Flagship of the Pacific

 

REAR ADMIRAL CALVIN THORTON DURGIN

Admiral Calvin Thornton Durgin was born on 7 Jan 1893 in New Jersey.He died in Mar 1965 in Virgina. Title: Admiral U.S.N

For additional information regarding Rear Admiral Calvin T. Durgin, see the book titled
"THE ESCORT CARRIERS IN ACTION",the story- in pictures - of the escort carrier force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, 1945,with a supplement for the flagship U.S.S. MAKIN ISLAND. Compiled in 1945 from U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard photographs. Approved by Director of Public Information, Navy Department, Washington,D.C.***

Was one of the Great Rear Admirals of the Pacific Fleet and transported General Douglas MacArthur to the Various Islands of the Pacific Many Times.

The big gun boats under his command shelled the Islands in advance of troops arrival and ,, stood fast in the water,,, for a quick evacuation and removal of the dead and wounded***

DANFS: USS Makin Island (CVE-93) ***A coral atoll in the northern Gilberts, Makin was the scene of two landings by American troops during World War II: a diversionary raid by the 2d Marine Raider Battalion, the famous "Carlson's Raiders'< 15 to 18 August 1942; and an invasion of the atoll by the Northern Attack Force, 4th Fleet, 19 ,20, 29 November 1943. Casablanca)

Makin Island (CVE-93) was laid down 12 January 1944 by Kaiser Shipbuilding Co., Vancouver, Washington. launched 5 April1944; sponsored by Mrs. B.B. Nichol; and commissioned at Astoria, Oregon., 9 May 1944, Comdr. W.B. Whaley in command.

Following brief west coast shakedown, Makin Island departed San Diego 19 June 1944 Under Command of rear Adm. Calvin Thorton Durgin to ferry aircraft and men to Pearl Harbor, Majuro,and Kwajalein, returning to San Diego 24 July. The escort carrier then trained out of San Diego preparing for combat until 16 October, when she sailed for Ulithi, via Pearl Harbor and Eniwetok, arriving 5 November.On10 November, the ship got underway for Leyte, protecting convoys in transit to the invasion beach head. Extensive air operations were conducted but no enemy resistance was encountered. On 22 November, she sailed to Manus for the forthcoming invasion of Luzon . ..

.Flying the pennant of.. Rear Adm. Calvan T. DURGIN, Commander TG 77.4, Makin Island left Manus 27 December to rendezvous with the invasion force in Surigao Strait, Leyte. Sailing for Lingayen Gulf 3 January 1945, the carrier was subjected to fierce, almost continuous enemy air attack during the passage to the assault beaches. Though sister carrier Ommaney Bay (CVE-79) was sunk and a number of other ships damaged, Makin Island arrived unscathed 6 January. For the next 11 days she remained off the beach head flying air supportfor the amphibious operation, then sailed for Ulithi.

Douglas MacArthur goes ashore , White Beach Leyte P.I. .. Gives I shall Return Speech

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Could you find a smoother place to land, This shure is no fun at all Period !!

After heavy pounding of Admiral Durgins ships and strikes from his planes off the USS MAKIN ISLAND they go ashore.

LSM-21 beached , on Red Beach, Leyte, P.I., D-Day, 20 October 1944. The LSM in the foreground is unidentified.

I have returned

ADMIRAL DURGIN flew his flag on Makin Island, once more,... during the invasion of Iwo Jima, off which she arrived 16 February. Her planes made pre invasion strikes and, after the landings, provided aerial fire support, essential to success in the hot action ashore, until 8 March. The carrier group again came under heavy Japanese suicide attacks, but Makin Island again was not hit.

After replenishing at Ulithi, she sailed for Okinawa, again,, as flagship under command of ADMIRAL DURGIN.,,, From her arrival off Japan's last great island bastion Okinawa, 25 March,Makin Island remained on station for 67 days, flying constant fire support, supply, and reconnaissance missions for the ground forces. The ship's aircraft, from Composite Squadrons 84 and 91, flew 2,258 combat sorties, recording over 8,000 hours of flying time. Relieved1June, the carrier sailed for Guam, arriving 5 June.

ADMIRAL DURGAN flew his flag once more.... She sailed again 11July to provide air cover for ships conducting mine sweeping and raiding operations in the East China Sea and to launch air strikes against Japanese targets on the Chinese coast. On 13 August, she anchored in Buckner Bay, Okinawa, and on 9 September proceeded to Wakanoura Wan, in southern Honshu, for occupation duty. Among her missions was providing air cover for the evacuation of Allied prisoners of war. She sailed for San Francisco 18 October, arrived 5 November, then voyaged to Shanghai to return troops to the United States......

The WAR WAS OVER... ..

At Seattle, 30 December. Makin Island decommissioned 19 April 1946 at Puget Sound, was stricken from the Navy list 11 July, and sold 1January1947 for scrap............ {What a shame the japs finally got the Makin Island {TED} Makin Island received five battle stars for World War II service.

Score board and Battle Stars

Parents: Francis Durgin and Sara Boal. He was married to Myrtle W Fest in 1916. Children were: Calvin Jr Durgin..Daughter Phyllis Durgin who furnished the Navy with most of these pictures

The wave off ,, to high ,,, will miss the hook ..Give it the gas...Try again

 

OOPS sombody goofed Lets move out of the way

 

Last landing ......looking good

 

Shure gets rough out here she rolls hard in heavy sea

 

  Its still rough out here Looks like we got a convoy

 

 

I'm out of here the go signal ,,she's reved up

 

 

The last plane off the Makin ... What a shame (Ted) now troop transport  

 

Admiral Durgin Cousin of Ted L Durgan