- USS Macon (CA-132)
USS "Macon" (CA-132), a "Baltimore"-class cruiser, was laid down
14 June 1943 by the New York Shipbuilding Corp., Camden, N.J.; launched15 October 1944 ; sponsored by Mrs. Charles F. Bowden, wife of the mayor of Macon, Ga.; and commissioned26 August 1945 at Philadelphia, Captain Edward E. Pare in command.1946 – 1950
"Macon’s" first fleet assignment was with the 8th Fleet, which she joined soon after her shakedown cruise. Sailing with the fleet for maneuvers in the
Caribbean , she departed Norfolk on19 April 1946 , returning toNew York 7 May . On4 June "Macon" arrived at Norfolk for duty as a test ship for the operational development force.Over the next 4 years the cruiser periodically received experimental equipment in the
Philadelphia Naval Shipyard , conducted tests of the new equipment while she served as an antiaircraft gunnery schoolship, and training naval reservists off the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of theUnited States . She also participated in a midshipmen summer cruise toEurope in 1948. Her experimental duties continued until12 April 1950 when she decommissioned and went into reserve at Philadelphia.1950 – 1961
With the outbreak of the Korean conflict, June 1950, "Macon" was ordered reactivated. She recommissioned at Philadelphia
16 October 1950 and, upon completion of refresher training, became the flagship of Cruiser Division 6 in the Atlantic.By the end of 1959 "Macon" had conducted six midshipmen summer cruises and had spent the fall and winter season of almost every year as a guardian of freedom and liberty with the mighty 6th Fleet. She patrolled in the eastern Mediterranean during the
Suez Crisis of 1956; took part in theInternational Naval Review celebrating the 350th Anniversary of the foundation ofJamestown, Virginia ,12 June 1957 ; and participated in theNATO exercise operation “Strikeback”, conducted in theNorth Sea andArctic Ocean in September 1957.Besides these duties, "Macon" continued to receive experimental equipment for testing throughout the period. Having also received missile equipment during January–March 1956, she launched the first
Regulus Missile from an Atlantic Fleet cruiser on8 May while anchored off theNorth Carolina coast, and then continued tests of the missile as she completed her cycle of Atlantic Fleet operations.On the night of
19 January –20 January 1959 , "Macon", steaming from Cartagena toMarseilles , diverted from her course and sped to the aid of burning Italian merchant ship "Maria Amata ". "Macon"’s crew fought the flames, but the ship was soon beyond salvage. "Macon" then carried the merchantman’s crew to Valencia,Spain .The following January, "Macon", carrying the U.S. Navy Band, departed Norfolk for a goodwill cruise to
South America n ports. While on this tour, six members of the band perished in a plane crash en route to perform at a state dinner forBrazil ian President J. Kubitscek. With Argentine Naval personnel participating, "Macon"’s crew held memorial services inBuenos Aires Harbor on28 February . Completing this cruise atRio de Janeiro on10 March , "Macon" returned toBoston to resume her cycle of operations with the Atlantic Fleet."Macon" was placed out of commission in reserve at Philadelphia on
10 March 1961 .External links
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/m1/macon.htm history.navy.mil: USS "Macon"]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/04/132/04132.htm navsource.org: USS "Macon"]
* [http://hazegray.org/danfs/cruisers/ca132.txt hazegray.org: USS "Macon"]
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