USS Astoria (CL-90)

A city and port of entry in northwestern Oregon located on the southern bank at the mouth of the Columbia River. It is the seat of government for Clatsop County.

The third Astoria (CL-90) was laid down on 6 September 1941 at Philadelphia, Pa., by the William Cramp & Sons Shipbuilding Co.; launched on 6 March 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Robert Lucas, the wife of the editor of the Astorian Budget; and commissioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 17 May 1944, Capt. George C. Dyer in command.

The light cruiser conducted shakedown training in the vicinity of Bermuda between 6 June and 23 July and returned to Philadelphia on the latter day for post-shakedown overhaul. She departed Philadelphia on 19 September, bound for the Pacific. Steaming via the Panama Canal, Astoria arrived in San Diego on 3 October. Later in the month, she moved to the Mare Island Navy Yard and got underway for Hawaii on the 25th. She arrived at Oahu on the 31st and remained at Pearl Harbor until 16 November. On that day, she got underway for Ulithi Atoll in the Western Carolines. She made a stop at Eniwetok in the Marshalls before entering the lagoon at Ulithi on 25 November. There, the warship reported for duty with Task Group (TG) 38.2 of the Fast Carrier Task Force.

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From the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, compiled by the Naval History and Heritage Command (Astoria III (CL-90)). A work of the United States Government, in the public domain.