A Commemoration of the SOth Anniversary of the Normandy Landings, June 1944 We are delighted to announce the publication of this important new Stobart limited edition print honoring the venerable Liberty Ship and the valiant men who made her a legend. A proud and shining star in the annals of America's maritime heritage, 2,710 were built in four years, a feat which contributed to the rescue of occupied Europe. This view shows the John W Brown, now a museum ship in Baltimore, carrying out her perilous mission, as the USS Barry, a WWI "Four Piper'' flying the signal "U-boat contacted," lays down a smoke screen.
Edition of750 prints (35 remarqued). Image size 19" x 31", $400.00 per copy plus $15 S & H. For details call
1 800 989-3513
or write
Town House #23, Union Wharf Boston MA 02109
Convoy
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departing New York on Thursday, 5 May , will be Dick Scheuing, a mate aboard the William Pendleton when she made numerous trips to Normandy in 1944. Among the many veterans following the voyage closely from back home will be Tom Hale, who vividly recalls the grey cresting waves of the Atlantic he saw from the deck of a Liberty as a young soldier returning from Europe. There is another reason the "Last Convoy" must go through. That 's because it is wanted-and expected. The British and the French have not forgotten the contributions of the Libertys. Marci Hooper, who runs the office forthe Jeremiah O'Brien, reports an outpouring of goodwill from British veteran organizations eager to provide help to the vessels in South England. "And in France, when we said 'Liberty ship' their eyes lit up. In Rouen, the port people are providing us free dockage, free fuel , pilots, tugboat, water and an office ashore!" Jim Ean, while soliciting funds for the Brown some ten years ago, came to understand this interest: "One of the most moving experiences was being approached by a grand lady, a British war bride, who in30
The "John W. Brown" in Convoy off the East Coast, April 13, 1944 IB3 y
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sisted I take her check for $500 ' on behalf to make port visits in France and Britain of the many British who are beholden to and will meet again off the south coast of the Liberty ships-without them, we prob- England for the return trip. ably wouldn ' t have partaken of our mea"For our 50-year-old ships and our ger food supply."' largely 65- to 70-year-old crews, it promFinancing for the trip is not complete, ises to be quite an adventure," says Hope. however. A bill introduced by Congress- "The last eastbound convoy from New woman Helen Delich Bentley was en- York turns out to have sailed right after acted in December 1993 to provide VE Day in May 1945. It was designated $750,000 to each of the convoy vessels HX-355. I guess that makes us HX-356!" from the sale of six scrap ships. But more is needed. The voyage is estimated to cost To get information on the vessels'itinereach ship about $2 million. Though money aries, or to give support for the commemorative activities, contact the fo llowing: is short, it isn 't stopping anybody. "We 're going to sail," says Admiral SS Jeremiah O 'Brien: National Liberty Ship Patterson. "Weoweittothecrew. They 've Memorial, Landmark Building A, Fort Maput their lives into fixing up this ship for son Center, SanFranciscoCA 94123-1382; the voyage." So the timetable is in place. 415 441-3101 The current plan is for the Brown and SS Lane Victory: US Merchant Marine the Lane to meet in New York and steam Veterans WWII, PO Box629, San Pedro CA 90733; 310 519-9545 out together, rendezvousing with the SS John W. Brown: Project Liberty Ship, O'Brien in the Atlantic near Bermuda for PO Box 25846, H ighlandtown Station, Balthe trans-Atlantic crossing. Then all three timore MD 21224-0846; 410 661-1550. vessels will steam across the channel from Portsmouth on 5 June in company with a Note: As we go to press it has been fifteen-ship US Navy Battle Group, cen- learned that the John W. Brown will not tered on the carrier George Washington. be making the trans-Atlantic journey, due The John W. Brown's Brian Hope won- to dockyard problems. She will now visit ders if they realize Libertys can only various East Coast ports and will be in make 10 knots in a following breeze! The No1folk, Virg inia for the D-Day observathree ships will separate after Normandy tions on 6 June. SEA HISTORY 69, SPRING 1994