The Voyage Home

   USS General William F. Hase (AP-146)

This is the ship my Dad sailed on for his return trip to the United States. She arrived Calcutta, India, 14 June 1945,
embarked 2,500 homebound soldiers, then sailed 21 June 1945 for the United States via Ceylon and the Suez Canal,
arriving Pier 8 at Norfolk 20 July 1945. More about USS General William F. Hase.

   Counting the days...  
  
         A USS Hase crew member's account of Dad's 30-day Voyage Home in 1945

               21 June - Left Calcutta India and started down the Hooghly River to the Bay of Bengal
               23 June - Finally hit the open sea of the Bay of Bengal
               25 June - Arrived in Trincomalee Ceylon (now Sri Lanka)
               26 June - Left Trincomalee, Ceylon, homeward bound
                 2 July  - Entered the Gulf of Aden
                 3 July  - Passed from the Gulf of Aden into the Red Sea
                 6 July  - Arrived in Suez, Egypt. Anchored. Received mail. Then entered the Suez Canal
                 7 July  - Arrived in Port Said at the end of the Canal
                 8 July  - Left Port Said (entered the Mediterranean)
                 9 July  - Passed Sicily
               10 July  - Coast of Algiers in sight off port side all day
               12 July  - Passed Rock of Gilbraltar (into the Atlantic Ocean)
               20 July  - Arrived in Newport News Virginia
  
           Although it is nice to read now, this crew member was breaking an important rule.
           Keeping diaries or journals was forbidden because of the chances of one falling into
           enemy hands and endangering this or future sailings. The rule may have been relaxed
           at this point since this trip took place after V-E Day, 8 May 1945.
  

  

  
Approximate route Dad traveled aboard USS Hase from Calcutta, India to Newport News, Virginia   
  
  
 

Another view of the USS Hase. Unlike Monticello, this ship was built in 1944 specifically as a Troop Transport and
served through the Korean War. The Navy designation "AP" stands for Auxiliary Passenger, or Troop Transport.   



 

Another view of the USS Hase returning more CBI Veterans home in 1946.




  
  
So you don't get lost on the ship.

  
  
Cover of the program from the show aboard USS Hase.

  

  
Not quite Bob Hope.

 Hampton Roads Port of Embarkation

Ships at the Hampton Roads (Norfolk, Virginia) Port of Embarkation.
The Hase and Dad arrived here July 20, 1945.



  
Trains carried returning soldiers to Camp Patrick Henry then it was on to Camp Lee for separation.




 Around The World

The journey home completed Dad's circumnavigation of the world!   
  
 
 

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