Calling all USS Barnegat-class seaplane tender (AVP) fans

[NukeMM]

This was a nice piece of luck. I found these two backdrop imges on historylink101.com. They have the same ship in them, looks like a minelayer like USS Terror. One image is taken from the bow and the other from the stern.

[NukeMM]

Three more PT Boats almost ready for paint................

[NukeMM]

The nest is getting fuller.........

[Bigdaddy Mark]

The nest is getting fuller.........

I've been watching this for a while, It looks GREAT!

[Russ2146]

Now that's looking real purty!!!

Food for Thought:
When the boats came in from patrol, the first thing they did was refuel. There was a sub-plot in the movie, PT-109, about that and I think that's what is happening in this picture.

So if there was one boat standing off, waiting for its turn at the fuel pump, you'd have three things going on in your story/scene.

[NukeMM]

A PT Boat vet told me that they often slept on cots, on the forecastle, under a tent. So, here's my rendition of that.

[NukeMM]

[Sr. Gopher]

It took guts to finish those PTs. Excellent!

[NukeMM]

It took guts to finish those PTs. Excellent!

Thanks, Gopher!

At times, I feel that I have bitten off more than I can chew with a total of 9 PT Boats. But, I have to see it through or I'll be disappointed in myself.

I have added helmets and life jackets stowed on the day cabins of two PT Boats, so far. The first three, that are already attached to the water base, may not get them. Reaching the spots where they go will be really difficult, I fear, without damaging something on them, or the tender.

[NukeMM]

This first photo is a sort of a historical moment for "The Little White Fleet" of flagships for COMIDEASTFOR.

Taken from a 1952 USS Valcour AVP-55 Cruise Book, this photo shows the USS Duxbury Bay AVP-38 (on the left) being relieved by the USS Valcour AVP-55 (on the right) in April 1952.

The historical signficance bares mainly with the ships' configurations. The Duxbury Bay is still in her gray paint and still has her 5" gun turret where as the Vaclour has just come out of the yards baring her white paint scheme and her 5" gun turret has been removed. Upon arrival in Norfolk, the Duxbury Bay will loose her 5" gun and receive her first coat of white paint. My father reported on board the Duxbury Bay during this shipyard period.



This photo is from the same 1952 cruise book, and is of the USS Valcour prior to the change in paint color and loss of the 5" gun.



Here the USS Valcour is recieving her tripod mast and other modifications at Norfolk in the early 1960's.

[NukeMM]

More "Little White Fleet" photos.............

USS Greenwich Bay AVP-41 and USS Duxbury Bay AVP-38 in late 1960.



USS Valcour AVP-55 and USS Duxbury Bay AVP-38 in, or prior to, 1960.

[Russ2146]

Someone appears to have had issues with number painting?

[NukeMM]

Someone appears to have had issues with number painting?

I think, as far as the aviation insignia goes, that the "neutraility star" with the red dot in it is for during periods of peace time or non-confilct periods and the other "stars and bars" is for war or periods of confilct (i.e. Korean War) . But, what regulations determined the changing of the insignia, I have no idea.

Even though "The Little White Fleet" had duties as a flagship, I think that they still maintained the ability and availability to tend to seaplanes when called upon to do so, as evidenced by photos that my father took of the Duxbury Bay tending to a flying boat in 1952-53.

And all AVPs seemed to go from the small hull numbers to the large ones, and back and forth.

[Russ2146]

Hmmm, it would probably be interesting to find out the reason for the number size changing.Other ship classes seem to hold pretty constant, relatively speaking.

[NukeMM]

Here comes another one!!!................................
You can guess but, I'm not telling. And don't expect to see in-progress updates. I'm going to try, once again, to keep this one a surprise. (I falied on my first attempt to keep a secret with the USCGC Bering Strait. I didn't even try with the USS Oyster Bay. Let's see how I do, this time.)

I will tell you that I'm hoping to enter this one in the 2011 Nationals, too. In the contest's theme category.

[Sr. Gopher]

The Abescon?

[Russ2146]

Don't Tell, Don't Tell

[AGP-8]

Hello all. I'm a newbie on here. I just stumbled on this site and this incredible thread. My dad served aboard the USS WACHAPREAGUE AGP-8 in WW2. He's 86 and will love this site. It'll do his old swabby heart good to know there are so many interested in Barnegats!

BEAUTIFUL work guy! Just amazing! Keep up the good work!

[Russ2146]

If your father has any photos, please scan and post them. AGP-8 is under represented photo wise.

[NukeMM]

Hello all. I'm a newbie on here. I just stumbled on this site and this incredible thread. My dad served aboard the USS WACHAPREAGUE AGP-8 in WW2. He's 86 and will love this site. It'll do his old swabby heart good to know there are so many interested in Barnegats!

BEAUTIFUL work guy! Just amazing! Keep up the good work!

Hello, AGP-8!

I hope that you're a ship modeler, too! Like Russ, I'd be very, interested in any photos of the ship that you father might have. Even photos of shipmates in the foreground can show close ups of features of the ship, in the background. Non-modelers sometimes don't realize this.

You father may also enjoy photos my USS Oyster Bay AGP-6 in my online photo albums at photobucket.com. Click on the link in my signature to go there.