USS Currituck (AV-7)
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USS ''Currituck'' (AV-7) was the first of four ''Currituck'' class
seaplane tender A seaplane tender is a boat or ship that supports the operation of seaplanes. Some of these vessels, known as seaplane carriers, could not only carry seaplanes but also provided all the facilities needed for their operation; these ships are rega ...
s, and was nicknamed the ''Wild Goose''. She was built during
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
and served during the
Cold War The Cold War is a term commonly used to refer to a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc. The term '' cold war'' is used because the ...
. The second US ship to be named for the
Currituck Sound Currituck Sound ()
, from the North Carolina Collection's website at the
, the ''Currituck'' (AV-7), was launched 11 September 1943 by
Philadelphia Navy Yard The Philadelphia Naval Shipyard was an important naval shipyard of the United States for almost two centuries. Philadelphia's original navy yard, begun in 1776 on Front Street and Federal Street in what is now the Pennsport section of the cit ...
; sponsored by Mrs. M. F. Draemel; and commissioned 26 June 1944.


World War II Service

''Currituck'' put to sea from Philadelphia on 31 August 1944 bound for duty with the Pacific Fleet. At
Balboa, Panama Balboa is a district of Panama City, located at the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal. History The town of Balboa, founded by the United States during the construction of the Panama Canal, was named after Vasco Núñez de Balboa, the Spani ...
, she embarked passengers for transportation to Manus, then continued on to
Mios Woendi Mios Woendi island is an island in the Schouten Islands of Papua province, eastern Indonesia. It lies in Cenderawasih Bay (or Geelvink Bay) off the northwestern coast of the island nation of Papua New Guinea. Description The island is in a ...
to unload cargo. She carried men and airplane spare parts and supplies for from Manus to
Morotai Morotai Island ( id, Pulau Morotai) is an island in the Halmahera group of eastern Indonesia's Maluku Islands (Moluccas). It is one of Indonesia's northernmost islands. Morotai is a rugged, forested island lying to the north of Halmahera. It ha ...
, then returned to Mios Woendi briefly before arriving in San Pedro Bay,
Leyte Leyte ( ) is an island in the Visayas group of islands in the Philippines. It is eighth-largest and sixth-most populous island in the Philippines, with a total population of 2,626,970 as of 2020 census. Since the accessibility of land has be ...
, 6 November to begin tending seaplanes flying missions in the Leyte operations. ''Currituck'' sailed from Leyte on 6 January 1945 for the initial landings at
Lingayen Gulf The Lingayen Gulf is a large gulf on northwestern Luzon in the Philippines, stretching . It is framed by the provinces of Pangasinan and La Union and sits between the Zambales Mountains and the Cordillera Central. The Agno River and the Balili ...
,
Luzon Luzon (; ) is the largest and most populous island in the Philippines. Located in the northern portion of the Philippines archipelago, it is the economic and political center of the nation, being home to the country's capital city, Manila, as ...
, three days later, and remained there, at Cabalitan Bay, and at
Mindoro Mindoro is the seventh largest and eighth-most populous island in the Philippines. With a total land area of 10,571 km2 ( 4,082 sq.mi ) and has a population of 1,408,454 as of 2020 census. It is located off the southwestern coast of Luz ...
tending seaplanes and directing seaplane search operations. She returned to Leyte 5 February, then sailed for
Manila Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populate ...
on 3 March. Upon her arrival three days later she sent boarding parties to inspect abandoned Japanese vessels in the harbor. Her tender duties at this port included maintenance of the 76th Wing of the
Royal Australian Air Force "Through Adversity to the Stars" , colours = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = RAAF Anniversary Commemoration ...
from 27 April to 6 May. Departing Manila 10 June 1945 ''Currituck'' maintained a base for seaplanes conducting night searches from Lingayen Gulf between 11 June and 20 August, then returned to Manila 24 August. She sailed for
Okinawa is a prefecture of Japan. Okinawa Prefecture is the southernmost and westernmost prefecture of Japan, has a population of 1,457,162 (as of 2 February 2020) and a geographic area of 2,281 km2 (880 sq mi). Naha is the capital and largest city ...
on 30 August. ''Currituck'' remained in the Far East in support of the reoccupation of the Chinese mainland, tending seaplanes at Jinsen (Inchon), Korea, and
Shanghai Shanghai (; , , Standard Mandarin pronunciation: ) is one of the four direct-administered municipalities of the People's Republic of China (PRC). The city is located on the southern estuary of the Yangtze River, with the Huangpu River flow ...
,
Tsingtao Qingdao (, also spelled Tsingtao; , Mandarin: ) is a major city in eastern Shandong Province. The city's name in Chinese characters literally means " azure island". Located on China's Yellow Sea coast, it is a major nodal city of the One Belt ...
and Taku, China, returning to Okinawa 28 October. She got underway for the United States on 9 December and arrived at San Francisco 30 December.


Post World War II 1940s service

In 1946, the ''Currituck'' and the USS ''Pine Island'' served in the
Antarctic The Antarctic ( or , American English also or ; commonly ) is a polar region around Earth's South Pole, opposite the Arctic region around the North Pole. The Antarctic comprises the continent of Antarctica, the Kerguelen Plateau and other ...
expedition
Operation Highjump Operation HIGHJUMP, officially titled The United States Navy Antarctic Developments Program, 1946–1947, (also called Task Force 68), was a United States Navy (USN) operation to establish the Antarctic research base Little America IV. The opera ...
. After operations from this port and San Diego, she sailed 2 December 1946, participated in the Antarctic Operation Highjump, touched at the Marquesas Islands and visited Sydney, Australia, from 13 to 20 March 1947. She returned by way of the Panama Canal to Norfolk, Va., arriving 18 April. ''Currituck'' was placed in reserve 7 August 1947, berthed at Philadelphia.


1950s

Recommissioned 1 August 1951, ''Currituck'' got underway 17 December for
Norfolk Norfolk () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in East Anglia in England. It borders Lincolnshire to the north-west, Cambridgeshire to the west and south-west, and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the No ...
. From this port she operated locally and in the
Caribbean The Caribbean (, ) ( es, El Caribe; french: la Caraïbe; ht, Karayib; nl, De Caraïben) is a region of the Americas that consists of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (some surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and some bordering both the Caribbean Se ...
, primarily on training duty. She departed Norfolk 23 August 1952 for a cruise which included visits to Trondheim,
Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and t ...
, and
Leith, Scotland Leith (; gd, Lìte) is a port area in the north of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, founded at the mouth of the Water of Leith. In 2021, it was ranked by ''Time Out'' as one of the top five neighbourhoods to live in the world. The earliest ...
, returning to her home port 17 October. After local operations and a brief voyage to
Bermuda ) , anthem = "God Save the King" , song_type = National song , song = " Hail to Bermuda" , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , mapsize2 = , map_caption2 = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = , e ...
, she sailed again from Norfolk 24 August 1953, passing through the
Panama Canal The Panama Canal ( es, Canal de Panamá, link=no) is an artificial waterway in Panama that connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean and divides North and South America. The canal cuts across the Isthmus of Panama and is a conduit ...
for operations around the
Galápagos Islands The Galápagos Islands (Spanish: , , ) are an archipelago of volcanic islands. They are distributed on each side of the equator in the Pacific Ocean, surrounding the centre of the Western Hemisphere, and are part of the Republic of Ecuador ...
, and returning to Norfolk 25 September. On 6 July 1954 she cleared for a European cruise, calling at
Milford Haven, Wales Milford Haven ( cy, Aberdaugleddau, meaning "mouth of the two Rivers Cleddau") is both a town and a community in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is situated on the north side of the Milford Haven Waterway, an estuary forming a natural harbour that has ...
, continuing to
Taranto, Italy Taranto (, also ; ; nap, label=Tarantino, Tarde; Latin: Tarentum; Old Italian: ''Tarento''; Ancient Greek: Τάρᾱς) is a coastal city in Apulia, Southern Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Taranto, serving as an important commerci ...
, and touching again at Milford Haven and
Portsmouth Portsmouth ( ) is a port and city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. The city of Portsmouth has been a unitary authority since 1 April 1997 and is administered by Portsmouth City Council. Portsmouth is the most dens ...
before returning to Norfolk 18 September. Between 26 August and 13 December 1956 ''Currituck'' served with the
US 6th Fleet The Sixth Fleet is a numbered fleet of the United States Navy operating as part of United States Naval Forces Europe. The Sixth Fleet is headquartered at Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy. The officially stated mission of the Sixth Fleet in ...
in the
Mediterranean The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on the e ...
, returning to training cruises to the Caribbean and local operations at Norfolk until 9 January 1958 when she entered the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard.


1960–1964

USS ''Currituck'' was re-commissioned on 20 August 1960, with Captain Cecil A. Bolam as commanding officer, and Commander G. L. Bliss as executive officer, 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, California, arriving on 3 December 1960. In early June 1961 Captain Cecil A. Bolam, USN, was replaced, as commanding officer, by Captain Waller Clarke Moor. On a pre-deployment exercise USS ''Currituck'' operated with
VP-42 VP-42 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 22 (VP-22) on 7 April 1944, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 22 (VPB-22) on 1 October 1944, redesignated Patrol Squadron 22 (VP-22) on 15 May 1946, r ...
, attached to
NAS North Island Naval Air Station North Island or NAS North Island , at the north end of the Coronado peninsula on San Diego Bay in San Diego, California, is part of the largest aerospace-industrial complex in the United States Navy – Naval Base Coronado (NB ...
, for two days at a seadrome established at White Cove, Santa Catalina Island, California. VP-42 was operating nine
Martin P5M Marlin The Martin P5M Marlin (P-5 Marlin after 1962), built by the Glenn L. Martin Company of Middle River, Maryland, was a twin piston-engined flying boat that entered service in 1951, and served into the late 1960s with the United States Navy perfo ...
s. ''Currituck'' 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. Strean. This force, comprising both air and surface patrol, provided surveillance patrols along the coast lines of Soviet Siberia, North Korea, North Vietnam and the Chinese mainland. 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 Patrol Squadron 47 (VP-47), also known as "The Golden Swordsmen", is a maritime patrol squadron of the United States Navy based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington (USA), attached to Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 10. The squadron curr ...
equipped with P5Ms. ''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. Fifty hours at a buoy were logged by VP-47 Commanding Officer Commander Dow and his crew. They and a storm arrived at Cold Bay at the same time. Transfer to ''Currituck'' by small boat was impossible. Prior to deployment the crew of ''Currituck'' said good bye to Chief Aviation Machinist Mate Otto Keller. Keller was at the time the senior chief in the US Navy, having joined the navy in 1908. The Secretary of the Navy participated in Keller's retirement ceremony. Captain O. B. Gray, USN, reported on board as executive officer in August 1962. ''Currituck'' began her second West-Pac tour on 26 October 1962. The ship arrived in
Yokosuka is a city in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. , the city has a population of 409,478, and a population density of . The total area is . Yokosuka is the 11th most populous city in the Greater Tokyo Area, and the 12th in the Kantō region. The city ...
, Japan on 11 November 1962 when she again took on Commander, Taiwan Patrol Force, Rear Admiral Bernard M. Strean. She sailed for
Buckner Bay is a bay on the southern coast of Okinawa Island on the Pacific Ocean in Japan. The bay covers and ranges between to deep. The bay is surrounded by the municipalities of Uruma, Kitanakagusuku, Nakagusuku, Nishihara, Yonabaru, Nanjō, all in ...
, Okinawa on 17 November 1962. After two days at sea lookouts sighted the Japanese fishing vessel ''Seiyu Maru'', which had been damaged in a typhoon, and without power. ''Currituck'' took her in tow and passed food and clothing to her crew. After a night of careful watch, she was transferred to a Japanese rescue vessel and ''Currituck'' steamed on to Okinawa, where she arrived on 20 November 1962 at her new “Home Port” of White Beach. On 1 December 1962 the flag changed command. Rear Admiral Robert Anthony Macpherson took command as commander, Patrol Force Seventh Fleet – commander, Fleet Air Wing One – commander, Taiwan Patrol Force – commander, Task Force 72.5. ''Currituck'' remained at White Beach until 3 December 1962, when she departed for
Cebu Cebu (; ceb, Sugbo), officially the Province of Cebu ( ceb, Lalawigan sa Sugbo; tl, Lalawigan ng Cebu; hil, Kapuroan sang Sugbo), is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, and consists of a main island and 167 ...
,
The Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...
. ''Currituck'' arrived in Cebu, Philippines on 6 December 1962 where, after intensive day and night seaplane operations with
VP-40 VP-40 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 55 (VP-55) on 1 August 1940, redesignated Patrol Squadron 74 (VP-74) on 1 July 1941, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 74 (VPB-74) on 1 October 1944, ...
from
Naval Station Sangley Point Naval Station Sangley Point was a communication and hospital facility of the United States Navy which occupied the northern portion of the Cavite City peninsula and is surrounded by Manila Bay, approximately eight miles southwest of Manila, th ...
, Cavite City, Philippines, she departed on 10 December 1962 for Manila Bay. ''Currituck'' dropped anchor off Sangley Point on 12 December 1962 and remained until 15 December 1962. On 18 December 1962 ''Currituck'' arrived back in Buckner Bay, Okinawa where she tied up to pier "Bravo" at White Beach. The Surrey Singers from Oklahoma City University entertained on board. A few members of the crew were lucky enough to see
Bob Hope Leslie Townes "Bob" Hope (May 29, 1903 – July 27, 2003) was a British-American comedian, vaudevillian, actor, singer and dancer. With a career that spanned nearly 80 years, Hope appeared in more than 70 short and feature films, with 5 ...
and his Troupe entertain at the US Army's Stillwell Field House on 23 December 1962. The crew had a Christmas party for Okinawan children, but it appeared that the sailors may have had the most fun. Both Protestant and Catholic Christmas services were held on Board. ''Currituck''s Chaplain, Lieutenant W. A. Stewart, conducted the Protestant services. ''Currituck'' departed on 7 January 1963 for Manila. Arriving in
Manila Bay Manila Bay ( fil, Look ng Maynila) is a natural harbor that serves the Port of Manila (on Luzon), in the Philippines. Strategically located around the capital city of the Philippines, Manila Bay facilitated commerce and trade between the Phili ...
, Philippines on 10 January 1963, for a seven-day stay. One of the highlights of this visit was the tour of the island of
Corregidor Corregidor ( tl, Pulo ng Corregidor, ) is an island located at the entrance of Manila Bay in the southwestern part of Luzon in the Philippines, and is considered part of the Province of Cavite. Due to this location, Corregidor has historically b ...
, with the Barracks as a grim reminder of the event that occurred here during World War II. ''Currituck'' departed Manila Bay on 16 January 1963 bound for Buckner Bay. ''Currituck'' arrived in Buckner Bay on 19 January 1963, where she remained until 11 February 1963. This stay saw two change of commands, Captain Windsor was replaced by Captain Gray, and then Captain Gray was replaced by Captain Paul J. Knapp, with Captain Gray returning to his previously held position as executive officer. En route to
Hong Kong Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delt ...
, ''Currituck'' stopped off at Koshsiung,
Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...
on 13 February 1963 where the visit was highlighted by the Seven Seas from Tsoying Naval Base who entertained the crew with a variety show. Than at sea again on 15 February 1963 and arriving in Hong Kong on 16 February 1963. Mary Soo’s girls took on the job of painting some of the ship while the crew set about seeing the Tiger Balm Gardens, Sanpan Village at Aberdeen, and a seven-course Chinese dinner at the Tai Pak. On 22 February 1963 ''Currituck'' sailed, once again, for White Beach. 25 February 1963 saw ''Currituck'' back at Pier "Bravo", White Beach, Okinawa. On the morning of 9 March 1963 the crew awoke to see one of the seaplanes with its starboard wing and engine completely under water. The V-Divisions set about the rescue work, loaded the plane on board, and on 10 March 1963 steamed for Kobe, Japan. ''Currituck'' arrived in Kobe, Japan on 12 March 1963, offloaded the damaged plane and got under way the same day, to pick up another downed plane of
VP-50 VP-50 was a long-lived Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy, having held that designation for 39 years from 1953 to 1992. Its nickname was the ''Blue Dragons''. Originally established as VP-917 on 18 July 1946, redesignated Medium Patrol Squadron ...
in Ominato, Japan. ''Currituck'' arrived in snow-covered Ominato, Japan on 16 March 1963, found the plane and some cold aviators, and another hoisting. With the plane and crew safely on board, ''Currituck'' departed the same day. After a transit of the Shimonoseki Straits,''Currituck'' arrived in
Iwakuni is a city located in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. History Iwakuni was formerly the castle town of the Iwakuni han, which was formed by Lord Hiroie Kikkawa after he was banished there for supporting the defeated shōgun. The Kikkawa clan ruled ...
, Japan on 19 March 1963. While in Iwakuni the crew visited neighboring Hiroshima where they visited the Castle and Ground zero, the spot where the first Atomic Bomb hit Japan. Underway on 23 March 1963 ''Currituck'' arrived at Yokosuka, Japan on 25 March 1963. On 1 April 1963 the USS ''Pine Island'' arrived, and the flag was transferred. On 2 April 1963 ''Currituck'' departed West-Pac for her home port of San Diego, California, arriving on 19 April 1963. June 1963 saw ''Currituck'' operating from a seadrone at White Cove, Santa Catalina Island, California for one week of day and night seaplane operations with
VP-48 VP-48 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It was established as VP-208 on 15 December 1942, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron VPB-208 on 1 October 1944, redesignated VP-208 on 15 May 1946, redesignated Medium Patrol Squadron (Seaplane) VP-M ...
. In July 1963 Commander Brown assumed duties of executive officer. On 20 January 1964 Captain John W. Crowe assumed command of ''Currituck''. ''Currituck'' began her third West-Pac tour departing San Diego on 26 January 1964. After 23 days of steaming she arrived in
Naha is the capital city of Okinawa Prefecture, the southernmost prefecture of Japan. As of 1 June 2019, the city has an estimated population of 317,405 and a population density of 7,939 persons per km2 (20,562 persons per sq. mi.). The total area i ...
, Okinawa on 18 February 1964. Operating in Lingayen Gulf in exercise "Minute Hand", the location of her seadrone in January 1945, some twenty year’s prior, this time servicing VP-48. Returning to Manila she participated in exercise "LIGTAS", a seven nation, seventy-five ship Task Force with massive amphibious/airborne exercises, during which ''Currituck'' served as Command Information Center. Next was a visit to
Saigon , population_density_km2 = 4,292 , population_density_metro_km2 = 697.2 , population_demonym = Saigonese , blank_name = GRP (Nominal) , blank_info = 2019 , blank1_name = – Total , blank1_ ...
,
South Vietnam South Vietnam, officially the Republic of Vietnam ( vi, Việt Nam Cộng hòa), was a state in Southeast Asia that existed from 1955 to 1975, the period when the southern portion of Vietnam was a member of the Western Bloc during part of th ...
, wherein she had to navigate up the
Saigon River The Saigon River ( vi, Sông Sài Gòn) is a river located in southern Vietnam that rises near Phum Daung in southeastern Cambodia, flows south and south-southeast for about and empties into the Soài Rạp, which in its turn empties into th ...
through hostile territory. Arriving off Saigon, she negotiated a 180 degree turn by making a planned maneuver of running her bow aground on the river bank and swinging her stern upstream until she had reversed herself. Following her assigned duties in West-Pac ''Currituck'' returned to her home port of San Diego, California.


1965-1971 and fate

''Currituck'' deployed for a subsequent West-Pac cruise on 23 April 1965 to become Flagship Patrol Force Seventh Fleet. After visits to
Koh Samui Ko Samui (or Koh Samui, also often locally shortened to Samui; th, เกาะสมุย, ) is an island off the east coast of Thailand. Geographically in the Chumphon Archipelago, it is part of Surat Thani Province, though as of 2012, Ko ...
and
Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estima ...
, Thailand she established a seadrome off of
Côn Sơn Island Côn Sơn ( ), also known as Côn Lôn is the largest island of the Côn Đảo archipelago, off the coast of southern Vietnam.Kelley, p 116 Other names Its French variant Grande-Condore was well-known during the times of French Indochina. Mar ...
, Poulo Condores Islands, South Vietnam on 29 May 1965 and began servicing aircraft of VP-40. During this period ''Currituck'' established a number of firsts. On 22 June 1965, ''Currituck'' became the first ship of her class to deliver shore bombardment against enemy positions in the
Mekong Delta The Mekong Delta ( vi, Đồng bằng Sông Cửu Long, lit=Nine Dragon River Delta or simply vi, Đồng Bằng Sông Mê Kông, lit=Mekong River Delta, label=none), also known as the Western Region ( vi, Miền Tây, links=no) or South-weste ...
. She also established a record sixty-seven days on continuous seaplane operations in
Cam Ranh Bay Cam Ranh Bay ( vi, Vịnh Cam Ranh) is a deep-water bay in Vietnam in Khánh Hòa Province. It is located at an inlet of the South China Sea situated on the southeastern coast of Vietnam, between Phan Rang and Nha Trang, approximately 290 kilom ...
. Upon leaving South Vietnam, she visited Hong Kong; Keelung and Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Yokosuka, Sasebo and Kobe, Japan; Subic Bay, Zambales, Philippines. When not at Buckner Bay operating with VP-50. The ship commanded by Captain Martin G. O’Neill and Commander Keith E. Bailey served as executive officer. ''Currituck'' returned to San Diego on 1 December 1965 and on 13 January 1966 departed for a two-week training cruise with stops at Magdelina Bay and La Paz, Mexico, returning to San Diego on 27 January. Captain Wayne G. Hammett took command of the ''Currituck'' on 11 February 1966. Commander William W. McCue had reported as executive officer in December 1965. She also flew the flag at the Maritime Festival, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Seadrome operations were also conducted in the vicinity of Santa Catalina Island, California on several occasions. ''Currituck''’s final deployment to West-Pac reduced her six-month homeport stay four months, and she left for operations from a seadrome at her anchorage in Cam Ranh Bay, South Vietnam, where she serviced the P5M’s of VP-40 during
Operation Market Time Operation Market Time was the United States Navy, Republic of Vietnam Navy and Royal Australian Navy operation begun in 1965 to stop the flow of troops, war material, and supplies by sea, coast, and rivers, from North Vietnam into parts of Sout ...
. 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 hours, utilizing but seven aircraft from ''Currituck'', which maintained an availability of 94.38%. While operating with the
Mobile Riverine Force In the Vietnam War, the Mobile Riverine Force (MRF) (after May 1967), initially designated Mekong Delta Mobile Afloat Force, and later the Riverines, were a joint US Army and US Navy force that comprised a substantial part of the brown-water n ...
in South Vietnam ''Currituck''’s call sign was "Flying Goose". On 23 May 1967, ''Currituck'' returned to her home port of San Diego, California and in so doing brought down the curtain on one of the more colorful facets of naval vviation operations as the last active seaplane tender in the U.S. Navy. After twenty-one days back in her home port in late June 1967, ''Currituck'' steamed to Seal Beach, California for weapons offload, then to Mare Island at Vallejo, California for decommissioning. She was later towed to
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, officially Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF), is a United States Navy shipyard covering 179 acres (0.7 km2) on Puget Sound at Bremerton, Washington in uninterrupted u ...
, Bremerton, Washington. There she joined her remaining class members, and West-Pac sisters; ''Pine Island'' (AV-12) and ''Salisbury Sound'' (AV-13) already in the same status. She was decommissioned for the last time on 31 October 1967 and laid up in the
Pacific Reserve Fleet The United States Navy maintains a number of its ships as part of a reserve fleet, often called the "Mothball Fleet". While the details of the maintenance activity have changed several times, the basics are constant: keep the ships afloat and ...
in
Vallejo, CA Vallejo ( ; ) is a city in Solano County, California and the second largest city in the North Bay region of the Bay Area. Located on the shores of San Pablo Bay, the city had a population of 126,090 at the 2020 census. Vallejo is home to the ...
. She was struck from the
Naval Register A Navy Directory, formerly the Navy List or Naval Register is an official list of naval officers, their ranks and seniority, the ships which they command or to which they are appointed, etc., that is published by the government or naval author ...
on 1 April 1971 for disposal, and from the Naval Records on 1 January 1972. She was sold to Union Minerals, and dismantled at Learner Shipyard,
Oakland, California Oakland is the largest city and the county seat of Alameda County, California, United States. A major West Coast of the United States, West Coast port, Oakland is the largest city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, the third ...
in June 1972. Today one of ''Currituck''’s propellers can be seen as the basis of the 'Passing on the Tradition' memorial located on the Louis Memorial Boardwalk in Bremerton WA.


Awards

*
American Campaign Medal The American Campaign Medal is a military award of the United States Armed Forces which was first created on November 6, 1942, by issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The medal was intended to recognize those military members who had perfo ...
* Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two
battle star A service star is a miniature bronze or silver five-pointed star inch (4.8 mm) in diameter that is authorized to be worn by members of the eight uniformed services of the United States on medals and ribbons to denote an additional award or ser ...
s *
World War II Victory Medal The World War II Victory Medal is a service medal of the United States military which was established by an Act of Congress on 6 July 1945 (Public Law 135, 79th Congress) and promulgated by Section V, War Department Bulletin 12, 1945. The Wor ...
*
Navy Occupation Medal The Navy Occupation Service Medal is a military award of the United States Navy which was "Awarded to commemorate the services of Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard personnel in the occupation of certain territories of the enemies of the U.S. durin ...
with "Asia" and "Europe" clasps *
China Service Medal The China Service Medal was a service medal awarded to U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard personnel. The medal was instituted by Navy Department General Order No. 176 on 1 July 1942. The medal recognized service in and around China before a ...
*
Antarctic Service Medal The Antarctica Service Medal (ASM) was established by the United States Congress on July 7, 1960, under s:Public Law 86-600, Public Law 600 of the 86th United States Congress, 86th Congress. The medal was intended as a awards and decorations of ...
*
National Defense Service Medal The National Defense Service Medal (NDSM) is a service award of the United States Armed Forces established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953. It is awarded to every member of the US Armed Forces who has served during any one of four sp ...
with bronze service star *
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces, which was first created in 1961 by Executive Order of President John Kennedy. The medal is awarded to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who, after ...
with bronze service star *
Vietnam Service Medal The Vietnam Service Medal is a military award of the United States Armed Forces established on 8 July 1965 by order of President Lyndon B. Johnson. The medal is awarded to recognize service during the Vietnam War by all members of the U.S. A ...
with one
campaign star A service star is a miniature bronze or silver five-pointed star inch (4.8 mm) in diameter that is authorized to be worn by members of the eight uniformed services of the United States on medals and ribbons to denote an additional award or ser ...
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Vietnam Cross of Gallantry The Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross also known as the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross or Vietnam Cross of Gallantry ( vi, Anh-Dũng Bội-Tinh) is a military decoration of the former Government of South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam). The medal ...
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Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, also known as the Vietnam Campaign Medal ( vi, Chiến Dịch Bội Tinh), is a South Vietnamese military campaign medal which was created in 1949, and awarded to French military personnel during the First ...


References

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External links


history.navy.mil: USS ''Currituck'' AV-7
ribbons, patches, photos, and operations *https://web.archive.org/web/20070928230257/http://www.usscurrituck.org/ Unofficial history of the USS ''Currituck'' AV-7; information compiled from the ship's log, records, and personal interviews; many photos *Photos of USS ''Currituck'' scrapping at the
U.S. Naval Institute

sailor's association reunion page for USS ''Currituck'' AV7 and USS ''Everglades'' AD24
{{DEFAULTSORT:Currituck (AV-7) Currituck-class seaplane tenders 1943 ships