the chance to meet for the first time in almost 50 years. The USS Denebola AF-56 was a Denebola-class stores ship. Im not sure the exact name of the ship, but I thought it was something along the lines of USS Forester, USS Forest, etc. He was from the state of Texas and he was there in the middle of 1944. He also sailed to the Pacific in 1945. A first magnitude star in the northern constellation Leo. Information usually available includes name of enlistee, occupation specialty . SS Pratt Victory transported goods, mail, food and other supplies. She served in World War II and was decommissioned there 10 April 1946. Required fields are marked *. REFERENCES: The following references were used in preparation for the presentations delivered at museums in the Portland area in 2006 and 2009. She was built at the Oregon Shipbuilding yards in just 59 days, under the Emergency Shipbuilding program for World War II. His name is James Edward Staten. Naval Documents of the American Revolution, - Naval Documents of the American Revolution, A History of the Naval Historical Foundation, U.S. For the extraordinary operations they participated in, the crew of the ship received multiple awards and honors, such as the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. Final Disposition: sold for scrapping, 1 December 1976, by the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service. To read all other post by George, go HERE.). on the day she arrived. The Denebola departed Hamilton, Bermuda for the last time on . My grandpa was a lobsterman out of Hadlocks Cove down at the end of the street. They brought the ship to San Juan, Puerto Rico, where the boarding party was awarded salvage shares. USS Charles Ausburne (DD 570) was a Fletcher Class Destroyer built in Orange, Texas. My father and Willie (your dad) sang a WWII duet for the PTA Talent Show, Left My Heart at the Stagedoor Canteen. Copyright 2023 HullNumber.com. Steps were being taken to increase naval strength in that area. She was scuttled by the Germans on May 5, 1945. This was abbreviated "MM/3." Second is the Battle of the Atlantic, which was primarily a war against the U-Boats. He had the responsibility of organizing the actual convoy escort groups. SS Clarksdale Victory served in the Pacific Ocean during WW2. Kudos for making your website so interesting. The other two ships in her class were USSRegulus and USNSPerseus. The Victory ship differed from a Liberty ship in that they were: faster, longer and wider, taller, had a thinner stack set farther toward the superstructure, and had a long raised forecastle. The last stop before she sank was Casco Bay. 5 days later. No city has ever provided more enthusiastic support to our Denebola on February 13, 1941. My uncle was killed in an accident on a ship harbored in this area, sometime between late 1941 and mid 1942. Also, I heard that there was a sub net on either Sturdivant or Basket Island. [3] [4] [5] [6], From the completion of her shakedown through June 1960 Denebola alternated eight tours of duty with the U.S. 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean with local operations out of Norfolk, Virginia. Also, to be remembered, are the many navy ships that operated out Liberty ships were designed to be used just for World War II. Add To Cart: Wish List: This is the 1/535 scale USS Iowa BB-61 Battleship from Atlantis Model Company. That is where my mother grew up and I spent my summers when I was a kid. She was launched by the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation on January 12, 1944, and was completed on February 28, 1944. Liberty ships were designed to be used just for World War II. Your ORIGINAL HOMETOWN and State are asked for because that confirms who you are in your shipmate's memories. This was the famed ship that the five Sullivan brothers served aboard. It was transferred to the Pacific in 1945. USS Denebola (AD-12) was an Altair-class destroyer tender named for Denebola, the second brightest star in the constellation Leo . There are 223 ships on the list that visited the bay between 1944 and 1945. See the website NAVSOURCE for more details. [2] She took supplies to help in the capture and occupation of Southern Palau Islands from 6 September 1944 to 14 October 1944. in the Denebola worked harder. I grew up in Massachusetts and my parents retired to the island in 1959. During her service, U-552 sank 30 Allied vessels. Unlike their post war counterparts that were (and are) of wooden hull construction, World War II minesweepers had steel hulls. We rented a cottage for a week. USS Cuttyhunk special ship. If you have questions, please contact the Naval Institute via email at member@usni.org or by phone at 800-233-8764. document.write(d.getFullYear()) Yosemite was initially assigned to wartime duties in the Pacific. I was born in 1935 and I remember the war years very clearly. USN. The base at Casco Baywas not established until the latter part of the Neutrality Patrol. Neither ships records indicate if Ensign Landers died aboard the Forrest or later aboard the Relief. Click on red bar for more info. a wonderful event. & USS DeLong Plastic Model Military Ship Kit by Lindberg. The SS Clarksdale Victory was the 80th Victory ship built during World War II. in Portland after World War II and became good citizens of the city. 1920s In 1942, the U.S. Navy took it over and re-named her USS Green Island (YFB 32). Naval Institute is maintaining and preserving the former Naval Historical Foundation website so readers and former NHF members can still access past issues of Pull Together and other content. She was named after the city of Elmira, New York. Maxime, France. The success of unrestricted submarine warfare by Germany made it apparent that the North Atlantic became a major battleground. Final Disposition: sold for scrapping, 1 December 1976, by the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service. At that time, world events previously had little or no impact upon Casco Bay. Not me, personally, I dont have it and I havent seen it in years but I know it exists because when I was in 2nd grade, way back in the day, I was allowed to take it to school with me and it was my Show and Tell exhibit that day. Clarence W. Becker-perhaps he was also injured in the same accident? Also to be remembered is that a large percentage The majority were home ported in New London and provided to COMDESLANT for ASW training purposes. The ship's United States Maritime Commission designation was VC2-S-AP3, hull number 12 (V-12). A well known historic incident was the grounding of the USS Iowa in Hussey Sound in July 1943. I have a picnic photo of you and me. This article is about a Denebola-class stores ship. She was placed in full commission on April 6, 1940 at Baltimore, at the time, get possession of the flag? However, there is still some debate as to whether or not she was torpedoed or sunk by an internal explosion. Sometimes we would see many anchored in the bay and the next day most would be gone. In February 1941 the Denebola made a cruise to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The 10,500-ton Victory ships were designed to replace the earlier Liberty Ships. My dad was on USS Farquhar (DE 139) which means Destroyer Escort. Dear Foundation Member Recruiter, Today I recd an envelope from you addressed to Lou Balsanek, 2341 Pine Valley Dr., New Bern, NC 28562 with a plastic card in it. The ship was Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation's 20th victory ship. Her displacement was 11,200 tons fully loaded and her top speed was 18.3 knots. U.S., World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949. She served during the Battle of Okinawa. HMS Catterick, and anchored in the harbor of Cagliari, Sardinia About 75 percent of the personnel taking to Korean from the Korean War came by the merchant marine. Downtown Portland also served as a liberty port for sailors whose ships were moored or anchored in the bay. This family member was in the Navy during WWII. DENEBOLA IS A FIRST MAGNITUDE STAR IN THE NORTHERN CONSTELLATION LEO. The ship was christened on 30 June 1944. Naval Institute is maintaining and preserving the former Naval Historical Foundation website so readers and former NHF members can still access past issues of Pull Together and other content. CARRIERS Since the bulk of the action involving carriers occurred in the Pacific during the war, only three carriers are on record as having visited Casco Bay. Denebola was decommissioned in April 1976 and struck from the Naval Register, 30 April 1976. In his honor I gave a donation. First are the events leading up to the war, which include the Neutrality Patrol that operated off the East Coast between 1939 and 1941. At the same time he was also playing a key role in the I do, of course, remember the incident of your troubles with Crepeau and was glad to have been of help in straightening them out How long ago it seems now." The ship was Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation's 21st victory ship. Carolina to participate in Navy and Marine Corps war games. Judith A. Balsanek (a.k.a. "Mr. Cekander, Yeoman First Class.". Second is the Battle of the Atlantic, which was primarily a war against the U-Boats. The history and Technology of Submarines (Grade 5), To the Ends of the Earth and Beyond (Grades 5-8), The Date that Lives in Infamy: Pearl Harbor (High School), Codes and Signals: Breaking the Spy Games of World War II and Vietnam, Damage Control Mission Brief: (Blue Navy) A Study Based on the Battle of Okinawa, Damage Control Mission Brief: (Green Navy) A Study Based on the Battle of Okinawa, Virtual Brown Bag Brief: Collections Talk, Family Art Workshop: Kites and Observation, Curator Talk with Gordon Calhoun: Goats on Boats: Pets in Naval History, Author Talk with ADM James Winnefeld Jr., Sailing Upwind: Leadership, Risk, and Innovation from Top Gun to the Situation Room, Film Screening and Director Q&A: Paul Cadmus: Enfant Terrible at 80, with David Sutherland and Curator Pam Overmann, Free Concert with the United States Navy Jazz Band Commodores. Later I served as a Sonarman on destroyers out of Newport. SS Bluefield Victory served in the Pacific Ocean during World War II and was operated by the Mississippi Shipping Company. U.S.S. She served as plane guard for President D. D. Eisenhower's plane and on his return from the NATO conference at Paris, in 1957, and during her 1958 Mediterranean tour she replenished ships patrolling off Beirut in the aftermath of the Lebanon crisis. USS Denebola (AF-56) was a Denebola-class stores ship acquired by the U.S. Navy. USS Tills (DE 748) was mentioned in the first part of the blog series. Registration and communicating with shipmates at Hullnumber.com is FREE FOREVER. Interesting information. Image: NH-86699-KN: "Sinking of the Reuben James," October 31, 1941. Many settled elsewhere in the country. SS Skagway Victory was a Victory ship built for the United States during World WarII. The U.S. Victory ships were designed to last longer and serve the US Navy after the war. U.S.S. The ship was christened on 30 June 1944. It gives comprehensive lists of captured and surrendered U-Boats but does not give much detail. our four-pipe destroyers to the British. For RATING SHIRTS - Click on your Rating Abbreviation below: AB. months of 1924. The map of the area showing the basic geography and the major coastal defense facilities that appeared in Part I is repeated here for clarity. along the Atlantic Seaboard, and for convoys to Newfoundland and She carried 14 officers and 203 enlisted. Pam Owens. She was later classified as a stores ship and eventually scrapped. It also encompassed a much wider area and lacked advance bases. The new 10,500-ton Victory ships were designed to replace the earlier Liberty Ships. I am also trying to find any information about an American sailor on that ship by the name of Philip Joseph Schneider. More details can be found on the DANFS Website. Commander Robert A. Dyer, USN, as the Commanding Officer. He left behind a wealth of pictures and stories about the "Denny" and places like Hawaii, Maine's Casco Bay, Naples, Pompeii, etc.. Got my 3rd grade rate as soon as I returned to the Ship. The SS Bluefield Victory was the 16th Victory ship built during World War II under the Emergency Shipbuilding program. I have photos of the area. She was named after Minot, Maine and Minot, North Dakota. USS Yosemite (AD 19) was a Dixie Class destroyer tender built in Tampa, Florida. buildup of navy facilities in Casco Bay and in the City of Portland. USS Cuttyhunk Island (AG-75/AKS-23) was a Belle Isle-class miscellaneous auxiliary acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II. She was among the ships deployed during the Cuban Missile Crises. On the map it shows a line from Long Island to Little Chebeague but nothing from Crow Island (part of long island) to Chebeague where there was a submarine net. Shortly thereafter, she was transferred to the Pacific and served as the flagship of the famous Little Beaver Squadron under future Chief of Naval Operations Arliegh Burke. band music in the City's Chamber of Commerce Building almost every The Pacific Theater, by comparison, involved an opponent with credible air, surface, and submarine forces. All Rights Reserved. relieved By Stephen Sherman, April, 2010. She served as plane guard for President Dwight D. Eisenhower's plane and on his return from the NATO conference at Paris, in 1957, and during her 1958 Mediterranean tour she replenished ships patrolling off Beirut in the aftermath of the Lebanon crisis. Tons fully loaded and her top speed was 18.3 knots which means Destroyer escort, where the boarding party awarded. Ship 's United States Maritime Commission designation was VC2-S-AP3, hull number 12 ( V-12.... Green Island ( AG-75/AKS-23 ) was a Belle Isle-class miscellaneous auxiliary acquired by the Defense and... 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