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USS Pinon AN-66 and Daily Life

The USS Pinon crew numbered 65. Aside from a few images from Navsource.org, the Commander, Lieutenant Robert M. Dell, recorded many of the crew’s daily activities in photographs and his personal diary. The following pictures give a glimpse of life on board the Pinon as she traveled through three theaters of war: European, Pacific and American.

Lieutenant Robert M. Dell, circa 1944

Pinon officers and crew sit for formal portrait, 1944 - LCDR Elliott Bloxom, center, LT Ray Miraldi to his left and LT Robert Dell to his right.

Pinon Crew on deck

The collage depicts the Pinon at sea.

Visitors approaching the Pinon

Crew meets visiting Pacific Islanders

Pinon crew by 3"/50 caliber dual purpose gun

As a theater and movie fan, LT Dell made it his priority to keep the crew entertained and proudly referenced his ability to secure the latest films of the day while at sea. He would hold the initial premier on deck and would then share films among the fleet. Dell maintained meticulous records of every film noting date, location, seas and the crew’s general reaction to the film. The diary has been recognized as an important historical document by Ken Gloss of the Antiques Roadshow. Depicted below is LT Dell and a crew member preparing for movie night. The crewman is holding a case of film reels and a16mm projector is set up in the background. After the war, Dell maintained this tradition and would often drape bed sheets over his garage and invite neighbors to movie nights at his home in Scarsdale, NY.