USS Greenwich Bay ( AVP - 41 ) USS " Greenwich Bay " ( AVP - 41 ) , was a United States Navy " Barnegat " - class small seaplane tender in commission from 1945 to 1966 . Construction and commissioning . " Greenwich Bay " was laid down on 18 July 1944 at Lake Washington Shipyard , Houghton , Washington . She was launched on 17 March 1945 , sponsored by Mrs . Francis B . Johnson , wife of the Commander of Fleet Air Wing 6 ( FAW - 6 ) , and commissioned on 20 May 1945 with Commander Peter F . Boyle in command . Post - World War II occupation duty 1945 - 1946 . " Greenwich Bay " had not yet left the United States West Coast when World War II ended with the cessation of hostilities with Japan on 15 August 1945 . Departing San Diego , California , on 26 August 1945 , she called at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii , Midway Atoll , and Okinawa before aqrriving at Taku , China , on 5 October 1945 . " Greenwich Bay " spent the rest of 1945 along the China coast , touching at Tsingtao and Shanghai as well as Taku , tending seaplane s of the United States Seventh Fleet . She operated in Japanese waters during January 1946 , and after a short stint in the Philippine Islands , departed for the United States on 1 May 1946 . Calling at Hong Kong ; Singapore ; Naples , Italy ; Casablanca , French Morocco ; and Gibraltar during the voyage , she arrived at Norfolk , Virginia on 1 July 1946 . She then moved to New York City for overhaul . Escort duty for the Presidential Yacht 1947 - 1948 . " Greenwich Bay " reported to the Potomac River Naval Command on 19 February 1947 to serve as escort to USS " Williamsburg " ( AGC - 369 ) , ex - PG - 56 , the Presidential yacht . This assignment ended on 21 June 1948 . Around - the - world cruise 1948 . " Greenwich Bay " departed Norfolk on 21 June 1948 for an around - the - world cruise . During The four - month voyage , she made good - will visits to Gibraltar ; Port Said , Egypt ; Muscat ; Bahrain , Kuwait , Trincomalee , Ceylon ; Fremantle , Australia ; Pago Pago , American Samoa ; Papeete , Tahiti ; and Coco Solo , Panama Canal Zone , before returning to Norfolk on 14 October 1948 . Middle East service 1949 - 1966 . " Greenwich Bay " departed Norfolk on 30 April 1949 to assume duties as flagship for the Commander of the U . S . Navy Middle East Force . Every year thereafter she repeated this duty , sailing through the Mediterranean to operate as flagship in the Red Sea , Persian Gulf , and Indian Ocean for 4 to 6 months . In total " Greenwich Bay " made fifteen Mediterranean deployments . During most of this period , she performed these duties in rotation with two other " Barnegat " - class ships , USS and USS . These three ships were dubbed the " little white fleet " , in reference to the white paint jobs they shared to counter the region ' s extreme heat . Ports which " Greenwich Bay " visited as part of her official duties as flagship included Recife , Brazil ; Lisbon , Portugal ; and virtually every major Mediterranean , Persian Gulf , Indian Ocean , and Red Sea city as well as several African ones . Among them were Malta ; Bombay and Madras , India ; Istanbul , Turkey ; Athens , Greece ; Beirut , Lebanon ; Mombassa , Kenya ; Cannes , France ; and Karachi , Pakistan . In addition to operating with foreign naval units in the Mediterranean , Red Sea , Persian Gulf , and Indian Ocean , " Greenwich Bay " performed extensive work in the People - to - People program , particularly in carrying drugs and other medical supplies to Arab and African nations , and operated as an important tool of diplomacy in the region . In her Middle East duties , which were punctuated by local operations and exercises out of Norfolk , " Greenwich Bay " was visited by many dignitaries , including King Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia , the Shah of Iran , Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia , and the Shaikh of Kuwait . In 1950 " Greenwich Bay " s crew distinguished itself in Bahrain , as Air France planes crashed there on 13 June 1950 and 15 June 1950 while attempting to make early - morning landings on a fog - shrouded airfield . " Greenwich Bay " sent out a total of six search - and - rescue missions on those two days . On 15 June 1950 one of her launches , containing both her captain and medical officer , succeeded in rescuing nine survivors of the crash . For her heroic actions , " Greenwich Bay " received the special commendation and thanks of both the Arabian and French governments . When the Suez Crisis flared up in 1956 , " Greenwich Bay " extended her normal cruise in the Persian Gulf to be able to evacuate American dependents and civilians if necessary . As a result of the blocking of the Suez Canal , she had to return to the United States around the Cape of Good Hope . Decommissioning and disposal . After completing her fifteenth Middle East deployment , " Greenwich Bay " was decommissioned in June 1966 and stricken from the Navy List on 1 July 1966 . She was sold for scrapping on 21 June 1967 to Boston Metals Company of Baltimore , Maryland .