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USCGC ''Mendota'' (WHEC-69) was an ''Owasco'' class high endurance cutter built for World War II service with the United States Coast Guard. The ship was commissioned three months before the end of the war and did not see combat action until the Vietnam war. ''Mendota'' was built by the Coast Guard yard at Curtis Bay, Maryland, one of only two ''Owasco'' class vessels not to be built by Western Pipe & Steel. Named after Mendota Lake, Wisconsin, the ship was commissioned as a patrol gunboat with ID number WPG-69 on 2 June 1945. Her ID was later changed to WHEC-69 (HEC for "High Endurance Cutter" - the "W" signifies a Coast Guard vessel). ==Peacetime service== ''Mendota'' was stationed at Boston, Massachusetts, from April 1946 to January 1947. She was used for law enforcement, ocean station, and search and rescue operations. She was stationed at Wilmington, NC, from January 1947 to 29 February 1972 with the same duties assigned. From 14 May to 23 July 1947, ''Mendota'' shared an International Ice Patrol with the cutter ''Spencer''. Another International Ice Patrol was shared with the cutter ''Mocoma'' from 26 April to 3 July 1948. While serving on ocean station Charlie in early January 1949, ''Mendota'' had to leave early due to an acute case of appendicitis. From 28 to 31 March 1950, she towed the disabled MV ''Edison Mariner'' until a commercial tug arrived. On 21 and 22 August 1950, she towed the disabled MV ''South Bend Victory'' until relieved by a commercial tug. On 2 January 1952, she medevaced a crewman from FV ''Silver Bay'' at 44°47’N, 56°22’W. On 2 March 1952, she provided medical aid to MV ''Rachel Jackson'' at 37°30’N, 66°08’W. On 9 March 1952, she recovered a buoy and transferred it to the tender ''Madrona''. On 12 and 13 March 1952, ''Mendota'' medevaced a crewman from MV ''Saxton Star'' and transferred him to MV ''Queen of Bermuda''. On 18 September 1953, she medevaced a crewman from MV ''Government Camp''. From 15 to 17 March 1954, ''Mendota'' towed the disabled FV ''Eagle'' to Newfoundland. On 31 August 1954, she towed the disabled tug ''Ocean Prince'' until relieved. On 11 and 12 January 1955, she escorted the disabled MV ''Flying Cloud'' III to Frying Pan Shoals. On 13 January 1955, she assisted the disabled FV ''Stephen Margo'' northeast of Diamond Shoals. On 14 January 1955, she escorted an ammunition barge. On 15 and 16 August 1955, ''Mendota'' rescued 46 crew members and one dog from the Portuguese FV ''Ilhavense Segundo''. On 11 and 12 March 1957, ''Mendota'' assisted the disabled FV ''Stella Maris'' southwest of Louisbourg, Nova Scotia. On 25 January 1958, ''Mendota'' towed the disabled USN tug ''Sagamore'' and the destroyer escort ''Stewart'' to Southport, ME. On 22 May 1958, while serving on Ocean Station ECHO, she rescued the pilots from two USAF jets that had collided. On 6 January 1959, she assisted MV ''Hillcrest'' at 34°43’N, 62°30’W. From 1 to 22 August 1960, she was employed on the reserve cruise visiting Veracruz, Mexico. She paid an official visit to Curaçao from 18–21 August 1961. In 15 November 1962, ''Mendota'' assisted the disabled schooner ''Curlew'' northwest of Bermuda. In March 1965, she served as on-scene commander following a mid-air collision of two USAF aircraft south of Cape Race, Newfoundland. The body of one of the pilots was recovered and returned to Argentia. ''Mendota'' coordinated a search for the SV ''Stella Maris'', a yacht with a single crew member sailing from Newport, Rhode Island to Bermuda, in October 1966. The crewman refused assistance when found by ''Mendota'', and ''Stella Maris'' later disappeared without a trace. ''Mendota'' participated in a medical emergency on board the SS ''Michelangelo'' in March, 1967 after ''Michelangelo'' was struck by a freak wave. On 24 April 1968, ''Mendota'' took on board 26 survivors from ''Irinis Luck''. In the fall of 1968 ''Mendota'' coordinated the rescue of the ''Alberto Beneti'' during hurricane Helen. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「USCGC Mendota (WHEC-69)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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