USS CATFISH / ARA SANTA FE - Yankee Station

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic

   Whilst waiting for my requested records to be brought to me when I was at the Archives two weeks ago, I reviewed what information I'd already had about CATFISH, including her Ship's History Reports from the 1960s ... and read that on many of her WESTPAC cruises, CATFISH spent a lot of time on Yankee Station off North Vietnam. 

I was wondering if that meant lifeguard duty for airstrikes going into North Vietnam, recon patrols, etc. This is another gap in my CATFISH/SANTA FE research that methinks needs filling.

Author	Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic
Jim Mandelblatt Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Rickover Joined: 15 Jan 2016 Status: Offline Points: 660	Post Options Post Reply Quote Jim Mandelblatt Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: USS CATFISH / ARA SANTA FE - Yankee Station Posted: 29 Sep 2016 at 12:50pm
	Whilst waiting for my requested records to be brought to me when I was at the Archives two weeks ago, I reviewed what information I'd already had about CATFISH, including her Ship's History Reports from the 1960s ... and read that on many of her WESTPAC cruises, CATFISH spent a lot of time on Yankee Station off North Vietnam. I was wondering if that meant lifeguard duty for airstrikes going into North Vietnam, recon patrols, etc. This is another gap in my CATFISH/SANTA FE research that methinks needs filling.
	http://ss481.com/

Gil Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Rickover Joined: 04 Jan 2016 Location: Carson, Ca. Status: Offline Points: 1857	Post Options Post Reply Quote Gil Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06 Oct 2016 at 1:50pm
	I know on my one and only Westpac we spent time on Yankee Station before leaving and returnng to Pearl. I could be wrong but I felt the biggest reason for us being there was to entice those on our boat to shipover in a no tax area. In '68 we had one guy eligible to do it for $13K - he didn't, Before and after our Westpac excursion we worked with the Australian Navy, and we worked with the Kitty Hawk, but not at Yankee Station. This was from January thru July of 1968. As we left Yankee Station we had a swim call and barbecue to celebrate the 4th of July and the end of Westpac. Also all that had bought gun at the stores in Yokosuka were allowed to fire their guns when we surfaced. Also because of the dateline we had two fourths and duplicated it back to back. The COB and our Slipper trolled with rods and reels for awhile. and the COB and the leading Seaman did some skeet shooting off our stern. I'd say we averaged buying way more than one apiece rifle or shotgun purchased in Yokosuka, Edited by Gil - 06 Oct 2016 at 1:58pm

Sewer Pipe Snipe Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List BBS Supporter Joined: 04 Jan 2016 Location: Albany, GA Status: Offline Points: 5723	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sewer Pipe Snipe Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06 Oct 2016 at 4:59pm
	Yes, but were the required background checks completed?
	Walt, Had I done everything right throughout my life, the World wouldn't have noticed.

Gil Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Rickover Joined: 04 Jan 2016 Location: Carson, Ca. Status: Offline Points: 1857	Post Options Post Reply Quote Gil Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 Oct 2016 at 3:31pm
	Nobody should have been eligible then, especially after a night of drinking and partying in Yokosuka, or Sasebo. We had a Filipino steward that was striking for EM in '68. Quitevos bought a gun that reminded me of a burp gun (wire backing). Back then a lot of guys (officers included) didn't treat the stewards well. When Quitevos opened up firing the recoil actually spun him and we thought he was going to hit the bottom portion of 524's huge sail, or us. He didn't and I think his gun was taken away. The boat had not taken any shooting practice in a long time, and for the few guys that didn't have rifles they shot the boat's 45's. Also shooters for sharks with rifles were posted on the sail during the swim calls. Edited by Gil - 07 Oct 2016 at 3:37pm