USS Floyds Bay (AVP-40)

USS Floyds Bay (AVP-40) was a "Barnegat"-class small seaplane tender commissioned by the U.S. Navy for use in World War II. "Floyds Bay" tended to seaplanes, and served in the volatile Pacific War in combat areas that provided her one battle star by war’s end. Post-war, she continued to serve her country during the Korean War and was awarded one more battle star.

"Floyds Bay" (AVP-40) was launched 28 January 1945 by Lake Washington Shipyards, Houghton, Washington; sponsored by Mrs. R. R. McCracken; and commissioned 25 March 1945, Commander J. R. Ogden in command.

World War II Pacific Theatre operations

After training at Pearl Harbor and in the Marianas, "Floyds Bay" arrived at Okinawa 28 July 1945 to operate with Air-Sea Rescue Squadron 6 and other seaplanes until 9 September. From that time, she controlled seadromes at Wakanoura Wan and Nagoya, Japan, and Shanghai and Tsingtao, China, until sailing from Yokohama 1 December 1946 for San Francisco, California.

End-of-war operations

From her homeport, San Diego, California, "Floyds Bay" sailed on a round-the-world good-will cruise between 6 June 1947 and 27 March 1948. Proceeding eastward, she called at Mediterranean and Far Eastern ports, operating in Japanese waters for several months.

In the summer of 1948, "Floyds Bay" served as tender for planes flying photographic missions from Annette Island, Alaska, and during the next summer, carried out important assignments at Hong Kong, when she served as communications base for diplomatic officials, and maintained a seadrome for the evacuation of Americans from Communist-threatened Canton.

Korean War period

Annually from 1950 through 1959, she had tours of duty in the Far East, serving as seaplane tender at Iwakuni, Japan, during the Korean War, and often as station ship at Hong Kong. With these cruises she alternated U.S. West Coast duty which took her from Mexico to Alaska.

Decommissioning

On 26 February 1960 she was placed out of commission in reserve at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.

Military awards and honors

"Floyds Bay" received one battle star for World War II service and one for Korean War service.

References

See also

* List of United States Navy ships
* World War II

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/#Anchor-Editoria-14954 Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]
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