USS Palomas (IX-91)

USS Palomas was a two-masted, steel hulled, Miscellaneous Unclassified-Schooner in service with the United States Navy. She served during World War 2, and briefly post-war. She was sold for disposal by the Maritime Commission in 1947.

Built as the Schooner Yacht Goodwill by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp. in 1922, she was acquired by the U.S. Navy on 12 September 1942, and placed into service on 2 October 1942 as the Miscellaneous Unclassified-Schooner Palomas.

Ship History
Operating out of San Diego, California, Palomas steamed along the southern California coast in a training capacity. A unit of the Western Sea Frontier, Palomas protected the southern California area guarding Allied and friendly shipping, and operated in a patrol capacity. She was assigned as a unit of ServRon 2 on 19 October 1943 and continued west coast operations with this unit until the war's end in 1945.

After the cessation of hostilities, Palomas served as a radar training ship, serving out of Naval Station Treasure Island. She then reported to San Francisco for disposal on 1 June 1946. She was placed out of naval service on 10 August 1946, struck from the Naval Register on 25 September 1946, and transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal on 3 March 1947.

Ships Fate
After sale to Ralph E. Larrabee in 1951 for $35,000 USD, her name was once again changed to Goodwill as she returned to civilian service. Larrabee, spent a total of $500,000 USD to restore her back to civilian condition. She was already a famous vessel among boat racers and yacht owners. She made a name for herself, being one of the largest civilian yachts on the Pacific Ocean, and winning the TransPacific Race in both 1953 and 1959. She also made two Atlantic crossings sometime before or after her military service.

Ships Sinking
On midnight, 25 May 1969, Goodwill ran aground on Sacramento Reef. The wreck was located 4 and a half miles off the desolate coast of Baja California, and 180 miles south of the United States Border. Goodwill was reported overdue on 31 May, after she was supposed to arrive at Ensenada on 27 May. A joint search effort began with the United States Coast Guard and the Mexican Navy. On 1 July, her wreck was spotted half-careened on the reef, submerged under 25 feet of water by a search helicopter. The search continued until 6 June,when a private salvage crew arrived. 2 bodies of the 9 aboard were recovered, One was 16-year old Tim Smith, and other was a pajama-clad unidentified man discovered 2 days later. By 10 June, powerful surges and tides had battered the yachts hull, and gutted the interior, the ship was rapidly breaking up. Though investigation of the incident had continued, salvage hope, like the ship, was abandoned.

Ship Awards

 * American Campaign Medal
 * World War II Victory Medal