIP WAS COMMANDED BY CAPTAIN MARTIN G. O'NEILL, USN AND COMMANDER KEITH E. BAILEY, USN SERVED As EXECUTIVE OFFICER. THE SHIP RETURNED TO SAN DIEGO ON I DECEMBER 1965 AND ON 13 JANUARY 1966 DEPARTED FOR A TWO WEEK TRAINIG CRUISE WITH STOPS AT MAGDELINA BAY AND LA PAZ, MEXICO, RETURNING TO SAN DIEGO ON 27 JANUARY. CURRITUCK's FINAL DEPLOYMENT TO WEST-PAC INCLUDED OPERATIONS FROM A SEADROME AT HER ANCHORAGE IN CAm RANH BAY, SOUTH VIETNAM WHERE SHE SERVICE THE P5M's OF VP-40 DURING OPERATION NMARKET TIME. OPERATING FROM CURRITUCK, VP-40 PARTICIPATED IN THE LAST SEAPLANE TENDER OPERATIONS CONDUCTED BY THE U.S. NAVY AND CLOSED THIS PHASE OF U.S. NAVAL AVIATION HISTORY AFTER OPERATING THERE FROM 19 MARCH TO 12 APRIL 1967. VP-40 LOGGED A TOTAL OF 860 FLIGHT HOURSI UTILIZING BUT SEVEN AIRCRAFT FROM CURRITUCKI WHICH MAINTAINED AN AVAILABILITY OF 94.38 PERCENT. ON 23 MAY 1967, CURRITUCK RETURNED TO HER HOMEPORT OF SAN DIEGO AND IN SO DOING BROUGHT DOWN THE CURTAIN ON ONE OF THE MORE COLORFUL FACETS OF NAVAL AVIATION OPERATIONS. SHE WAS THE LAST ACTIVE SEAPLANE TENDER IN THE U.S. NAVY. IN LATE SUMMER, USS CURRITUCK STEAMED TO PUGET SOUND NAVAL SHIPYARD, BREMERTON, WASHINGTON FOR DECOMMISSIONING. THERE SHE JOINED HER WEST-PAC SISTERS: USS PINE ISLAND (AV-12) AND USS SALISBURY SOUND (AV-13) ALREADY IN THE SAME STATUS. SHE WAS LATER STRUCK FROM THE NAVAL RECORDS AND DISMANTLED AT THE LEARNER SHIPYARD, OAKLANDs CALIFORNIA IN JUNE 1972. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE MANY MEMBERS WHO PROVIDED INFORMATION FROM THEIR PERSONAL FILES. AS ADDITIONAL HISTORIC INFORMATION IS ACQUIRED ABOUT THE SHIP AND HER HISTORYI THIS INFORMATION WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE NEWSLETTERSI SO THAT EACH OF THE MEMBERS WHO SO DESIRE, MAY CREATE THEIR OWN HISTORICAL FILES ON THE USS CURRITUCK. 10 Keywords:

Entry: 78011 USS CURRITUCK (AV-7)	GRANDSON
CHRISTOPHER TINKER wrote on February 27, 2011 City and State: BALTIMORE MD Unit: Service or Relationship: FAMILY MEMBER Comments: I AM THE GRANDSON OF WILLIAM TINKER. DURING WW2 HE WAS THE SUPPLY OFFICER ON THE CURRITUCK. I AM LOOKING FOR ANYONE WHO SERVED WITH HIM OR KNEW HIM. I HAVE A LOT OF PICTURES AND A DETAILED DIARY OF HIS TIME OF SERVICE. A LOT OF THE PICTURES NEED IDENTIFICATION OF THE SUBJECTS! PICTURES CONSIST OF PLACES SUCH AS HAWAII, PHILLIPINES,AND MANY UNNAMED LOCATIONS.AS A SIDE NOTE MY OTHER GRANDFATHER WAS ALFRED HARRIS HE LANDED ON OMAHA BEACH ON DAY 2 OF D-DAY. IF ANYONE KNOWS OF HIM OR HAS ANY PICTURES PLEASE CONTACT ME! Keywords: LOOKING FOR PEOPLE WHO KNEW WILLIAM TINKER [OF BALTIMORE MD] OR ALFRED HARRIS [ALSO OF BALTIMORE] WILLIAM TINKER SERVED ON THE USS CURRITUCK IN WW2.AL HARRIS LANDED ON OMAHA BEACH ON THE SECOND DAY AND FOUGHT HIS WAY TO GERMANY.

Entry: 68671 USS CURRITUCK (AV-7)	LEONARD CLENDANIEL 1951-1954
LEONARD CLENDANIEL wrote on January 14, 2009 City and State: JACKSONVILLE FL Unit: GAS CREW Service or Relationship: NAVY VETERAN Comments: Looking forward to connecting with old shipmates! Keywords: Hank Yelaco from Chapel Hill, NC; Donovan from Kennebunk, Maine; Gates who made Chief; Bruce Bates; Capt. Black; Chief Wach 1951-1954

Entry: 68348 USS CURRITUCK (AV-7)	USS CURRITUCK 1951TO1954
ROBERT E. LEHMAN wrote on December 22, 2008 City and State: CANTON OH Unit: V-2 DIV. PARCHUTE RIGGER Service or Relationship: ARMY VETERAN Comments: Served on the "TUCK" 51-54 Keywords: Coffey,AN/1 Richey ,Walt,AO/3

Entry: 65209 USS CURRITUCK (AV-7)	MED CRUISE 56
MARVIN MORROW wrote on April 12, 2008 City and State: STOCKBRIDGE GA Unit: RADIO SHACK Service or Relationship: NAVY VETERAN Comments: Way back then I was from Kansas City, Came to the Atlanta area in 65. I remember we had VP56 aboard and had many stops. Milford Haven, Gibralter Horta and the downed plane with 9 lost. I've got whats left of an old cruise book from 56. I came aboard late 55 or early 56 from USS Intrepid CVA 11. Would like to hear from any of those aboard Keywords: Nickname "Red" Many friends throughout the ship. Harter, "Love Charlie" our Chief L C Collinsworth, Lingway, Mccorkle, Crawford, Carney and Smith These all in OR div.

Entry: 61613 USS CURRITUCK (AV-7)	THE NEW WILDGOOSE WEBSITE DOES NOT SEEM 2 WORK 4 ME???
SMILEY DEVELIN wrote on July 13, 2007 City and State: NY Unit: RADIO SHACK ON THE AV7 Service or Relationship: NAVY VETERAN Comments: we have a website that works now...found first boss in life after attending the valleyforge reunion of the tuck............dm...........we met after in nyc, again..........no word lately over Keywords: av7

Entry: 44468 USS CURRITUCK (AV-7)	NEW AV-7 WEBSITE
NATHAN GOOD wrote on July 13, 2004 City and State: Unit: Service or Relationship: INTERESTED PERSON Comments: The old AV7.8m.com is no longer the home page of the USS Currituck. The new URL is http://wildgoose.000k.net Thats 3 zeros and a K. Many Thanks Keywords:

Entry: 43451 USS CURRITUCK (AV-7)	SN PHILIP EUGENE BRUCKMAN
RAYMOND LANTZ wrote on June 2, 2004 City and State: Unit: Service or Relationship: FAMILY MEMBER Comments: Interested in hearing from anyone who may have served with my uncle the late Philip Eugene Bruckman born Altoona, PA served ship's company USS Currituck May 1951-May 1955. Keywords:

Entry: 43445 USS CURRITUCK (AV-7)	JUST PASSIN' BY
DAN (DJ) HARRINGTON wrote on June 1, 2004 City and State: RICHMOND VA Unit: V2 DIV Service or Relationship: NAVY VETERAN - KOREA Comments: Still looking for a good pic of the ship. I served on board from 1955-57 as ship's company, V2 Div. Anyone out there remember our trips to San Juan, Trinidad, England, Sicily, etc? Keywords: Nickname DJ

Entry: 40540 USS CURRITUCK (AV-7)	2004 REUNIION
RONALD CURTIS wrote on February 3, 2004 City and State: BLAND MO Unit: W- DIVISION 1965-66 Service or Relationship: - Comments: The USS CURRITUCK will hold its annual reunion from 26-30 September 2004 in Las Vegas, NV. All crew members, attached VP Squadron and Staff personnel are invited to attend. Keywords:

Entry: 18885 USS CURRITUCK (AV-7)	RADIO SHACK 1954
SMILEY DEVELIN wrote on August 22, 2001 City and State: Unit: THE TUCK IN THE 50'IES Service or Relationship: NAVY VETERAN - KOREA Comments: anyone going to valley forge reunion..... can share ride from syracuse ny..... should take 4 hours. Keywords: reunion ride......uss currituck

Entry: 18186 USS CURRITUCK (AV-7)	DUTY ON THE AV-7
JAMES RICHIE wrote on July 23, 2001 City and State: LAWRENCE KS Unit: AVN METALSHOP Service or Relationship: - Comments: Was ships company on the AV-7 in '52-'54. Left her for overseas shore duty in London, England in April of '54. Keywords: Currituck AV-7

Entry: 14349 USS CURRITUCK (AV-7)	REUNION INFO REQUESTED
RICHARD HOCHHEIMER wrote on January 16, 2001 City and State: HONEOYE NY Unit: 2ND DIVISION Service or Relationship: NAVY VETERAN - KOREA Comments: Hey "Lazoo" from Niagra Falls are you out there? or Robert Burns from Mass, Fields from Tenesee? Looking for folks who where with me. Interested in hearing from you. And reunion info. Dick Hochheimer Keywords:

Entry: 13924 USS CURRITUCK (AV-7)	FORMER CURRITUCK CREWMEMBER
TOM FUQUAY wrote on December 29, 2000 City and State: LITTLE ROCK AR Unit: AV-7 Service or Relationship: - Comments: Would like to hear from shipmates 1965-66 Keywords:

Entry: 9026 USS CURRITUCK (AV-7)	USS CURRITUCK WEB SITE
NATHAN GOOD wrote on May 29, 2000 City and State: TATUM NM Unit: V3 DIV Service or Relationship: INTERESTED PERSON Comments: For those interested, the web site with history and some photos concerning the 'Goose' is http://av7.8m.com Former crewmembers may e-mail memories or stories that I can post on the site. This is a new site, with links to other Currituck related sites. Thanks to all. Keywords: history, shipmates, photos

Entry: 7214 USS CURRITUCK (AV-7)	CURRITUCK EARLY 1950S
TED NUKES wrote on February 27, 2000 City and State: INDIANAPOLIS IN Unit: Service or Relationship: FAMILY MEMBER Comments: My father ,Sotir (Sam) Nukes served aboard the Currituck in 1950-1951.He was the personel officer during much of that time. He is very interested in hearing from former shipmates of that era. He is also interested in any information about two good friends "Mo" Needham and an Ens. Ackerman. Please feel free to e-mail or write to the above address. Also when and where is the next Reunion? Keywords: Currituck , Korea , 1950-1951

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