THE QUEST OF THE USS QUINCY

THE SAGA OF THE MIGHTY “Q”

Being a history of the travels and adventures of one

F. D. King while aboard this mighty warship, a heavy

cruiser of the U. S Navy, from December 1943

(commissioning date) until transferred, October 1944.

(part 1)

November 7, 1943 - Transferred from USS APc 90 at Norfolk, Virginia to

Receiving Station, Boston, Massachusetts for duty on the USS Quincy Detail being

assembled there. Had Captain's Inspection every Saturday afternoon, which took

about 3 to 4 hours, delaying us from catching trains for home, much to our disgust.

Over 1,000 sailors assembled on the drill field in formation for inspection, quite

an impressive sight

November 25, 1943 - Transferred from Fargo Building to Fore River Yard of

the Bethlehem Steel Company at Quincy, Massachusetts where our vessel was under

construction. My first view of the ship was the next day and what a long, lean

deadly vehicle of destruction she was! Nine 8 inch guns in 3 turrets, 12--5”/ 38

caliber guns in 6 mounts, 48 Bofors 40 mm. anti-aircraft guns, 30 Oerlikon 20 mm

guns, enough to blow any enemy vessels or planes to kingdom come! While at

Fore River, the job of the storekeepers was to load provisions, spare parts,

clothing, candy. etc. often working until late at night. One night we worked

until Midnight unloading 4 boxcars of flour and sugar. Had every night liberty

and spent it in Boston, hitchhiking or taking the long trolley ride in.

December 14, 1943 - The Quincy was finally completed and was made ready

for the trip down to Boston on a bitter cold day. Tugs pulled her out into the

stream and her length was such as to make everyone hold their breath as to

whether she could navigate the turn without hitting her bow against the

USS Vincennes under construction at the next pier. As she moved out into the

stream all the vessels surrounding the area blew their whistles, wishing her

Godspeed and Happy Hunting. The Q's mighty whistle rent the air with a blast

in acknowledgement. Made a speed of 6 knots on the way to Boston and arrived

there a few hours later to find the bulk of the crew waiting on the dock, sea

bags stacked in piles on the dock, and our Marine contingent drawn to attention

as the Quincy was moored. Then came the confusion as all hands tried to find

their assigned bunks and compartments "Hey., Mac, where's compartment A-415-L

at?" was an oft-heard cry with the numbers of the compartments varying of

course.

December 15, 1943 – Today, on one of the coldest days in Boston's cold

history, the USS QUINCY was commissioned as a part of the U.S Navy. The very

frozen crew assembled on the fantail about an hour before the ceremonies began

and were really "frozen" to attention when the gold braid started to arrive.

They of course, had been drinking coffee and tea in the wardroom for the past

hour. Speeches were made by Rear Admiral Theobald; Gov. Saltonstall of

Massachusetts; and the Mayor of Quincy, Massachusetts, for which the ship was

named. Captain Elliott M. Senn accepted command.

December 25, 1943 - Home for Christmas on a "72." From now until we leave

on our shakedown cruise is a period of loading stores and making last-minute

adjustments on all the technical war equipment we carried, such as radar, fire-

control instruments, gyro compass,- etc.

January 30, 1944 - Pulled out of South Boston and got under way for the

Charlestown Navy Yard, just up the Charles River for deperming the ship, which is

demagnetizing the hull and various metal parts so that our compass and other

instruments can give true readings. We had to send our wristwatches and all

ships clocks ashore for this job.

January 31, 1944 - Underway to sea today for a trial run, went out about

15 miles with a destroyer escorting us., also a blimp overhead. Made about 15

knots, held a few drills, fire., collision, general-quarters, etc. Came back into

Boston before dark and tied up.

February 2. 1944 - Underway for Trinidad, British West Indies, with stopovers

in Chesapeake Bay, and Norfolk, Virginia. Weather cold and breezy, water

choppy

February 3. 1944 - Water rougher today and all our boots are sick, but I'm

enjoying it. Making 15 knots, have one escorting destroyer with us., the USS

Hamilton I believe., which is rolling around fiercely.

February 5, 1944 - Arrived in Chesapeake Bay for gunnery drills and exercises.

Our 2 planes, Curtis OS2U-3 scouts, were catapulted off and flew into Norfolk for

our mail. During these drills, 3 Grumman Hellcats made dummy runs on us zooming

in from all angles, cutting the top of the waves to give our gunners practice

in following targets, they really come in fast, go zooming by on one wing edge.

We are all glad they're on our side!

February 13, 1944, - Pulled into N.0.B. Norfolk. Hasn't changed since

I was here last October. Had liberty after we loaded candy aboard which took

3 hours of our liberty away. Went down to Pier 5 and aboard the APc90, found she is

now decommissioned. Saw the USS HORNET a carrier of the Essex class tied up here,

nice ship, also the USS MIAMI, light cruiser of the Cleveland class.

February 14, 1944 - Underway to Trinidad, B.W.I. Sea not too rough, water

a dirty green. Two destroyers and the MIAMI are with us. On the horizon is the

HORNET on her way to Panama and the Pacific to keep an appointment with Tojo.

February 15, 1944 - Water rough today and ship is rolling considerably.

We are off Cape Hatteras which accounts for it. Almost everybody is sick, but

the worst I have is a headache.

February 17, 1944 - Water much smoother today and very blue, a lovely shade

like ink or bluing rinse. Our white wake stands out nice against it. Ship rolls

a lot and the tin cans and the Miami are rolling terribly. Weather getting warmer

so we start shedding some of our clothing on watch. We are in Condition 3 in the

daytime, Condition 2 at night. I stand watch in Sky Forward, the uppermost part

of the ship, above the bridge, and can see for miles ahead.

February 18, 1944 - Beautiful sunset tonight after a lovely warm day. We

hardly need a sweater on now.

February 19, 1944 - Arrived off Port of Spain, Trinidad after passing thru

Virgin Islands and Porto Rico. Drop anchor and looked at the surrounding country

which was very pretty, wooded and the distant mountains appear to be cloaked in

purple and the ridges stand out as if made from cardboard. Near our anchorage

is a little island, with one house on it, evidently some rich man's as it’s very

well kept and nice. A pretty scene like a painting,

February 20, 1944 - Commence gunnery drills, firing 20 mm. and 40 mm. and

5-inch guns at sleeve towed by a plane. Also surface firing with 5 and 8-inch

guns at a target towed by a minesweeper. Our gunners are wild and not too good.

With more practice I bet they will be more accurate.

February 24, 1944 - Liberty for 4 hours in Port of Spain. Full of Blacks,

but they speak with an Oxford accent! Town closed up very few stores open.

Managed to pick up a few souvenirs. Saw lots of Hindus walking around too.

The people here use dollars, but shillings and pence for coins. Lots of U.S.

soldiers stationed here. Came back to USO to a vaudeville show before returning

to the ship on the YMS-309. She ran into a mud bank in the darkness but was able

to get off all right by reversing her engines at full speed.

March 2, 1944 - Have had firing and gunnery drills every day, our gunners

now knock down sleeves left and right. Ships present in this anchorage., include

converted carrier USS SAN JACINTO, Essex class flattop USS WASP, USS MIAMI

a light cruiser (CL 89). Today we went out around the island to be refueled

at sea by a tanker, USS ANCILLA, about 500 feet long. Returned to anchorage and

watched movies topside, an oldie, "Desperate Journey" with Errol Flynn which I first

saw in Newport, R. I. on my first liberty in the Navy from boot camp.

March 3, 1944 - Underway for Boston via Norfolk, where we undergo

an admiral's inspection. Have picked up a nice tan in this warm climate. Nights

are cool in Trinidad, but compartment is stifling so we carry our sacks topside

and sleep on deck. Two tin cans and the MIAMI are with us. Water very blue in

late morning, entering Caribbean. Making 32 knots now on speed run, later we go

full speed astern after going full ahead to see if the Quincy can take it. She can!

Passed by Porto Rico and water is a teal blue, almost green but a very

Light shade, like an indoor swimming pool in color, very pretty.

March 7. 1944 - Arrived in Norfolk after traveling all morning in a heavy

fog. Sea calm all the way except this morning when it was choppy.

March 8. 1944 - Preparing for inspection on Friday. Cleared out my store-

room, took inventory and re-stowed gear. Held field day on paint work and overhead.

March 9. 1944 - Still anchored at Norfolk, no liberty, lots of mail though.

Still cleaning ship for inspection. Lots of LST's and tankers in today forming a convoy.

March 10, 1944 - Inspection today, reveille at 0430 but the S Division got

up at 0700. Passed personnel inspection O.K. :Inspected by Captain of the MIAMI.

Stood by storerooms but were not inspected after all that work. Damage control

drills, tomorrow then underway for Boston.

March 13, 1944 - Arrived back in good old Boston, each section port and

starboard gets 5 days leave and then where?

April 1, 1944 -Anchored now in Casco Bay, Portland, Maine, from where we

go out on gunnery drills, etc. We make liberty on motor launches and very slow

moving ferries which were built in 1900. Takes at least half an hour to reach

Portland, most of the time here we had midnight liberties. Went down to Boston

for 5 days, then we returned here again.

May 2, 1944 - Arrived in Boston., Massachusetts but no liberty.

Can't tell anyone we are leaving. The new USS HANCOCK, Essex class

flattop is tied up alongside, also the ACQUITANIA and USS WAKEFIELD, other

transports, and 12 liberty ships loading up.

May 5. 1944 - We leave South Boston on a wonderful spring day with 2 tin

cans. Announced tonight that we will rendezvous with a convoy tomorrow off New

York, our destination the British Isles. Told to expect sub attacks tomorrow

and air attacks within 3 days. The Quincy is underway for battle

May 8. 1944 - Sea very calm all the way, so far. We have joined the convoy.

Met them at sea off New York. Eight destroyers, 1 tanker and 2 cargo ships.

Course, North-North-East, speed approximately 15 knots. We are about 1/3 of the

way now, 500 miles southeast of Newfoundland. The tin cans have had a couple of

sub contacts, but nothing serious. Our 2 planes are in the air all day patrolling.

We have General Quarters at dawn and sunset every day, and the ship rolls a lot

at this slow speed, but not as badly as the tin cans do.

May 14, 1944- Arrived in Belfast, Ireland today. Left the convoy yesterday

with 2 destroyers and increased speed to 25 knots which stopped us from rolling

so much. One night we couldn't sleep as we couldn't lie still in our bunks.

Here in Belfast are about 12 destroyers, the battleships TEXAS and NEVADA, also

an old 4 stack light cruiser, the CINCINNATI. The land surrounding the bay is

very green and pretty. Low, rolling hills, slope gently up from the water's

edge. Green fields and little clumps of bushy trees and the fields are partitioned

by hedges. Several small towns in sight and the houses are set very close

together. Local ships burn coal instead of oil and they smoke up the skyline

considerably. Had my condition 3 watch changed the past few days to a 40 mm

quad instead of the 5" upper handling room, very cold on this watch.

May 18, 1944 - Still here in Belfast but no liberty as not enough boats

Available for us. There are enough for the officers, of course. The ARKANSAS

and TUSCALOOSA pulled in here today, another BB and CA. We are standing

Condition 4 now, my watch is on Quad 5 and we are all amazed at how long it takes

to get dark here, not till midnight does the sun go down and it rises again

at 0500. We transferred the Aviation Division and our planes to England. They

will be on the beach and fly Spitfires for the invasion, spotting fire for us.

We took aboard some Army personnel, paratroopers and Airborne infantry for

shore fire-control parties.

May 19, 1944 - Loads of ships around here now, 15 Liberty ships, 12

destroyers. Today General Dwight D. Eisenhower, with 2 Admirals and one

English admiral came aboard to inspect us. “Ike” looks just like his pictures

with a great big smile. I was on watch at the time so looked down on him and

his 4-starred shoulders. He stopped and talked to the crew, asking where they

were from, their duties, shook hands and moved on. All hands were impressed with

his personality. He made a speech to us, saying this was the first USN man-of-

war he had been aboard since coming to Europe, said he was overwhelmed by the

magnificence of this mighty vessel and that previously he had been on Royal

Navy ships in the Mediterranean. He liked the ship a lot and said he hoped

to come aboard again when we were at anchor in a North Sea or Baltic port the

Germans now call their own. Said he didn't wish to be traitorous but wondered

if he wouldn't have been better off to join the Navy instead of the Army as

this seemed much more comfortable than a foxhole. We leave here tomorrow for

Greenock, Scotland where the Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth were built, close to

Glasgow

May 20, 1944 - Left Belfast at 0700 and made a fast run northward, arriving

in Greenock at 1130. What lovely country around here, steep hills all covered

with green grass and little houses tucked in at the bottom. Then sloping hills,

with fields neatly hedged off and small clumps of trees scattered about, low and

bushy. Can see a castle here and there in the hills. Greenock is nestled at

the bottom of several hills, the houses close together and between them trees

sprout up, very pretty and scenic, just like a calendar picture. Plenty of ships

here, about 20 freighters, 3 small British cruisers, 2 larger ones, 4 converted

flattops, also a bigger one the HMS INDEFATIGIBLE., sister ship to the VICTORIUS

and ILLUSTRIOUS. Also here is the HMS NELSON with nine 16” guns, but its all

bow and no stern. This country is so lovely I'd like to visit here again after the war.

May 23, 1944-Underway today for practice bombardment firing of our 8” guns.

Came back to Greenock at night and saw a British battlewagon of the Queen Liz

class had joined the NELSON. About 6 British cruisers here and 30 liberty ships.

On our way to the bombardment area down the River Clyde we saw 5 American Trans-

ports coming in loaded with soldiers from home, also 6 tankers with planes topside.

May 24, 1944 - Liberty today in Greenock, Scotland. Walked about a mile

from the wharf to the station to take a train to Glasgow. Rode on the LMS all

along the Clyde River and into Glasgow's Central Station, which I found very

dark and dingy after those at home. Store fronts are the same as at home,

plastic and tile. Sent cables home, then looked up phone numbers and called my

relatives, Aunt May at work. Uncles Eric and Wilf not at home. Went to Red Cross

Club and wrote Grandma King a letter, posted one to Grandma Avis. Ate some fish

and chips, cost 1 shilling, and were they good. Phoned again and this time talked

to uncle Eric and Aunt Paddy. Wilf not home from work till 11. Couldn't get

through to uncle Bill as lines were all busy till my train left for Greenock. Got

train gates closed in my face and had to jump over the fence, but caught the

train. Made the last liberty boat 15 minutes early, close call but I made it.

May 25, 1944 - Underway today back to Belfast, glad I phoned before leaving

here. Arrived Belfast at 1130, just 3 hours from Glasgow. Plenty of ships here,

too, 7 British cruisers of Southampton class mostly. Also the TUSCALOOSA,

MARBLEHEAD both cruisers, and the BB's TEXAS, NEVADA & ARKANSAS. The

Swedish exchange liner GRIPSHOLM is in here too bringing back former prisoners

of war from Germany. She is all white with wide green stripes down the side and her

name and Diplomat Sverige on side in large letters.

May 27, 1944- Captain's inspection today. Told to draw our last money as pay

records go on the beach by the 30th and last mail leaves the ship then too.

Looks like invasion is near.

May 29, 1944 - Expect to leave Belfast tomorrow, rumor has it the Kiel Canal is our

objective. Plenty of ships in here, about 30 freighters besides warships.

Lovely warm day today.

May 31, 1944 - A message from Admiral Kirk was read today informing us that

the invasion will be in France and that the invasion fleet will be mainly American.

We left Belfast at 1000 this morning but returned at night in a heavy fog.