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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

USS Pine Island (AV-12)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Alpha - Tango - November
 NATN
Voice Call Sign "Ledger Gold"
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons





Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal
Second Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
Third Row - National Defense Service Medal (1) - Korean Service Medal - Antarctic Service Medal
Fourth Row - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (1-Taiwan Straits, 1-Vietnam) - Vietnam Service Medal (2) - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
Fifth Row - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (1)- Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)
Currituck Class Seaplane Tender:
  • Laid down, 16 November 1942, at Todd Shipyard Corp., San Pedro, CA.
  • Launched, 26 February 1944
  • Commissioned USS Pine Island (AV-12), 26 April 1945, Naval Supply Depot, San Pedro, CA., CDR. Henry Titus Hodgskin in command
  • During WWII USS Pine Island was assigned to Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaign:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    3rd Fleet operations against Japan, July and August 1945

  • Decommissioned, 1 May 1950
  • Recommissioned, 7 October 1950, at Alameda, CA.
  • During the Korean War USS Pine Island tended seaplanes that flew missions over enemy-held territory in Korea
  • During the Vietnam War USS Pine Island participated in the following campaigns:
    Vietnam War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Vietnam Defense
    10 October to 4 November 1965
    28 November to 12 December 1965     		Vietnamese Counteroffensive
    15 January to 14 February 1966
    2 to 11 April 1966

  • Decommissioned, 16 June 1967
  • Laid up in the Reserve Fleet
  • Struck from the Naval Register, (date unknown)
  • Title transfer to the Maritime Administration for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 7 March 1972, to Zidell Explorations, Portland, OR.
  • USS Pine Island earned one battle star for World War II service and two campaign stars for Vietnam War service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 9,090 t.(lt) 15,092 t.(fl)
    Length 540' 5"
    Beam 69' 3"
    Draft 22' 3" (lim)
    Speed 19.2 kts. (trial)
    Complement
    Officers -162
    Enlisted - 1,085
    Largest Boom Capacity 30 t.
    Armament
    four single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mounts
    four twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    three quad 40mm AA gun mounts
    twenty single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Fuel Capacities
    NSFO - 15,330 Bbls
    Diesel - 285 Bbls
    Gasoline - 278,030 Gals
    Propulsion
    two Allis Chalmers steam turbines
    four Babcock and Wilcox Express boilers, 400psi 690°
    double Falk Main Reduction Gears
    four 500Kw 450V A.C. Ships Service Generators
    two propellers, 12,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    Pine Island 101k USS Pine Island (AV-12) photographed by her builder, the Todd Shipyards Corp., San Pedro, California, probably on 17 April 1945 a few days before her commissioning.
    US National Archives Photo # 19-N-85291, RG-19 LCM, a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.(Note the photo appears to be misdated across the top banner.)    		 Robert Hurst
    Pine Island 229k USS Pine Island (AV-12) commissioning ceremony invitation Tom Watson for his father Howard Watson, EM3/c USNR USS Pine Island
    Pine Island 210k USS Pine Island (AV-12) commissioning ceremony schedule of events Tom Watson for his father Howard Watson, EM3/c USNR USS Pine Island
    Pine Island 85k USS Pine Island (AV-12) commissioning ceremony at the Naval Supply Depot, San Pedro, CA., 26 April 1945. The Chaplain gives the ship the Eternal Blessing." Tom Watson for his father Howard Watson, EM3/c USNR USS Pine Island
    Pine Island 114k USS Pine Island (AV-12) "Church Call." Devine services being held on the hanger deck, 30 September 1945, at Sasebo, Japan. Photo was taken in the hanger looking aft at to the sea plane deck. Tom Watson for his father Howard Watson, EM3/c USNR USS Pine Island
    Pine Island 119k One of USS Pine Island (AV-12) PBMs along with one of her boats, at Sasebo, Japan, September 1945. Tom Watson for his father Howard Watson, EM3/c USNR USS Pine Island
    Pine Island 137k One of USS Pine Island (AV-12) PBMs at Sasebo, Japan, September 1945. Tom Watson for his father Howard Watson, EM3/c USNR USS Pine Island
    Pine Island 50k USS Pine Island (AV-12) at anchor off Okinawa, October 1945 Tom Watson for his father Howard Watson, EM3/c USNR USS Pine Island
    Pine Island 62k USS Pine Island (AV-12) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Haze Gray & Underway
    Pine Island 107k USS Pine Island (AV-12) flier for "SOWOT Airlines" and "Pine Island Hotel." Tom Watson for his father Howard Watson, EM3/c USNR USS Pine Island
    Pine Island 57k USS Pine Island (AV-12) lowering a P5M seaplane into the water. circa 1950s.
    US Navy photo    		 Haze Gray & Underway
    Pine Island 180k USS Pine Island (AV-12) underway in San Diego Bay, circa early 1950s.
    US Navy photo    		 David Buell
    Pine Island 93k USS Pine Island (AV-12) underway off San Diego, CA., circa early 1950s.
    US Navy photo    		 David Buell
    Pine Island 41k USS Pine Island (AV-12) underway, date and location unknown. Hyperwar US Navy in WWII
    Pine Island 72k USS Pine Island (AV-12) underway, circa 1954, location unknown. Robert Hurst
    Pine Island 96k USS Pine Island (AV-12) lowering a seaplane to her flight deck off the Pescadores Islands, date unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine March 1953.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Pine Island 63k USS Pine Island (AV-12) underway off San Diego in 1954 approaching USS Electra (AKA-4) in preparation for a transfer at sea exercise. Photo by Donald Ravey
    USS Electra (AKA-4)
    Pine Island 72k USS Pine Island (AV-12) underway off San Diego in 1954 approaching USS Electra (AKA-4) in preparation for a transfer at sea exercise. Photo by Donald Ravey
    USS Electra (AKA-4)
    Pine Island 94k USS Pine Island (AV-12), 250 miles NW off Hilo, HI., attempting to hoisting a Marlin P5M onto her deck. The aircraft had ran out of fuel and was forced down short of the islands on a flight from the U.S. mainland. The man standing on the aircraft is Ted Paige. Jim Wingo is seen hanging from the crane hook, after unsuccessfully trying to engage the hook in the aircraft hoisting sling. The pitching of the ship in heavy ground swells made the block of the crane swing with unstoppable force.
    US Navy photo.    		 Jim Wingo AB-3, V-1 Division USS Pine Island 1955-56
    Pine Island 64k USS Pine Island (AV-12) at anchor, date and location unknown. Bill Koonts AT2 VP56 1953-56
    Pine Island 103k USS Pine Island (AV-12) and one of her seaplanes, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine April 1960.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Pine Island 80k USS Pine Island (AV-12) lifting a seaplane onto her flight deck, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine September 1961.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Pine Island 139k USS Pine Island (AV-12) fantail crane lifting a small boat onto her flight deck. At right are two Bowser (or refueling) boats.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine September 1961.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Pine Island 66k USS Pine Island (AV-12) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine April 1968..    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    View the USS Pine Island (AV-12)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    No Information Available
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 12 June 2009