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Photo #  NH 97755:  USS Greenwich Bay holds swim call off Capri, Italy, 1961.

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Greenwich Bay (AVP-41) --
Mediterranean Transit, 1961

In mid-1961, USS Greenwich Bay transited the Mediterranean Sea while en route to the Persian Gulf to become flagship of Commander Middle East Force. Four decades later, our "backlog"of unprocessed curator materials discharged a page of five photographs taken during that voyage. The text that accompanied these views reads:

Always Visiting Port

AVP really stands for Small Seaplane Tender, but in the case of USS Greenwich Bay (AVP-41), commanded by Capt. E.P. Aurand, traveling and visiting ports seems to be her specialty. Enroute to the Persian Gulf to serve as flagship for Rear Admiral E.B. Grantham, Commander Middle East Force, the "Green Witch" made frequent stops in the Mediterranean, as these pictures illustrate.

From her home away from home in the Persian Gulf, Bahrein Island, the Greenwich Bay carries the flag to neighboring Sheikdoms and islands in and around Iran, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Now, however, the crew is looking forward to their forthcoming good-will cruise to such countries as Pakistan, India, Ceylon and Ethopia to name but a few. "Join the Navy and See the World" has proved to be more than just a slogan to the men of the USS Greenwich Bay.

This page features all the views we have relating to USS Greenwich Bay's transit through the Mediterranean Sea in 1961, while en route to the Persian Gulf.

For additional views relating to USS Greenwich Bay, see:

  • USS Greenwich Bay (AVP-41).


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: NH 97755

    USS Greenwich Bay (AVP-41)


    At Barcelona, Spain, in late May or early June 1961.
    Barcelona was the first of a series of Mediterranean ports that the ship visited in mid-1961 before transiting the Suez Canal and becoming flagship of Commander Middle East Force.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 104KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97756

    Valberg, France


    Sailors from USS Greenwich Bay (AVP-41) at Valberg in the French Alps in mid-1961.
    During a port call at Cannes, France, liberty parties visited the Alps and stopped at this restaurant for lunch. The hotel on the left is the Relais de Valberg.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 114KB; 740 x 600 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97757

    Rome, Italy


    Personnel from USS Greenwich Bay (AVP-41) viewing the Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy, in mid-1961.
    Liberty parties from the "Green Witch" visited Rome during a port call at Civitavecchia, Italy.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 138KB; 740 x 600 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97758

    USS Greenwich Bay (AVP-41)


    Holding swim call while at anchor off Capri, Italy, in mid-1961.
    The ship had just made a short port call at Naples. The use of a boat boom and a cargo net was standard practice for recreational swimming from such Navy ships.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 126KB; 740 x 590 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97759

    Jordan River


    Visited by a liberty party from USS Greenwich Bay (AVP-41) in mid-1961.
    During a port call at Beirut, Lebanon, members of the ship's crew traveled to Jerusalem and the Holy Land and saw the River Jordan.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 94KB; 740 x 600 pixels

     

    For additional views relating to USS Greenwich Bay, see:

  • USS Greenwich Bay (AVP-41).


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


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    Page made 30 November 2001