Y
aiCBG?
Jan. 1, 1943
PUBLISHED FOR THE EMPLOYEES OF THE NORTH CAROLINA SHIPBUILDING COMPANY
Vol. I, No. 5
YARD'S ACHIEVEMENTS SET GOAL FOR 1943
nnnac
Fifty-Four Liberty Ships
Launched In 13 Months;
Facilities Are Improved
The North Carolina Shipbuilding company marches
into its second year of Liberty ship production after a
successful 1942 whose achievements should be an in
spiration for every one of us to seek greater goals
this year.
Let's pause a while and review our work of pushing
good ships down the ways since we launched the first,
the Zebulon B. Vance, a few hours before the Japanese
hit Pearl Harbor.
Here are some of the highlights:
Fifty-four Liberty ships have been launched and 51
delivered from December 6, 1941, to January 1. This
.represents more than half
the original contracts with
the Maritime commission.
Numerous improvements
and additions have been
made in the plant, including
completion of the North
yard, where fabricated
shops were built. A new
mold loft and different stor
age facilities have been installed.
In addition, many of the shops
on the South side have been en
larged and improved. All this
has been done with one aim al
ways in view increase ship pro
duction with the result that
during the year the average
time of construction of each ship
was reduced from more than 200
to less than 50 days.
Our fine record has won three
Maritime Commission awards.
The "M" pennant for outstand
ing achievement in ship produc
tion was presented by Admiral
Emory S. Land, chairman of the
commission, at appropriate cere
monies on August 30. The first
Gold Star was placed on it Nov.
15 and the second added on De
cember 13. In December, we
launched nine ships for a new
yard record.
During this time, the organi
zation has grown from 6,000
workers to 18,500, banded to
gether in one of the leading ship
North Carolina school children who participated in the scrap metal campaign are shown as
fhp lminp of fhP Libertv shin Richard Caswell here last month. The young
sters were given the privilege of naming the ship because of their fine work in the salvage effort.
T.o-ff viofVif A lion Parish SanfnrH Wich school: Miss Jean Hart, of Kinston. maid of honor at the
launching; Mrs. Tolbert Midyette, of Kinston, matron of honor; Dr. Clyde A. Erwin, of Raleigh,
a miKlio instmrtinn ! S P. Ware: Miss Ann Midvette. of Kinston, sponsor;
David S. Weaver, chairman of the N. C. Iron and Steel committee, Willie E. Sessoms, of Rocky Point
school, and Jack Summerhn, of the Launnburg school.
7 School Salvage
Leaders Attend
Four Launchings
Yard Congratulated
By Admiral Vickery
War Bond Minute Man Flag
Joins Pennant Over Yard
The Treasury department's
Minute Man flag has joined the
Maritime Commission's M pen
nanC and its stars above our
yard.
Awarded in recognition of the
purchase of War Bonds through
regular payroll deductions by
our employees, the flag was pre
sented by Allison James, of
Greensboro, deputy state ad
ministrator of the War Savings
staff, at the launching of the
Walter Raleigh on the morning
of January 5. It was accepted
by Captain Roger Williams,
president.
The program, at which Gover
nor Broughton was represented
by Mayor Graham A. Andrews,
of Raleigh, was broadcast
through the Raleigh radio sta
tion. The yard reached the 90 per
cent qualification figure and goal
on December 7 one year to a
day after Pearl Harbor with
16.654 of the 18,499 employees
making regular payroll deduc
tions for the purchase of bonds.
That's the story in a nutshell.
But back of it are many stor
ies, all of determination of men
and women, in every department,
to do more than asked or re
quired of them to help bring vic
tory. To build the ships to car
ry supplies to our fighting forces
is not enough; we are also help
ing buy the cargoes of guns and
food and even the ships them
selves.
The bond buying campaign
started on April 27, the first de
duction date, and jumped into
high gear on May 4 with 6,000
of the 10,315 persons then on the
payroll purchasing bonds on
systematic basis to produce
percentage of 63.9. At the end
of the first week in December,
16,654 of the 18,499 persons on
the rolls were buying bonds to
produce a percentage of 90.02. v
Several factors have contri
(Continued on page 4)
Second Star Added
To 'M' Pennant
We've hitched our pro
duction wagon to another
Gold star the second and
we're out to put many more
of them in our crown.
Continued outstanding
achievement in production
of Liberty ships brought us
the second star for our
Maritime commission "M"
pennant at the launching of
the Pocahontas on Decem
ber 13. The nine vessels on
which the honor was won
averaged 63.3 days each
from keel laying to delivery.
The previous award was on
an average time of 76 days
each.
"When you go through the
gates of the yard and look
at the "M" pennant, I want
all of you to know that it
was your untiring efforts
that put this star there,"
Morales G. Vendig, resident
plant engineer of the Mari
time commission, said in
making the presentation.
In expressing his appre
ciation for the star, Captain
Roger Williams said "we
shall continue to bend every
effort to keep up the good
work at the yard."
"Congratulations !"
That's the word the yard
received from Rear Admiral
H. L. Vickery early this
month for the delivery of
nine Liberty ships to the
commission during Decem
ber. The nine deliveries set a
new monthly yard record.
We also launched nine ves
sels during the 31 -day pe
riod. In his telegram, Rear Ad
miral Vickery said:
"On behalf of the commis
sion, I wish to extend to the
workers and management of
the North Carolina Ship
building company my con
gratulations and sincere ap
preciation for the delivery
during December of nine
vessels. I realize fully the
extra effort put forth by all
to bring this about"
1,738 Enter
Armed Forces
During Year
HOW WE WON MINUTE MAN FLAG
Percent
Deduction No on No. Buying age Buy
Date Roll Bonds ing Bonds
May 4, 1942 10,315 6,600 63.9
June 1 11,445 7,855 68.6
July 6 13,157 9,743 74.0
August 3 14,497 11,511 79.4
Sept. 7 , 14,968 11,859 79.2
Oct. 5 ... 16,170 13,726 84.8
Nov. 2, - 17,571 15,061 85.7
Dec. 7- - 18,499 16,654 90.2
North Carolina's industrial
scrap collecting champion our
yard entertained the leaders
among the school children sal
vage collectors from four states
during the past month as a re
ward for their outstanding ef
forts in the -recent nation-wide
scrap campaign.
The youngsters from North
Carolina. South Carolina. Vir
ginia and West Virginia at
tended launchings of four ships
thev had named.
Each occasion gave us the op
nortunitv to show the indus
trious young Americans how we
are building a Dart of the migh-
tv SDan in the "bridge of ships."
Some of the scrap they collect
ed, essential in the manufacture
of steel, is probably in the hulls Transfer from the production building companies in the nation.
of Liberty ships on our ways to- front to the firing line has been The yard qualified on Dec. 7,
day. The children were offered made by 1,738 employees of our 1942, for the Treasury depart -
the opportunity to see the lm- yard during the 12 months end- ment's Minute Man flag with SO
portance of their contribution to ing last December 7. per cent of the employees buying
the war effort and that their The majority of these men War bonds on a systematic
work is appreciated by the men have entered the armed forces basis. The new goal is the T
a t i i i. n a i- ci i 1.2 ci : r m
snaping me steei into mja. via uie oeiecuve oervice ruuve given ior cuuvcrswii iu iv rci
We also received muu in but a large number volunteered, cent oi the total payroll into
War bonds from the State balv- The result is that today the yard bonds.
ace committee, through the New is well reDresented not onlv in We were first in the industrial
. . i i ii I,. . i i it ? . . . j. it t x i r ii "
Hanover county unit, during tne tne Army DUt tne ixavy, Army division oi tne onn Carolina
month for leading all industries or Navy Air corps, Coast Guard scrap metal campaign. During
in the state in the total amount and Marines. the period Oct. 1-21, the com
of scraD turned in during the In addition, many North Caro- pany turned in 4.558,800 pounds
Deriod October 1-21. The ship- lina shipbuilders have entered of strap to win the $300 War
yard's contribution amounted to the Merchant Marine and are bond prize, which has been di-
4.558.800 nounds and went a long helping sail tne liberty snips vided and given to tne Brigade
, . i i. I l l 'U a a r m .i n -11 xv - Tl.
way to maice tms county one mey ouui to tne i&r corners oi coys ciur ana tne tape rear
of the leaders m the state, une- the nation s many nghtmg council of uoy bcouts oi Amer
fronts. ica. During the past month, the
We have every reason to be yard was host to school children
proud of these men, from every from four states, who attended
department of the yard, who launchings of vessels they had
have laid down their tools to named as reward for their scrap
take up guns. The least we can collecting work.
do is to see that they never want We led the list of contributors
for the vital materials of war to Wilmington's first annual
and the best way to do this is United War and Community
to build more ships as fast as Chest campaign. Contributing
we possibly can. Also, it should I $41,546.26, we exceeded the stat-
not be forgotten that the money ed quota by more than $20,000.
that goes into War Bonds not It was the largest single dona-
only pays for these ships but all tion to a campaign of this type
supplies and equipment. in the community's history. The
These men filled important company, following the drive,
(Continued on page 4) I (Continued on page 2)
(Continued on page 2)