Pocomoke III AV-9

Pocomoke III

(AV-9: dp. 8,950,1. 492' b. 69'6"; dr. 21'2"; B. 17 k., cpl. 689;
a. 1 5" 4 3"; cl. Pocomoke)

Pocomoke (AV-9), a seaplane tender, was laid down as S.S. E~che~ouer 14 August 1939 by Ingalls Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Paseagoula, MiEs., for the Maritime Commission; launched 8 June 1940; sponsored by Mrs. Max

O. Truitt, acquired by the Navy 16 October 1940, and following conversion commissioned 18 July 1941, Comdr. L. T. Hundt in command.

When the United States entered World War II in December 1941, Pocomoke waB attached to Task Group 4.3 of the Support Force, Atlantic Fleet, stationed at Argentia, Newfoundland. She tended two patrol planes which scouted waters approaching the harbor searching for U-boats which threatened convoys carrying desperately needed war material to England. On 9 January 1942 she departed Argentia enroute to Norfolk, Va., where she entered the yard for alterations.

Following training and exercises she departed Boston 21 May for Argentia to aet as flagship for Commander, Task Force 24, and tender for Commander, Patrol Wing 7. Returning to Boston 15 August, she proceeded via Norfolk to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. She discharged cargo there and at Trinidad, and steamed back to Norfolk 8 October. On 30 October Pocomoke got underway, transited the Panama Canal, and proceeded via Seymour Bay, Galapagos Islands, to San Diego, Calif., 27 November. Then steaming to San Francisco, she sailed 2 December for Pearl Harbor where she discharged spare parts and supplies.

After returning to the West Coast for additional supplies, Pocomoke sailed to Pearl Harbor 4 January 1943, then, escorted by Breeee (DM-18), proceeded to the Fiji Islands where she unloaded cargo. Following her return to the United States via Christmas Island and Pearl Harbor, she carried supplies and spare parts to Oahu 23 February to 11 March and returned to San Francisco for repairs at Oakland, Calif., until 6 May.

The next day she weighed anchor for Hawaii where she took on supplies and equipment at Pearl Harbor, and pushed on to Noumea, New Caledonia. On 6 June she embarked men of Patrol Bombing Squadrons 15 and 23 at Espiritu Santo and provided vital tender services in the area until sailing for Pearl Harbor 18 September. There she loaded cargo for Fleet Air Photograph Squadron 3 and sailed 1 October for Canton Island. She returned to San Diego 21 October. One week later she steamed with cargo and passengers for Pearl Harbor and continued on to Palmyra Island, Tutuila, Efate Island, and Espiritu Santo, off-loading much needed parts and supplies at these points before returning to Alameda, Calif. 14 December.

Pocomoke continued her vital services, taking on Marine Night Fighter Squadron 532 with planes, rolling stock and equipment and sailed via Pearl Harbor to Funafuti Atoll anchoring there 11 January 1944. With Tisdale (DE-33) she steamed for Tarawa and returned to Hawaii 25 January. Another brief return to the West Coast was followed by a stopover at Pearl Harbor to take on troops and amm~mition destined for Espiritu Santo. Shuttling cargo and fighting men between Espiritu Santo and Guadalcanal consumed Pocomoke's efforts until she esiled 4 April among the islands of the Solomons group, dispensing needed services, and back to Espiritu Santo. She tended sea planes at Kwajalein and Eniwetok before anchoring off Saipan 15 Jlme to begin operations for Patrol Squadron 16 which were continued until 12 September. She departed for KOBSOI Passage, Palau Islands where she continued her repair and supply functions until 23 November. She finally sailed via Ulithl, Eniwetok, and Pearl Harbor for San Francisco, arriving 15 December.

Late January 1945, saw Pocomoke again underway for Pearl Harbor and Manus Island to report for duty with Commander, Air Force, 7th Fleet 18 February. She returned to the task of ferrying supplies and passengers, getting underway for San Pedro Bay, Leyte Gulf, and Samar Island. She then tenned sea planes at Palawan Island and Tawitawi Island, for the duration of the active fighting war in the Pacific.

On 28 August 1945 administrative command changed to Commander Philippine Sea Frontier, and 9 September Pocomoke set course for Sangley Point, Manila Bay. From 11 September 1945 through 1 February 1946, she steamed among the various islands in the Philippine group, dispensing her services, providing supplies, ferrying troops, and operating search patrols wherever needed.

Pocomoke returned to San Diego 28 February 1946 and transited the Panama Canal 11 March to report for duty to Commander, Air Force' Atlantic. She was ordered to Norfolk, unloaded her ammumlion and steamed into Philadelphia

where she was placed in the reserve group of the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. Poeo~noke decommissioned 10 July 1946, her name was struck from the Navy List 1 June 1961, she was ordered disposed 20 September 1961, and was sold 12 December 1961 to the Union Minerals and AIIoys Corp.

Pocomoke received two battle stars for World War II Service.