Schooner Virginia launched! The Pilot Schooner Virginia Project is a program of The Virginia Maritime Heritage Fdn. On 8 December, the schooner was launched in Norfolk, VA. The replica of the historic 118-foot pilot PHOTO BY DONALD MAYNARD schooner Virginia will be a living symbol of the state's maritime history and will be used to promote educational and economic programs for the Commonwealth. This "Class B" tall ship was the last sailing pilot schooner in use on the Chesapeake Bay and served the Virginia Pilot Association from 191 7 until 1926 as a station vessel off the Virginia Capes. Interior construction and her rig and sails expect to Schooner Virginia makes her first contact with be completed by summer the water, 0942 hrs, 8 December 2004. 2005. (Schooner Virginia, Virginia Maritime Heritage Fdn., 5000 World Trade Center, Norfolk, VA 23510; 757 627-7400; e-mail:info@schoonervirginia.org;www.schoonervirginia.org) . The ship has no history associated with Milwaukee or Wisconsin. USS Des Moines (CA-134) is 716 feet long and draws 22 feet. Launched on 27 September 1946 by Bethlehem Sreel Co., Fore River, Quincy,
MA, she was commissioned on 16 November 1948, Captain A. D. Chandler in command. "In a varied operating schedule designed to maintain rhe readiness of the Navy to meet rhe consranr demands of defense and foreign policy, Des Moines cruised from her home port at Newport, and after 1950, from Norfolk, on exercises of every rype in rhe Caribbean , along rhe east coast, in the Mediterranean, and in North Atlantic waters. Between 1949 and 1957 she deployed to rhe Mediterranean,
SEA HISTORY 11 0, SPRING 2005
during rhe first 7 years serving as fl agship for the 6th Task Fleet (known as rhe 6rh Fleer from 1950) . In 1952, and from 1954 to 1957, she carried midshipmen for summer training cruises, crossing to Northern European ports. She also sailed to Northern Europe on NATO exercises in the 1950s. In February 1958, she cleared Norfolk for the Mediterranean, this rime to remain as flagship for rhe 6rh Fleet until Ju ly 1961 when she was placed our of commission in reserve. Through her Mediterranean services Des Moines contributed sign ifican tly to rhe success of rhe 6th Fleer in represenringAmerican power and interests in rhe countries of Southern Europe, Northern Africa, and rhe Near East."(Dictionary ofNaval Fighting Ships). Th e Navy wi ll scrap the vessel if no one rakes ownership of it. The debate brings to the fore the delicate subject of WHIC H historic ships warrant saving, in light of rhe realiry char we can't save them all. Des Moines was rejected by the citizens of Duluth in a public referendum in 1998 . (USS Des Moines Historic Naval Ship Project, Inc., POB 144, Greendale, WI 53 129; www.ussdes..t ..t..t moines.org) .
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