PORTS OF CALL
1952 AND 1953

 

Andy "Frenchy" Milette reports that the Des Moines arrived in Norfolk on February 6, 1952

from the Med and left on March 17th for a three week operation in the Caribbean.  Arrived back

 in Norfolk in early April 1952.

Dick Belongea reports that the Des Moines crossed the Arctic Circle on September 16, 1952

and September 23, 1953.In 1953 and 1954 the Mediterranean Cruise included Athens, Greece;

Cagliari, Sardinia; Beirut, Lebanon; Suda Bay, Crete; Corfu, Greece; Naples, Italy; French

 Rivera; Barcelona, Spain; Lisbon, Portugal.  Home port was Villa France.

Carl G. Weberlein reports that according to the 1953 cruise book the Des Moines visited ports

 at Lisbon, Portugal; Barcelona, Spain; Naples, Italy; Leghorn (leaning tower of Pisa), Italy;

Sardinia, Sicily; Beirut, Lebanon; Istanbul, Turkey; Athens (side trip to Corfu, a resort island),

Greece; and Villefranche, France (home port for the flag).

Carl also reports that, according to his research, in 1952 the Des Moines sailed more miles than

any other ship in the Navy.