USS Currituck ( AV - 7 ) USS " Currituck " ( AV - 7 ) was the first of four " Currituck " class seaplane tender s , and was nicknamed the " Wild Goose " . She was built during World War II and served during the Cold War . The second US ship to be named for the Currituck Sound , the " Currituck " ( AV - 7 ) , was launched 11 September 1943 by Philadelphia Navy Yard ; sponsored by Mrs . M . F . Draemel ; and commissioned 26 June 1944 , Captain W . A . Evans in command . World War II Service . " Currituck " put to sea from Philadelphia on 31 August 1944 bound for duty with the Pacific Fleet . At Balboa , Panama , she embarked passengers for transportation to Manus , then continued on to Mios Woendi to unload cargo . She carried men and airplane spare parts and supplies for from Manus to Morotai , then returned to Mios Woendi briefly before arriving in San Pedro Bay , Leyte , 6 November to begin tending seaplanes flying missions in the Leyte operations . " Currituck " sailed from Leyte on 6 January 1945 for the initial landings at Lingayen Gulf , Luzon , three days later , and remained there , at Cabalitan Bay , and at Mindoro tending seaplanes and directing seaplane search operations . She returned to Leyte 5 February , then sailed for Manila on 3 March . Upon her arrival three days later she sent boarding parties to inspect abandoned Japanese vessels in the harbor . Her tender duties at this port included maintenance of the 76th Wing of the Royal Australian Air Force from 27 April to 6 May . Departing Manila 10 June 1945 " Currituck " maintained a base for seaplanes conducting night searches from Lingayen Gulf between 11 June and 20 August , then returned to Manila 24 August . She sailed for Okinawa on 30 August . " Currituck " remained in the Far East in support of the reoccupation of the Chinese mainland , tending seaplanes at Jinsen ( Inchon ) , Korea , and Shanghai , Tsingtao , and Taku , China , returning to Okinawa 28 October . She got underway for the United States on 9 December and arrived at San Francisco 30 December . Post World War II 1940s service . In 1946 , the " Currituck " and the USS " Pine Island " served in the Antarctic expedition Operation Highjump . After operations from this port and San Diego , she sailed 2 December 1946 , touched at the Marquesas Islands and visited Sydney , Australia , from 13 to 20 March 1947 . She returned by way of the Panama Canal to Norfolk , Va . , arriving 18 April . " Currituck " was placed out of commission in reserve 7 August 1947 , berthed at Philadelphia . 1950s . Recommissioned 1 August 1951 , " Currituck " got underway 17 December for Norfolk . From this port she operated locally and in the Caribbean , primarily on training duty . She departed Norfolk 23 August 1952 for a cruise which included visits to Thoneim , Norway , and Leith , Scotland , returning to her home port 17 October . After local operations and a brief voyage to Bermuda , she sailed again from Norfolk 24 August 1953 , passing through the Panama Canal for operations around the Galápagos Islands , and returning to Norfolk 25 September . On 6 July 1954 she cleared for a European cruise , calling at Milford Haven , Wales , continuing to Taranto , Italy , and touching again at Milford Haven and Portsmouth before returning to Norfolk 18 September . Between 26 August and 13 December 1956 " Currituck " served with the US 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean , returning to training cruises to the Caribbean and local operations at Norfolk until 9 January 1958 when she entered the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard . 1960 – 1964 . USS " Currituck " was re - commissioned on 20 August 1960 , with Captain Cecil A . Bolam , USN , as Commanding Officer , and Commander G . L . Bliss , USN as Executive Officer , and following a shakedown and training cruise along the East Coast and Caribbean , steamed through the Panama Canal to her new home port of San Diego , California , arriving on 3 December 1960 . In early June 1961 Captain Cecil A . Bolam , USN was replaced , as Commanding Officer , by Captain Waller Clarke Moor , USN . On a pre - deployment exercise USS " Currituck " operated with VP - 42 , attached to NAS North Island , for two days at a seadrome established at White Cove , Santa Catalina Island , California . VP - 42 was operating nine P5M ’ s . USS " Currituck " deployed to the Western Pacific on 27 June 1961 on her first tour where she served as Flagship for Commander , Taiwan Patrol Force , Rear Admiral Bernard M . Strean , USN . This force , comprising both air and surface patrol , provided surveillance patrols along the coast lines of Soviet Siberia , North Korea , North Vietnam and the Communist held China Mainland . Captain Robert Wilks Windsor , Jr . , USN . In a warm - up cruise , prior to her next West - Pac deployment , USS " Currituck " made an Alaskan voyage that spanned the Aleutian Islands , operating with VP - 47 equipped with P5M Marlin seaplanes . USS " Currituck " , on this operation , provided the rare opportunity to visit the port of Anchorage , Alaska , and became the largest ship ever to visit that port . Fifty hours at a buoy were logged by VP - 47 Commanding Officer Commander Dow and his crew . They and a storm arrived at Cold Bay at the same time . Transfer to " Currituck " by small boat was impossible . Prior to deployment the crew of USS " Currituck " said good bye to Chief Aviation Machinist Mate Otto Keller . Chief Keller was at the time the senior Chief in the US Navy , having joined the Navy in 1908 . The Secretary of the Navy participated in Chief Keller ' s retirement ceremony . Captain O . B . Gray , USN reported on board as Executive office in August 1962 . USS " Currituck " began her second West - Pac tour on 26 October 1962 . The ship arrived in Yokosuka , Japan on 11 November 1962 when she again took on Commander , Taiwan Patrol Force , Rear Admiral Bernard M . Strean . She sailed for Buckner Bay , Okinawa on 17 November 1962 . After two days at sea lookouts sighted the Japanese fishing vessel Seiyu Maru which had been damaged in a typhoon , and without power . USS " Currituck " took her in tow and passed food and clothing to her crew . After a night of careful watch she was transferred to a Japanese rescue vessel and USS " Currituck " steamed on to Okinawa , where she arrived on 20 November 1962 at her new “ Home Port ” of White Beach . On 1 December 1962 the Flag changed command . Rear Admiral Robert Anthony Macpherson , USN took Command as Commander , Patrol Force Seventh Fleet - Commander , Fleet Air Wing One - Commander , Taiwan Patrol Force - Commander , Task Force 72 . 5 . USS " Currituck " remained at White Beach until 3 December 1962 , when she departed for Cebu , Philippines . USS " Currituck " arrived in Cebu , Philippines on 6 December 1962 where , after intensive day and night seaplane operations with VP - 40 from Sangley Point ( Naval Air Station ) , Cavite City , Philippines , she departed on 10 December 1962 for Manila Bay . USS " Currituck " dropped anchor off Sangley Point on 12 December 1962 and remained until 15 December 1962 . On 18 December 1962 USS " Currituck " arrived back in Buckner Bay , Okinawa where she tied up to pier " Bravo " at White Beach . The Surrey Singers from Oklahoma City University entertained on board . A few members of the crew were lucky enough to see Bob Hope and his Troupe entertain at the US Army ' s Stillwell Field House on 23 December 1962 . The crew had a Christmas party for Okinawan children , but it appeared that the sailors may have had the most fun . Both Protestant and Catholic Christmas services were held on Board . USS Currituck ' s Chaplain , Lieutenant W . A . Stewart , USN conducted the Protestant services . USS " Currituck " departed on 7 January 1963 for Manila . Arriving in Manila Bay , Philippines on 10 January 1963 , for a seven - day stay . One of the highlights of this visit was the tour of the Isle of Corregidor , with the Barracks as a grim reminder of the event that occurred here during World War II . USS " Currituck " departed Manila Bay on 16 January 1963 bound for Buckner Bay . USS " Currituck " arrived in Buckner Bay , Okinawa on 19 January 1963 where she remained until 11 February 1963 . This stay saw two change of commands . Captain Windsor was replaced by Captain Gray , and then Captain Gray was replaced by Captain Paul J . Knapp , USN with Captain Gray returning to his previously held position as Executive Officer . En route to Hong Kong , USS " Currituck " stopped off at Koshsiung , Taiwan on 13 February 1963 where the visit was highlighted by the Seven Seas from Tsoying Naval Base who entertained the crew with a variety show . Than at sea again on 15 February 1963 and arriving in Hong Kong on 16 February 1963 . Mary Soo ’ s girls took on the job of painting some of the ship while the crew set about seeing the Tiger Balm Gardens , Sanpan Village at Aberdeen , and a seven - course Chinese dinner at the Tai Pak . On 22 February 1963 USS " Currituck " sailed , once again , for White Beach . 25 February 1963 saw USS " Currituck " back at Pier " Bravo " , White Beach , Okinawa . On the morning of 9 March 1963 the crew awoke to see one of the seaplanes with its starboard wing and engine completely under water . The V - Divisions set about the rescue work , loaded the plane on board , and on 10 March 1963 steamed for Kobe , Japan . USS " Currituck " arrived in Kobe , Japan on 12 March 1963 , offloaded the damaged plane and got under way the same day , to pick up another downed plane of VP - 50 in Ominato , Japan . USS " Currituck " arrived in snow - covered Ominato , Japan on 16 March 1963 , found the plane and some cold aviators , and another hoisting . With the plane and crew safely on board USS " Currituck " departed the same day . After a transit of the Shimonoseki Straits USS " Currituck " arrived in Iwakuni , Japan on 19 March 1963 . While in Iwakuni the crew visited neighboring Hiroshima where they visited the Castle and Ground zero , the spot where the first Atomic Bomb hit Japan . Underway on 23 March 1963 USS " Currituck " arrived at Yokosuka , Japan on 25 March 1963 . On 1 April 1963 the USS PINE ISLAND ( AV - 12 ) arrived , and the flag was transferred . On 2 April 1963 USS " Currituck " departed West - Pac for her home port of San Diego , California , arriving on 19 April 1963 . June 1963 saw USS " Currituck " operating from a seadrone at White Cove , Santa Catalina Island , California for one week of day and night seaplane operations with VP - 48 . In July 1963 Commander Brown , USN assumed duties of Executive Officer . On 20 January 1964 Captain John W . Crowe , USN assumed command of USS " Currituck " . USS " Currituck " began her third West - Pac tour departing San Diego on 26 January 1964 . After 23 days of steaming she arrived in Naha , Okinawa on 18 February 1964 . Operating in Lingayen Gulf in exercise " Minute Hand " , the location of her seadrone in January 1945 , some twenty year ’ s prior , this time servicing VP - 48 . Returning to Manila she participated in exercise " LIGTAS " , a seven nation , seventy - five ship Task Force with massive amphibious / airborne exercises , during which USS " Currituck " served as Command Information Center . Next was a visit to Saigon , South Vietnam , wherein she had to navigate up the Saigon River through hostile territory . Arriving off Saigon , she negotiated a 180 degree turn by making a planned maneuver of running her bow aground on the river bank and swinging her stern upstream until she had reversed herself . Following her assigned duties in West - Pac USS " Currituck " returned to her home port of San Diego , California . 1965 - 1971 and fate . USS " Currituck " deployed for a subsequent West - Pac cruise on 23 April 1965 to become Flagship Patrol Force Seventh Fleet . After visits to Koh Samui and Bangkok , Thailand she established a seadrome off of Con Son , Poulo Condores Islands , Republic of Viet Nam on 29 May 1965 and began servicing aircraft of VP - 40 . During this period USS " Currituck " established a number of firsts . On 22 June 1965 , USS " Currituck " became the first ship of her class to deliver shore bombardment against enemy positions in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam . She also established a record sixty - seven days on continuous seaplane operations in Cam Rahn Bay , South Viet - Nam , an advanced - base area . Upon leaving Vietnam , she visited Hong Kong , British Crown Colony ; Keelung and Kaohsiung , Taiwan ; Yokosuka , Sasebo and Kobe , Japan ; Subic Bay , Zambales , Philippines . When not at Buckner Bay operating with VP - 50 . The ship commanded by Captain Martin G . O ’ Neill , USN and Commander Keith E . Bailey , USN served as Executive Officer . USS " Currituck " returned to San Diego on 1 December 1965 and on 13 January 1966 departed for a two week training cruise with stops at Magdelina Bay and La Paz , Mexico , returning to San Diego on 27 January . Captain Wayne G . Hammett took command of the USS " Currituck " on 11 February 1966 . Commander William W . McCue had reported as Executive Officer in December 1965 . She also Flew the Flag at the Maritime Festival , Vancouver , British Columbia , Canada . Seadrome operations were also conducted in the vicinity of Santa Catalina Island , California on several occasions . USS " Currituck " ’ s final deployment to West - Pac reduced her six month homeport stay four months and she left for operations from a seadrome at her anchorage in Cam Rahn Bay , South Vietnam where she serviced the P5M ’ s ( SP5 ' s ) of VP - 40 during Operation Market Time . Operating from USS " Currituck " , VP - 40 participated in the last seaplane tender operations conducted by the U . S . Navy and closed this phase of U . S . Naval Aviation History after operating there from 19 March to 12 April 1967 . VP - 40 logged a total of 860 flight hours , utilizing but seven aircraft from USS " Currituck " , which maintained an availability of 94 . 38 % . While operating with the Mobil Riverine Force in Vietnam USS " Currituck " ’ s call sign was " Flying Goose " On 23 May 1967 , USS " Currituck " returned to her home port of San Diego , California and in so doing brought down the curtain on one of the more colorful facets of Naval Aviation operations . She was the last active seaplane tender in the U . S . Navy . After twenty - one days back in her home port in late June 1967 , USS " Currituck " steamed to Seal Beach , California for weapons offload , then to Mare Island at Vallejo , California for decommissioning . She was later towed to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard , Bremerton , Washington . There she joined her remaining class members , and West - Pac sisters ; USS " Pine Island " ( AV - 12 ) and USS " Salisbury Sound " ( AV - 13 ) already in the same status . She was decommissioned for the last time on 31 October 1967 and laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet in Vallejo , CA . She was struck from the Naval Register on 1 April 1971 for disposal , and from the Naval Records on 1 January 1972 . She was sold to Union Minerals , and dismantled at Learner Shipyard , Oakland , California in June 1972 . Today one of USS " Currituck " ’ s propellers can be seen as the basis of the ' Passing on the Tradition ' memorial located on the Louis Memorial Boardwalk in Bremerton WA .