A BIT OF HISTORY: USS PINE ISLAND (AV 12) "...Okinawa in July 1945..." Contributed by Electricians Mate Howard Watson (Deceased) [30JUL2003]

A BIT OF HISTORY: USS PINE ISLAND (AV 12) "...Commissioning Ceremonies - April 26th, 1945..." Contributed by Electricians Mate Howard Watson (Deceased) [29JUL2003]

A BIT OF HISTORY: USS PINE ISLAND (AV 12) "...Commissioning Ceremonies - April 26th, 1945..." Contributed by Electricians Mate Howard Watson (Deceased) [29JUL2003]

A BIT OF HISTORY: USS PINE ISLAND (AV 12) "...Commissioning Ceremonies - April 26th, 1945 - Roster of Officers..." Contributed by Electricians Mate Howard Watson (Deceased) [30JUL2003]

A BIT OF HISTORY: USS PINE ISLAND (AV 12) "...Commissioning Ceremonies - April 26th, 1945 - History..." Contributed by Electricians Mate Howard Watson (Deceased) [30JUL2003]

A BIT OF HISTORY: USS PINE ISLAND (AV 12) "...Circa 1945..." Contributed by Electricians Mate Howard Watson (Deceased) [30JUL2003]

A BIT OF HISTORY: USS PINE ISLAND (AV 12) "...Taken in Okinawa 1945..." Contributed by PADGETT, ARM2 Carl L. Carjyky2nv@aol.com [06JUN2002]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...'USS Pine Island's Crew Visits Namesake - Members Recall Icy Operation Highjump' By Kevin Lollar klollar@news-press.com - The News-Press http://www.news-press.com/, Thursday, October 4, 2001..." Contributed by Richard W. Bonnefoi rnebonnie@yahoo.com [22OCT2001]

MATLACHA - Here's something of a contradiction in terms:

On the western coast of Antarctica, 8,700 miles south of Pine Island, is a vast ice sheet called the Pine Island Glacier, which rests beside Pine Island Bay.

Both frigid landmarks were named after the Navy's seaplane tender USS Pine Island, which, in turn, was named after Lee County's Own Pine Island.

This week, l30 former USS Pine Island crew members were in Lee County for the ship's Reunion.

The Pine Island had a long and distinguished three-war history.

Commissioned April 26, 1945, the ship tended sea- planes in air-sea rescue oper- ations off Okinawa during the final battle ofWorld War II and entered Tokyo Bay after the war to participate in the occupation ofJapan.

On Dec. 2, 1946, the Pine Island steamed out of Norfolk, Va., and headed south as part of Operation Highjump, the aerial exploration of Antarctica.

Ship and crew reached the Antarctic Circle on Christmas day and on Feb. 8, 1947, reached the expedition's southernmost point of 69 degrees 55 minutes south -just 1,400 miles from the South Pole.

Powell "It was cold cold" said former Boatswain's mate William "Smokey" Powell, 75, of Birmingham, Ala. "One thillg that amazed us was that it stayed daylight most of the time, and we worked around the clock.

"We stayed cold all the time. But when you're that age, young kids, you never think you're cold. We like to froze to death and didn't even know it."

Another member of Operation Highjump who almost froze to death was Capt. George Dufek.

"He was making a high-line transfer from our destroyer escort, the Brownson, to the Pine Island, and the line broke, and we dropped him in the drink," Powell said. "In water that cold, you have seven minutes before you die. I guess we got him out before seven I minutes."

The expedition's one real disaster occurred Dec. 30, 1946, when one of the Pine Island's seaplanes, George One, crashed on the frozen continent, killing three crewmen. Six survivors were rescued Jan. l2, 1947.

Following Operation Highjump, the Pine Island spent the winter of 1947 at Tsingtao, China, and the summer of 1948 in the northern Pacific.

Needing a major overhaul, the Pine Island was decommissioned May 1, 1950, but was recommissioned October 7, 1950, and sent to Korea.

Child Before being assigned to the Pine Island on 1952, former aviation boatswain's mate Cleve Child served aboard the Navy's only other siriillarly built seaplane tender, the USS Norton Sound.

"When I got on board the Pine Island, I knew every damn rivet," said Child, 70, of Salt Lake City. "There were only two ships like that in the whole Navy, and I served on both of them. But the contrast in the crews was dramatic. The first were the dumbest bunch of SOBs I ever met. Conversely, the Pine Island had a cosmopolitan, diversified crew.

Some of them are the closest friends I've ever had in my life." After the Korean War, the Pine Island steamed to such ports as Brunei; Borneo; Bangkok, Thailand; Hong Kong; Okinawa and the Galapagos Islands.

With the Vietnam War heating up, the Pine Island was sent to Southeast Asia and conducted seaplane operations at Da Nang and Cam Rahn Bay.

Bailey One of the Pine Island's last sailors was radarman George Bailey of Aliquippa, Pa., who came aboard in 1965, served in Vietnam, and watched as the ship was decommissioned June 16,1967.

"I've heard sailors say the Pine Island was better to serve on than any ship because everybody was friendly with everybody," Bailey, 56, said. "When she was decommissioned, it was like taking your best friend to the cemetery, yes it is.

"I look at all these ships in mothballs and think how all these kids from all over the country came together and formed fighting units. They lived and worked and slept together. Some died. Then after their war, they all dispersed to where they came from."

Circa 1942

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Pine Island (AVP 12)..." http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/auxil/av12.htm [03JAN2001]

Pine Island (AV 12)

Displacement 15,100, Length 540'5", Beam 69'3", Draw 22'3", Speed 19, Complement 1,247, Armament 4 5", 20 40mm, 20 20mm, Class Currituck

Pine Island (AV-12) was laid down 16 November 1942 by Todd Shipyards Corp., San Pedro, Calif.; launched 26 February 1944, sponsored by Mrs. Knefler McGinnis, and commissioned 26 April 1945, Comdr. Henry Titus Hodgskin in command.

Departing California 16 June 1945, Pine Island (AV-12) steamed to Okinawa. There she tended seaplanes engaged in air-sea rescue operations during the final phases of World War II. At the end of the war, she entered Tokyo Bay and contributed seaplane flight operations to the occupation of Japan in 1945. Following occupation duty in Japan, she conducted seaplane flight operations in the Whangpoo River near Shanghai, China. She left the Pacific in 1946, and steamed via the Suez Canal to Norfolk, Va.

Departing Norfolk in December, she arrived in the Antarctic area in January 1947. She contributed to the aerial exploration of Antarctica in Operation Highjump, and saved several downed aviators from the hostile climate. Departing the Antarctic in March, she traveled from Rio de Janeiro via the Panama Canal to San Diego, arriving in April.

Leaving California for the Far East in August 1947, she spent the winter at Tsingtao, China, and the summer of 1948 in the Northern Pacific. Awaiting a major overhaul in 1949, she decommissioned 1 May 1950.

Recommissioned 7 October 1950 at Alameda, Calif., in response to the Korean War, she departed for the Western Pacific in December. She tended seaplanes that flew missions over enemy-held territory in Korea, before returning to San Diego in September 1951. She was away from California on WestPac deployments January to September 1952 February to September 1953, January to August 1954, and February to August 1955. Deployed to WestPac in June 1956, she visited Brunei, Borneo, in August, before returning to San Diego in December. From April to December 1957 she operated in WestPac.

Sailing for WestPac in May 1958, she visited Bangkok, Thailand, and was at Kaohsiung, Taiwan, during Communist bombardment of Quemoy and Matsu. She returned to San Diego in December, and departed for WestPac in June 1959. During 1960 and 1961 she continued her Pacific duties.

Deployed to WestPac from January to June 1962, she embarked news media personnel from several countries in March in connection with the SEATO exercise "Tulungan." Steaming for WestPac in March 1963, she operated out of Okinawa, received visitors at Chinhae, Korea, in June, and delivered fresh water to Hong Kong in August, before returning to San Diego in September. In January 1964 she departed San Diego for the Galapagos Islands, where she provided assistance to scientists before returning to San Diego in February.

Deployed to WestPac in June 1964, she served at Da Nang, South Vietnam, in August. In September 1965, she returned to WestPac, conducted seaplane operations in Cam Ranh Bay, South Vietnam, and participated in the 1966 Coral Sea anniversary festivities in Australia and New Zealand before returning to San Diego in June.

Decommissioned 16 June 1967, Pine Island entered the Maritime Administration's National Defense Reserve Fleet, where she remains into 1970.

Pine Island received one battle star for World War II service, and service medals for Korea and Vietnam.

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Circa Unknown
Can you identify the Month and or Year?

A BIT OF HISTORY: USS PINE ISLAND (AV 12) "...USS PINE ISLAND (AV 12) at anchor, date unknown. Photo from the Base Libary at NAS North Island, San Diego, California..." Contributed by Mahlon K. Miller mkwsmiller@cox.net [07FEB2002]

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"USS Pine Island (AV-12) Summary Page"

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