The U.S.S. Coral Sea visited Vancouver in March of 1960. The U.S.S. Coral Sea was on its way to its new home port in Alameda California after being refitted in Bremerton Washington. It was a very popular visit. Over 100,000 people lined the shorelines to greet the 63,000 ton aircraft carrier, There were traffic jams into Stanley Park as Vancouverites tried to get the best vantage points to see the huge aircraft carrier. The most spectacular moment was when the aircraft carrier went under the Lions Gate Bridge with a few feet to spare. The crew had to take down the "Lollipop", the 11 foot section of the navigational aid at the top of the mainmast. According to newspaper articles, thousands of school children skipped school or were permitted to leave to watch the ship come into port. According to one article, one principal said those that played hookey will pay the price with detentions. There were a lot of social events organized while the ship was in port including a huge dance where over 900 local women were invited to meet the sailors. The Seaforth Highlanders paraded down towards the ship before going aboard for a social function.
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U.S.S. Coral Sea moored at the CPR docks in March 1960, Vancouver, B.C.
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U.S.S. Coral Sea moored at the CPR docks in March 1960, Vancouver, B.C.
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My father took the following video on his old movie camera of the U.S.S.
Coral Sea coming into Vancouver Port and the Seaforth Highlanders
marching to the ship. This footage shows how different Vancouver looked in 1960. The only recognizable places in the footage are the mountains, Stanley Park and the marine gas stations. Canada Place and the Trade and Convention Centre now sit where the CPR docks used to be.
The following Vancouver Sun newspaper articles were published about the arrival and visit of the U.S.S. Coral Sea.
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| Vancouver Sun Cartoon of the U.S.S. Coral Sea in Vancouver, March 1960 |
My mother talked about this event. She and a friend named Karen skipped school that day to go down to the docks to see it.
ReplyDeleteSome of my Sea Cadet friends of mine along with some of our Officers went onboard the Coral Sea and were given an informative,c0urtious tour by an sailor above and below decks including the living quarters.A squad of Marines who were part of the crew gave us a Present Arms Demonstration Drill.I am not sure if we were allowed in the hanger deck but I seem to have a recollection of the elevator platforms that took the fighter planes up to the flight deck
ReplyDeletecorrection-an 'American' sailor
ReplyDeleteThe preceding was written by Doug Wolgram now a residentof St. Catharines Ontario
DeleteWe had four black sailors for supper, and they remained friends of my parents.
ReplyDeleteHitchhiked in from Chilliwack, it was like WOW.
ReplyDelete