How did this guided missile frigate end up sitting on the ground? Why does it have a tinsel sign that spells out Seasons Greetings? Did Santa drop it like an oversized toy from the sky?
This unusual sight is often glimpsed by San Diegans motoring along Harbor Drive between downtown and Point Loma. Built right there on the ground in 1949 to train Navy recruits, today this two-thirds model of a real warship is situated at the southwest end of the redeveloped NTC Liberty Station. The landlocked “non-ship” is officially named the USS Recruit and was originally modeled after a destroyer, and commissioned as a regular Navy ship!
Nicknamed by sailors the USS Neversail, she’s become something of a San Diego landmark. And every year around Christmas she wishes passersby a happy holiday!
UPDATE!
Here are a few pics taken during a walk in late September of 2014. The USS Recruit appears to be awaiting a new coat of paint!
Beautification in progress in late September 2014.Scaffolding along the side of the weathered old USS Recruit in Point Loma.A bicyclist passing the USS Recruit heads into Liberty Station.
I walked past the USS Recruit in early March, 2015. The ship has a new paint job! Of course, I had to take more photos…
This model of a destroyer escort helped instruct as many as 50,000 naval recruits annually in basic naval procedure. The Recruit was the Navy’s only commissioned ship never to reach water.People walk past the newly painted USS Recruit at one end of Liberty Station.Nicknamed the USS Neversail, this ship is an unusual sight that captures the attention of visitors to San Diego.
I took a nice long walk this chilly morning from Spanish Landing to the edge of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot. I followed dirt and paved walkways, staying mostly near the edge of the boat channel that runs between Point Loma’s Liberty Station and Lindbergh Field.
Here are pics of one sight that was very hard not to miss. The gigantic flag at NTC Liberty Station was flying in the breeze at half-mast, most likely due to Nelson Mandela’s death today.
In the first photo you can see ladies getting a workout in a big grassy area, and some large guns that are monuments to the old Naval Training Center.
Today’s Liberty Station is a complex of stores, offices, museums, residential and park space. It used to be Naval Training Center San Diego, which was closed in 1997 and eventually redeveloped using the historic old buildings. The grassy expanse near the boat channel is Preble Field. It was the marching ground where Navy recruits assembled, marched and graduated from boot camp.
Flag at half mast in Ingram Plaza.
Beyond this plaque is where Ingram Plaza used to be. Ingram Plaza was the site of tent camps in the 1920s where incoming recruits were temporarily isolated to prevent outbreaks of contagious diseases. Here they also got haircuts, new uniforms and physical training before joining the regular routines of the base.
The plaque reads:
THIS PLAZA IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF OSMOND K. INGRAM GUNNERS MATE FIRST CLASS UNITED STATES NAVY WHO SACRIFICED HIS LIFE IN AN EFFORT TO SAVE HIS SHIP AND SHIPMATES DURING AN ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN THE U.S.S. CASSIN AND A GERMAN SUBMARINE ON OCTOBER 15, 1917
“GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS'”
UPDATE!
Here are a few more photos I took on a later day:
Plaques at NTC Liberty Station remember the history of Naval Training Center San Diego.Preble Field was a grinder or marching ground. However, it is most fondly remembered as the location of every boot camp graduation ceremony, where boys became men.Ingram Plaza was the site of the original tent camps in the 1920s. New recruits were isolated here for three weeks, and given haircuts, uniforms and physical training.
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Every so often a new plane is added to the Midway Museum collection. The historic aircraft carrier USS Midway, active from 1945 to 1992, now has a couple dozen restored airplanes among its exhibits. Today the latest addition was hoisted up onto the dockside elevator by crane from the pier below! I was there to snap a few cool pics!
The last time I saw an airplane brought over from North Island, where the restorations take place, it was by barge. So I was surprised this time when a plane arrived on the back of a truck. This F4F Wildcat is a specimen of the small carrier-based fighter that helped to win the Battle of Midway during World War II. This particular plane was salvaged from the bottom of Lake Michigan. Restoration in a special hangar at Naval Air Station North Island, across San Diego Bay, took three years. You’ll notice the wings are missing from the fuselage. They came in on a second truck!
The first photo shows the Wildcat arriving on the opposite side of Navy pier.
Historic airplane transported by truck to USS Midway.
The truck has pulled alongside USS Midway’s dockside elevator, which is lowered and ready to receive the new exhibit.
Preparing to lift Wildcat onto USS Midway’s elevator.
A small crane waits off to the left to lift the airplane. Here we see some preliminary preparations.
Crane begins to lift F4F Wildcat onto USS Midway.
Up it goes! Everybody was extremely careful that no mishaps occurred!
Aircraft is placed on USS Midway while people watch from flight deck.
And finally the F4F Wildcat is aboard its new home! This plane will be part of a three dimensional theater exhibit called Battle of Midway Experience. I can’t wait to see it!
Several weeks ago a cool new small shopping center opened up adjacent to Seaport Village on downtown San Diego’s waterfront. It’s called The Headquarters at Seaport District, and it’s located in the old police headquarters.
I remember visiting the San Diego Police headquarters here back in the early eighties, before it moved. For a couple decades these historic and beautiful buildings sat empty and unused. I’m glad that they’ve finally been restored!
Looking through festive arch at The Headquarters.This was the location of the old police headquarters.Historical sign shows location of old San Diego barracks.
Across Harbor Drive to the north you can find an interesting historical marker. First established as an Army supply depot, this was the location of the San Diego Barracks from 1850 to 1921.
A farmers market is held on Sundays at The Headquarters.
I took the above photo on a sunny Sunday afternoon!
Poinsettia Christmas tree by Seaport Village carousel.
Every year during the holiday season you can find this enormous bright red Christmas tree standing right next to the Seaport Village carousel. It’s built entirely of poinsettias! Lots of visitors enjoy posing for photographs beside it!
Manchester Grand Hyatt towers behind poinsettia Christmas tree at Seaport Village.
This bronze sculpture can be found near the Shelter Island public pier, on the other side of the children’s playground. It’s called Bubble Bath, by artist Dan Hill. The tiny work of art is easy to miss while walking along the bay. According to the Port of San Diego website, the sculpture was erected as a memorial to a toddler.
Sculpture of toddler on rock near Shelter Island playground.
Many of these small boats are used by people who live on San Diego Bay in sailboats and other vessels moored nearby. Beached at the dinghy landing next to Shelter Island’s boat ramp, many appear weathered and sun-faded…but quite colorful!
Here are a few more pics I took on a later walk…
Sandy-bottomed boats lie scattered near Shelter Island boat ramp.Gazing along a small beach on Shelter Island in San Diego Bay.Various rowboats and kayaks create a fascinating image.
It must be the holiday season, because the Fantasy on Ice skating rink has been erected in front of Horton Plaza here in downtown San Diego. I got some pics of carefree people gliding through the sunshine. I snapped this photo while standing right next to the NBC building, at Third Avenue and Broadway. You can see the Balboa Theatre in the background.
More pics:
Beginning ice skaters hang on for dear life!Christmas tree next to the Horton Plaza ice skating rink.Fantasy on Ice banners hang along Broadway.Ice skating rink in Horton Square, as seen from an upper level of Horton Plaza.
Wow! Santa returned to San Diego in grand fashion! He’s making his big entrance over the bay using a water jetpack! Here he comes! A huge crowd on the pier just north of Seaport Village was watching with excitement this Saturday afternoon!
Wait! That’s not just a regular, ordinary, everyday daredevil Santa Claus, but the one and only Seaport Village Surfing Santa!
Surfing Santa rises high above the awestruck crowd to wave and wish everyone a Merry Christmas! Where’s his sack of presents?
Now he’s just showing off. The jolly old guy is jetting about in a circle like a certified maniac with a ridiculously huge beard. The fish below are probably frightened out of their wits. The first time I saw Santa, I was a bit spooked, too.
This happy elf and Mrs. Claus patiently awaited old Saint Nick on the pier with a huge throng of onlookers. The reindeer must be taking the weekend off.
Here he is, larger than life! Surfing Santa! He’s boarded the pier and is making his way to Seaport Village to conduct his usual Santa Claus business.
After boarding a pedicab sleigh, Surfing Santa parades down the bayside walkway while people munching pizza look on in joy and disbelief.
Santa Claus and his magical reindeer were recently seen flying through Balboa Park. A photo was snapped as he sped from the central plaza toward the Spreckels Organ Pavilion. There he is waving at happy children and thrilled park visitors!
A second photo was snapped as the reindeer lifted off into the blue San Diego sky, pulling Santa’s sleigh up and away back toward the North Pole!
Old Saint Nick has to prepare for Christmas!
UPDATE!
Santa returned the following year! Here he is!
Santa’s sleigh is back again for another Christmas in Balboa Park!The flying reindeer take once more to the San Diego sky!
Cool San Diego Sights! 