Oakland in Alameda County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

USS Oakland Mast

<i>USS Oakland</i> Mast Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, February 24, 2014

1. USS Oakland Mast Marker

Captions: The USS OAKLAND was presented in Tokyo Bay to witness the surrender ceremonies ending World War II (left); The ship, which weighed six thousand tons and was 530 feet ( nearly two city blocks) in length, was the smallest cruiser built by the Navy since 1905 (center); The USS OAKLAND, returning to San Francisco Bay in 1953 (center, top); Petty Officer First Class Audrey West, US Navy, presenting the USS OAKLAND’s flag to Oakland Mayor Herbert L. Beach, October 1945 (center bottom); Pages from a book published by the Oakland City Council and Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the ship’s return to the Bay Area in 1945 (sidebar).

Inscription. The ship’s mast in front of you is salvaged from the USS Oakland, an anti-aircraft cruiser – typical of many ships that received supplies sent from the Oakland Naval Supply Depot during World War II. The Oakland was assigned to the fast carrier strike force. The force was a self-defending convoy of aircraft carriers, battleships, destroyers, submarines and cruisers, equipped to travel at speeds over 30 knots. The Oakland participated in many of the war’s major battles and historic actions, earning nine Battle Stars and numerous other medals.

Life of a ship:
Construction began at Bethlehem Steel, San Francisco, July 1941
Launched, October 1942
Commissioned – official acceptance into the Navy, July 1943
Sailed for Pearl Harbor, November 1943
Decommissioned – retired from active duty, 1949
Struck from active list, March 1959
Sold for scrap, December 1959
Mainmast & nameplate salvaged by the Navy and presented to Oakland: November 1965

Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: War, World II • Waterways & Vessels.

Location. 37° 48.392′ N, 122° 19.338′ W. Marker is in Oakland, California, in Alameda County. Memorial is on Middle Harbor Road, on

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the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3660 Middle Harbor Road, Oakland CA 94607, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. USS Oakland CL-AA 95 (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); John "Alex" Alexander (approx. ¼ mile away); Rear Admiral R.J. "Bear" Arnold, U.S.N. (approx. ¼ mile away); Training Wall (approx. 0.4 miles away); Chappell Roland Hayes (approx. half a mile away); Western Pacific Mole (approx. 0.6 miles away); The Shorey House (approx. 1.1 miles away); West Oakland and Prescott (approx. 1.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oakland.

More about this marker. This marker is located in Middle Harbor Shoreline Park.

Additional keywords. USS Oakland Mast

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, February 24, 2014

2. USS Oakland Mast Marker

<i>USS Oakland</i> Mast image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, February 24, 2014

3. USS Oakland Mast

USS Oakland CL-95 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Unknown, 1945

4. USS Oakland CL-95

Credits. This page was last revised on July 26, 2018. It was originally submitted on March 4, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 827 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 4, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.