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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USNS Bondia (T-AF-42)
ex
 USAT Flemish Bend (1947 - 1951)
 USS Bondia (AF-42) (1945 - 1946)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Victor - November - Foxtrot
 NVNF
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended) Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal
Third Row - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal - Philippines Liberation Medal
Adria Class Stores Ship:
  • Laid down, 18 September 1944, as M/V Flemish Bend, a Maritime Commission type (R1-M-AV3) hull under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 2204) at Pennsylvania Shipyards, Inc, Beaumont, TX.
  • Launched, 9 November 1944
  • Acquired by the Navy, 31 March 1945
  • Commissioned, USS Bondia (AF-42), 17 April 1945, LT. Milton L. Austin, USNR, in command
  • USS Bondia was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater during and following World War II
  • Decommissioned, 29 July 1946, and returned to the Maritime Commission the same day, name reverted to SS Flemish Bend
  • Leased To Matson Navigation Co., 29 July 1946
  • Leased to the War Department 30 July 1947 and commissioned USAT Flemish Bend
  • Re-acquired from the Maritime Commission, 27 July 1951, assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) and placed in service as USNS Bondia (T-AF-42)
  • Placed out of service, date unknown
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 May 1973
  • Transferred to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) for disposal, 9 November 1973
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 9 November 1973 to Chi Shun Hua Steel Co. (LTD.), Taiwan
    Specifications:
    Displacement 3,139 t.(lt) 7,435 t.(fl)
    Length 338' 6"
    Beam 50'
    Draft 18'
    Speed 12 kts. (max)
    Complement
    Officers 10
    Enlisted 78
    Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.
    Cargo Capacity 3,170 DWT
    Non-refrigerated - 47,610 Cu ft
    Refrigerated - 114,580 Cu ft
    Armament
    one single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mount
    six single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Fuel Capacity - Diesel 6,300 Bbls
    Propulsion
    one Nordberg Diesel TSM engine
    three 250Kw 120V/240V Ship's Service Generators
    single propeller, 1,700shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Bondia 102k USNS Bondia (T-AF-42) moored pierside at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, 1971 ©Richard Leonhardt
    Bondia 84k USNS Bondia (T-AF-42) at anchor, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Carl R. Friberg Jr.
    Bondia 67k USNS Bondia (T-AF-42) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from "Jane's Fighting Ships" 1958-59 Edition.    		 Robert Hurst
    View the Bondia (AF-42)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Austin, Milton L.17 April 1945 - ?
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information Web Sites
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    No Information Available
    Back To The Main Photo Index Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Stores Ship (AF) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2009 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 19 February 2010