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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 3)

THE TRIP TO MALTA

July 6, 1944 - Underway, destination unknown, but course SW by S so think will be Gibralter. Sea choppy today and we are rolling considerably.

July 7, 1944 - Still underway at 12 knots, a miserable speed because we roll like a PT boat. The USS AUGUSTA, a heavy cruiser joined us last night with some ships, so we now have 11 transports, 2 battle wagons, 3 cruisers and 8 tin cans in convoy. The weather is getting warmer and the water bluer as we proceed south. Destination unknown.

July 8-9, 1944 - Underway. Water now very blue and pretty. We go through the straits of Gibralter today late at night.

July 10, 1944 - Passed the Rock at 0100 this morning but was sleeping so did not see it.

Today we had Spain on our port beam, 55 miles away, rugged mountains, some snow-capped. French Morocco on our starboard beam, barely visible. At 1200 we left the transports and pulled away at 28 knots with USS TUSCALOOSA, AUGUSTA, NEVADA and ARKANSAS. The latter two ships could not make that speed so we slowed down to 18 knots which they can barely make. Algeria is visible on starboard beam, mostly mountains. We anchor at Oran sometime tonight. Tied up to dock in Oran, Algeria at 1900 next to the AUGUSTA. TUSCALOOSA moored ahead, NEVADA and ARKANSAS astern. USS VULCAN, a supply ship, tied up here also, along with six destroyers, about 10 transports whom we convoyed here, two converted flattops and a French cruiser. There are very high mountains around three sides of this bay and a breakwater on the other. Mountains are at least

1500 feet high and solid rock. Very little or no vegetation, all brown and sun-baked. We shifted to whites from blues.

July 11, 1944 - Went aboard AUGUSTA and NEVADA to speak with storekeepers on board. Their living conditions are not as good as ours, poor ventilation, very hot below decks, no showers and very dim or no lights at all. On the top of

a high mountain here is a castle, very scenic. Also an older one now used as a prison at the end of the pier. We can see attempts to grow something on the hillsides. Houses are tucked in here and there. Oran is six miles from us beyond the bay, about one mile by water. Had three air alerts last night and two tonite when

they sounded GQ, then secured. Smoke screen was laid over entire bay screening us which got into our ventilating system and filled all compartments with smoke. Not a healthy atmosphere

July 12, 1944 - Another hot day, and it's no fun working in whites as they get

dirty so easily, One should see how carefully we all carry our mess trays now

so as not to spill anything on our uniforms! Liberty from 1400 to 1800. Walked a mile to the gate and hitchhiked into town, passed through a two-mile long tunnel, hewed out of the mountainside. Town has palm trees all along main streets and if full of U.S. Army personnel. Jeeps and ducks are there by the hundreds. The Arabs are very poorly clothed, in rags, dirty and ill-kempt-looking. Very poor no doubt. Kids pester you to death selling souvenirs, cheap trinkets and shoe shines. Most of them barefoot. A French franc coin is worth 2 cents in our money so we are comparatively rich here. City is full of sailors from all ships docked in the harbor. Could not find any decent or nice souvenirs except a ring. Very poor selection. Most of our fellows are drinking local wine called vino plus beer and are stewed! Met a Red Cross nurse and her driver who took the four of us, Chuck Fraas, Wahlers and Finn, around the town. Arab women are clad in sheets and hide their faces which aren't much to

look at anyway. The French girls here are very cute but not friendly to us from all reports. We didn’t bother with them. Ate chow at Red Cross then started back at 1700. Could not get a ride so walked about 3 miles before hopping on a

truck that slowed down going up hill. Back aboard in Mers el Kebir, only 5 minutes late which was not penalized. Lots of men were late and so drunk they had to be carried by their friends. A chief petty officer swung at the OOD (officer on duty), another cook was in a straight jacket. We moved our location soon after tying up to the dock to take on stores and ammunition.

July 13, 1944 - Went ashore for swimming at Paradise Club, a rest camp for service men. Swimming in the Mediterranean was nice, the water is very clear and very salty. Nice breakers they carry you onto the beach like a Hawaiian surfer.

They gave us free sandwiches, beer (I gave it away) and oranges. Very nice time, we were there for 5 hours. What a life

July 14, 1944 - Bastille Day. We and all other U.S. ships are flying the French flag today. Received lots of mail from home yesterday. Went swimming in afternoon and got burned again. Swell time and nice clean water.

July 15, 1944 - Another hot day. Took on two of AUGUSTA'S planes. Stood 8 to 12 watch. Saw "Shine On Harvest Moon" with Ann Sheridan. Very good.

July 15, 1944 - Underway today to Sicily for practice firing.

July 17, 1944 - Underway.

July 18, 1944 - Arrived Palermo, Sicily. Had liberty and found that the town was completely wrecked and shattered from our bombings. All windows are blown out and houses are pock-marked by shrapnel. People are very poor, in rags and

starving. No doors on houses, people live right on the street. They make a living by selling us souvenirs and begging. Kids are a nuisance, won't take no for an answer. Few cars except U.S. Jeeps, all horse-drawn carriages. A few Streetcars are running. Harbor is surrounded by high mountains and one of them has an observatory on top.

July 19, 1944 - Same place. Tied up alongside TUSCALOOSA . USS BROOKLYN ahead of us

July 20, 1944 - BROOKLYN leaves today and OMAHA comes in

July 21, 1944 - Same place. Painting ship, had 12 to 4 watch.

July 22, 1944 - A strong wind blowing today and is as hot as a blast furnace coming from inland and warmer outside than it is down below, which is opposite from normal conditions. Went on liberty today from 1300-2100; back aboard 1800.

Went to enlisted men's club in some former rich man's house. House had marble steps, inlaid patterns in landings and carved ivory and marble around fireplaces, just like in the movies. Had a drawing made of me (in scrapbook).

July 23, 1944 - Underway today for places unknown.

July 24, 1944 - Still underway. Did some firing with main battery and anti- aircraft. Knocked down a sleeve that the TUSCALOOSA could not hit. The MIGHTY Q strikes again!

July 25, 1944 - Underway, still in the blue Mediterranean. Saw the coast of Italy, very mountainous. Came back to Palermo, Sicily at 1600. The USS BROOKLYN, OMAHA and TUSCALOOSA all here. Met Bill Dolasky here from Dover. A small world!

July 26, 1944 - Underway again with two tin cans, the USS RODMAN and the USS EMMONS, destination the most bombed place in the world, Malta.

July 27, 1944 - Arrived in Malta, doesn't appear too badly bombed from our anchorage. Four British cruisers here, HMS AURORA, a new one; and the famous HMS AJAX, veteran of battle with German Graf Spee; also two baby flattops. USS PHILADELPHIA here too. British sailors and officers are all in shorts in this hot climate..

July 28, 1944 - Still in Valetta, Malta in company with British fleet. Houses come right to water's edge and the town is hilly and very rocky. Much bomb damage is visible from the ship. Went on liberty and bought some souvenirs, also a Valet razor

and Kiwi shoe polish. People here seem healthy and in good spirits, have not been bombed for two years now, but the city has been hard-hit. Damage has been cleared up, unlike Palermo, Sicily, where the debris still lies in the streets.

Horses & carriages are the main forms of transportation and are healthy and well cared for. Carriages are painted and kept clean unlike Sicily. Had fun watching British soldiers standing guard in front of the governor's palace, stomping their feet, etc. Had a steak and french fries here. People have their own Maltese language not Italian descent as we were led to believe. Weather is warm and not too hot, all British and French service- men are in shorts. We came back to ship in little boats Like there are in Venice and the oars are pushed by the boatman, not pulled. Talked to shop owner who said they had 3 thousand raids and shot down 1500 planes. They hate the Italians and Nazis. He told us of the HMS ILLUSTRIOUS being here for three days and nights while being repaired and the planes could not hit it once.

July 29, 1944 - Still here, now tied up alongside HMS AJAX. Her sailors on board marvel at our comforts and size. We Have lots more guns that they and larger. Not a bad looking ship, though.

July 30, 1944 - Sunday in Malta

August 2, 1944 - Still in Valetta. Went on a tour today in buses to see the island. Very dry and barren, thousands of rocks everywhere, used for making fences in the fields. Here and there a patch of green vegetation which has been irrigated. Saw two churches, one named St. John’s where St. Paul came on a visit almost two thousand years ago. Visited St. Mary's church where a bomb had come through the dome, hit the floor but did not go off, just leaving a dent in the marble floor. A lovely church, all floors set in multi-colored marble, and officials of the church are buried under the floor. St. Mary's had a blue ceiling with gold squares set in it. One large altar and 5 or 6 smaller ones around the central area. Went swimming but water was dirty, unlike Oran. Came back early and went aboard HMS AJAX, 10 years old and

a battle veteran. Quarters very dark, crowded and dirty; men sleep in hammocks. Took three of her men on our ship and they loved it, so much room and air and light. HMS DELHI on our port side, an old cruiser, converted to a flak ship. French battleship LORRAINE here, 1900 vintage, not very useful like our TEXAS and ARKANSAS, too slow. Invasion near so we hear from scuttlebutt.

August 3, 1944 - Have a bad cold, sweat from the heat and cold, too. Mail arrived late last night, six letters this time.

August 13, 1944 - Remained in Malta until today, Sunday, when we got underway, for another invasion, this time of southern France. Here's hoping it's as successful and safe as was the first one at Normandy. HMS BLACK PRINCE has arrived they were with us on D-Day. They had three-weeks leave at home! Their ship is same age as ours but filthy, dirty decks and bulkheads oily, etc., unlike the QUINCY. Guess they don’t have “field days” like us to clean everything.