Coast Guard District narrative histories 1945

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p-1 RG26E185A District narrative histories 1945

Pages

101
Indexed

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This completed the District projects for minor aids during the war. the end of 1945 found the standardization policy of headquarters as well established and operating efficiently in the 13th Naval district.

Last edit about 7 years ago by foyl
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Standard Colors for Minor Aids

Port Starboard Black Red White White

Wooden House Ladder White Piling Unpainted

Lights ashore are to be painted in alike manner.

Port Starboard Black Black White White

Steel House Ladder-White Piling Unpainted

Port Starboard Port Starboard Black Red Black Red White White White White

Ladder - White Piling Unpainted

Battery Box Gas Light with Center Pile

Last edit over 5 years ago by EarthYake
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PERSONNEL

Prior to, and for almost a year following, the consolidation of the Lighthouse Service and the Coast Guard, the Aids to Navigation Section was administered by an Associate Mechanical Engineer with the assistance of two clerks and a stenographer. Both operational and engineering activities were combined in this section until the District was reorganized according to the Coast Guard organizational plan. Engineering duties were then delegated to a separate Engineering Section and the operation and maintenance of aids to navigation became the responsibility of the Section. The Associate Mechanical Engineer, later promoted to Nautical Scientist, administered the department until the assignment of an Aids to Navigation Officer in 1944. Until that time, however, the staff had increased to two Coast Guard Officers (R) (male) and one SPAR Officer, 3 enlisted Coast Guardsmen and 6 enlisted SPARS. in 1945, An Assistant Aids to Navigation Officer, trained especially in electronic Aids, was assigned to the Section.

Although particular duties were delegated to certain desks, an attempt was made to instruct all personnel in the overall working of the department so that in the event of transfer, leave, discharge, or illness, there was no obvious vacancy that required complete training to handle. Supervision of filing, typists, records and all clerical work was done by a SPAR Yeoman, 1st class. Field trips were made by the Associate Mechanical Engineer and the male officers to inspect aids, prepare forms 2609, for proposed projects, investigate new sites, confer with Pilots' Associations and, in conjunction with the Engineering Section, to determine the requirements of new aids. All tender orders were issued from this Section and the reports of tenders' activities were kept on file. The SPAR Officer was instructed in non-technical operation of RADAR Beacons and Radiobeacons and was, in addition to her duties in the Section, also a Hydrographic Officer for the compilation of the Arctic Ocean, Bering Sea and Aleutian Coast Pilot for the District Coast Guard Officer.

The filing system, as developed in the department, consisted of a rough running log kept weekly and transferred to a smooth log under another cover at the end of each week. All correspondence was logged under its correspondent (to or from) and also its subject. File numbers were assigned and folder designations were made from an Office Index. Pieces of correspondence, filed since the origin of the system in 1943, had passed the 15,000 mark by the end of September, 1945. Folders numbered to 730 with a transfer file of several -83

Last edit about 7 years ago by foyl
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hundred folders were necessary to jacket this correspondence. A photographic file of all minor and major aids in the District was kept current as new aids were installed, relocated, removed, or as old aids were improved or modified.

There was a little overlapping of activities between the Aids to Navigation Section and other departments, although its duties followed closely, in many instances, those of the Engineering Section, Vessel Operations, Port Security, Communications and Communications Engineering. These parallels were,

Last edit about 7 years ago by foyl
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Chapter Notes Foreward (Page 2) - Letter from the Commandant to members of the former Lighthouse Service eligible for appointment or enlistment in the Coast Guard, dated 25 November, 1939.

Light Stations (page 1) - Coquille River and Warrior Rock Lighthouses were originally "keeper stations" but were changed to unwatched lights in 1940.

Lightships (Page 15) - Because of the confined conditions aboard Lightships, men were granted 180 days personnel liberties as per anuum. It was found that the men became weary after spending some time aboard Lightships on exposed stations, and it was necessary to bring them ashore at frequent periods. It was the practice of the Lighthouse Service to make a trip into the Lightship every four weeks, using one of the buoy tenders for this purpose and, at the same time delivering provisions and water. After spending 8 weeks aboard, the members of the crew and officers were given four weeks liberty ashore. This arrangement proved very satisfactory for a period of years. Under the Coast Guard, however, it was felt that the 8 week period of duty was too long. The 4-week period of duty was not provided for under Coast Guard Regulation and was unsatisfactory as enlisted men were entitled to quarters and rations. The question was raised as to whether the enlisted men in the lower grades would have sufficient funds to finance themselves on these long periods of liberty. It was standard Coast Guard practice to provide 10 days shore duty to keep the crews contented.

Radiobeacons (Page 21) - Radiobeacon peace time operation (continuous - clear weather) was resumed at the end of the war.

Last edit over 5 years ago by EarthYake
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