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USS Point Cruz CVE-119

The USS Point Cruz was originally named Trocadero Bay at the time of her 1944 construction, but was rechristened prior to her commissioning in 1945. She was 557 feet long and displaced almost 11,000 tons. She was propelled by two geared turbines that allowed her to reach a speed of 19 knots per hour. She carried a complement of 1,066 total sailors, 34 aircraft, and employed an armory of 2 x 5 inch (127 mm) guns and 36 x 40 mm guns.

Ready and Waiting

After her shakedown came several important tasks; the first was to oversee West Coast pilot qualifications until 1946. Her next year-long mission was to transport a variety of aircraft to bases in the Western Pacific. At this point, the Navy chose to classify Point Cruz as inactive, and thus she sailed to the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and was decommissioned in 1947. However, she was retained as a member of the Pacific Reserve Fleet and housed at Bremerton, Washington.

Called to Battle

When conflicts between North and South Korean broke out, the USS Point Cruz was recommissioned in 1951 and ordered into the war zone. But first she received modifications so that she could participate in anti-submarine warfare, and as such, was considered a Hunter-Killer Group carrier. The maiden voyage of the USS Point Cruz thus took her to Sasebo, Japan; from there she could easily patrol all along the Korean coastline, which she skillfully did until 1953. When the war was over, her squadrons of helicopters participated in the Navy's Operation Platform. This mission involved the airlift of Indian troops into the area around Panmunjom; from this buffer zone, forces could be in a position to supervise the exchange of prisoners of war.

Later Duties

Point Cruz returned to her home base of San Diego later that year for more upkeep and repairs before undertaking additional training and exercises. That finished, her next deployment came in 1954, to the Western Pacific, where she served as the command ship for the Navy's Carrier Division 17 for the rest of that year. The following summer, she again sailed out into the Pacific, this time with the 7th Fleet, and responded to a call to duty in the capacity of flagship for Carrier Division 15. In this role, she was required to maintain a powerful presence near Yokosuka until 1956, when she was placed in inactivation status at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for the second time. The USS Point Cruz was decommissioned later that same year, and was placed in Pacific Reserve Fleet's Bremerton Group. It was during this classification that it was decided to re-designate her to an aircraft transport in 1957, but she was not reactivated until eight years later. That found the Point Cruz under the Military Sea Transportation Service hierarchy. With many new responsibilities, she eagerly provided aircraft ferrying services and began managing the logistical support of American forces operating out of the southeastern sections of Asia.

Although the final fate of USS Point Cruz was originally undetermined, the USS Point Cruz Association Mission Statement is still in effect: "The USS Point Cruz Association was founded to perpetuate the camaraderie of the "Shipmates" that served aboard during all phases of her duty. She was a great ship that served her country well in both wartime and peace. Even though she is gone now, she will be remembered in the hearts and minds of all who served aboard or knew the men that did." (Information about the association can be obtained from DSTMAC@msm.com.) Like many former sailors, the crew of the Point Cruz formed a strong brotherhood during their tour of duty aboard, and attempt to keep in touch and abreast of news. Sailors who spent many months confined in small quarters, in the midst of wars, developed friendships that rarely end. Facing death on a daily basis from battle fire, collisions, and accidents can create strong bonds. The Point Cruz was fortunate that it had a lower incidence than most ships of onboard accidents, including the most terrifying one of all, fire. A fire at sea, with limited resources and escape routes, was one of the worst situations imaginable. Therefore, special considerations were given vessels when it came to fire preventions and equipment. In all likelihood, this probably included asbestos. Asbestos could easily fit into the awkward spaces of a ship, and readily wrap around the many pipes and wires generating constant heat. It was one of the best known, and best available, fire/heat/flame/electrical retardants known at the time warships were constructed. However, it posed a risk of its own, and that is in the creation of certain diseases, symptoms of which are noticeable only now. Anyone who worked aboard the USS Point Cruz may have been exposed to errant asbestos fibers that may have escaped its sealant and blown into the air system. If they were inhaled or swallowed, there is a chance they've remained in one's lungs or stomachs for the last few decades, and may be causing unusual physical symptoms.

If you were exposed to asbestos while serving on the USS Point Cruz CVE-119, or have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, Asbestos.com offers a free packet with more information. Enter your contact information in the form in the right column and we'll send a copy immediately.

Aircraft Carriers Index

USS America USS Antietam CV 36 K USS Antietam CV 36 USS Badoeng Strait CVE 116 USS Bairoko CVE 115 USS Bairoko CVE 115 USS Belleau wood CVL 24 USS Bennington CV 20 USS Bon Homme Richard CVa USS Boxer CV USS Bunker CV USS Cabot CVL 28 USS Constellation CV USS Coral Sea CV USS Corregidor CVE 58 USS Sable ix USS San jacinto CVL USS Saratoga CV USS Saratoga CV3 USS Shangri La

USS Cowpens CVL 25 USS Enterprise CV 6 USS Enterprise CVN USS Essex CV 9 USS Forrestal CV USS Franklin CV 13 USS Hancock CV 19 USS Hornet CV 12 USS Hornet CV 8 USS Independence C1 USS Independence CVL 22 USS Intrepid CV 11 USS Kearsage CV 33 USS Kearsage CV USS Kitty Hawk USS Sicily CVe USS Sitkoh bay USS Tarawa CV USS Ticonderoga CV USS Valley forge CV

USS Lake Champlain CV 39 USS Langley CV 1 USS Langley CVL 27 USS Lexington CV 16 USS Lexington CV 2 USS Leyte CV 32 USS Midway CV USS Oriskany CV USS Phillipine Sea CV USS Point cruz CVE USS Princeton CV USS Princeton CVL USS Randolph CV USS Ranger CV USS Rendova USS Wasp CV 18 USS Wasp CV 7 USS Wolverine IX 64 USS Yorktown CV 10 USS Yorktown CV 5

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