50 Yrs Ago Today, Mullinnix Sets Sail From Naples, Italy
Excerpt from “The Last Gun Ship - History of USS Mullinnix DD-944” - A Historical Novel By Frank A. Wood
The holidays behind them, the ship said farewell to Naples on Monday 4 January, back to an extended fleet operations with the fast carrier attack group of the Sixth Fleet. This included ECM exercises with USS J.C. Ownes DD-776 and USS Lowry DD-770, and ASW exercises with sister-ship USS Decatur DD-936 and USS Pier SS-409,rescue destroyer duty with USS Saratoga CVA-60.
She conducted a highline detail on 8 January, transferring BT1 S. F. Lanier, mail and movies from USS Des Moines CA-134, followed by a man over board drill using the motor-whale boat to recover the dummy.
Saturday, 9 January found Mullinnix once again conducting a light mail transfer from Des Moines followed by a helicopter mail transfer with Saratoga and closed out a busy day with plan guard duty with USS Essex CVA-9 during evening flight operations. The following day the ship deployed the Destroyer Squadron 32 Chaplin to the USS Fiske DD-842, retrieving ‘the Padre’ after services.
In port, Sundays are a day of rest for most sailors. This isn’t the case at sea however. After church services, the crew prepared for highline transfer of ammunition from USS Suribachi AE-21. While along side Suribachi, the ship received LT G. L. Lockhart via helicopter after he completed is temporary duty. After stowing the ammunition in the magazines, Mullinnix prepared to refuel from USS Canisteo AO-99.
Mux conducted operations with USS W. R. Rush DDR-714, USS Stormes DD-780, USS M. C. Fox DDR-829, and USS Denebola AF-56. Shortly after 1200 hours on 12 January, Stormes, while in station #1, lost steering control. The alertness of the other ships prevented what could have been a major disaster, Rush assumed the guide.
To be continued...
Cheers,
Woody
The holidays behind them, the ship said farewell to Naples on Monday 4 January, back to an extended fleet operations with the fast carrier attack group of the Sixth Fleet. This included ECM exercises with USS J.C. Ownes DD-776 and USS Lowry DD-770, and ASW exercises with sister-ship USS Decatur DD-936 and USS Pier SS-409,rescue destroyer duty with USS Saratoga CVA-60.
She conducted a highline detail on 8 January, transferring BT1 S. F. Lanier, mail and movies from USS Des Moines CA-134, followed by a man over board drill using the motor-whale boat to recover the dummy.
Saturday, 9 January found Mullinnix once again conducting a light mail transfer from Des Moines followed by a helicopter mail transfer with Saratoga and closed out a busy day with plan guard duty with USS Essex CVA-9 during evening flight operations. The following day the ship deployed the Destroyer Squadron 32 Chaplin to the USS Fiske DD-842, retrieving ‘the Padre’ after services.
In port, Sundays are a day of rest for most sailors. This isn’t the case at sea however. After church services, the crew prepared for highline transfer of ammunition from USS Suribachi AE-21. While along side Suribachi, the ship received LT G. L. Lockhart via helicopter after he completed is temporary duty. After stowing the ammunition in the magazines, Mullinnix prepared to refuel from USS Canisteo AO-99.
Mux conducted operations with USS W. R. Rush DDR-714, USS Stormes DD-780, USS M. C. Fox DDR-829, and USS Denebola AF-56. Shortly after 1200 hours on 12 January, Stormes, while in station #1, lost steering control. The alertness of the other ships prevented what could have been a major disaster, Rush assumed the guide.
To be continued...
Cheers,
Woody
posted by Frank A. Wood at 16:11
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