From: Dictionary of American Fighting Ships

A county in Montana.

(APA - 81: dp. 4,247; l. 426'; b. 58'; dr. 16'; s. 17 k.; cpl. 320; a. 1 5"; cl. Gilliam)

Fallon (APA-81) was launched 14 December 1944 by Consolidated Steel Corp., Wilmington, Calif.; sponsored by Mrs. W. H. Guild; and commissioned 14 February 1945, Commander W. L. Phinney, USNR, in command.

Fallon sailed from San Pedro 12 April 1945 for Pearl Harbor, her base from 21 April to 22 May on two voyages to the Marshalls, Marianas, and Gilberts with garrison troops. She returned to the west coast 28 May, made another voyage to Honolulu and Eniwetok carrying soldiers, and arrived at Pearl Harbor once more 9 August. Here she loaded Marines, whom she landed at Sasebo, Japan, for occupation duty 22 September.

The attack transport carried servicemen eligible for discharge from Okinawa and Sasebo to San Diego between 23 September and 29 October 1945, then made another voyage to the Philippines to return veterans. At San Francisco from 5 January 1946 to 16 February, and then at Pearl Harbor, she was prepared for use as a target ship in Operation "Crossroads", the atomic weapons tests at Bikini. She reached the Marshalls 28 May, and after the experiments, was towed to Kwajalein for study. Decommissioned 20 September 1946, she was sunk off Kwajalein 11 March 1948.

Transcribed by Yves HUBERT (hubertypc@aol.com)