Dad Crosses the Ocean

USS Monticello (AP-61)      This is the USS Monticello, the ship my Dad was aboard for the trip to India. It left New York on 25 December 1942 for India via California. Dad met it in Wilmington, California (Los Angeles Port of Embarkation) after traveling from Fort Devens, Massachusetts by train. It sailed for India at 0800 on 20 January 1943 and made stops at Wellington, New Zealand and Fremantle, Australia before reaching Bombay on 3 March 1943 after a voyage of 14,177 miles and six weeks at sea. Read a Diary of the crossing or more about life aboard a World War II Troop Transport.    Shown here before and after the war, USS Monticello was originally and ultimately the Italian liner Conte Grande. Commissioned USS Monticello (AP-61), 16 April 1942 (Dad's 21st Birthday)    Approximate route Dad traveled aboard USS Monticello from Wilmington, California to Bombay, India                 Crossing The Equator         Crossing the Equator 26 January 1943. Read about the Neptunus Rex ceremony.     Previous Page  |  HOME  |  Next Page