Liberty Call
by Ian Johnson
ISBN 0 85905 289 3, (2003 new), Soft Cover, 240mm x 162mm, 364 pages well illustrated, including colour section
$45.00* + POST
Since 1908, seaborne elements from the armed forces of the United States have been visiting ports in the State of Western Australia. Over the years, the State has established a reputation as the best liberty stopover in the world.
Liberty Call begins its story in 1975, the year of the first visit of a USN 'supercarrier', USSCoral Sea. Since then over 250 vessels from the United States Navy, Military Sealift Command and United States Coast Guard have made over 600 visits; from Broome in the north of the State to Esperance on the south coast. Over 500,000 American military personnel have been ashore while an estimated 3 million members of the public have toured the visiting ships.
This extensively researched book is divided into two sections. The first section details the history and background of the visits, from USS Coral Sea (CVA-43) in 1975 through to the visit of USS Jefferson City (SSN-759) in June 2002. The second section is a detailed reference guide to every ship, submarine and aircraft squadron that has visited Western Australia, including their fate, as of 2002.
Liberty Call has over 200 photographs with many never seen before and includes a colour section. A chapter is devoted to the main 'ports of call', Fremantle and Perth.
This unique book brings together the vessels and personnel of a world super-power and the beautiful State of Western Australia and its friendly people.
It is a brief history of visits to the best Liberty Ports in the World!