Cruiser Fall River at Battleship Cove.

Fall River's sister ship, USS Quincy, fires an eight-inch salvo at the North Korean mainland.

Baltimore-class cruisers like the USS Fall River were the most formidable ships of their size during World War II. Carrying nine 8" guns mounted in three triple turrets (two fore, one aft), these vessels could menace capital ships and fortified shore installations. Twelve 5" dual purpose mounts proved a lethal deterrent to air and light surface attacks,and a complement of 48 40-milimeter Bofors heavy machine guns with 26 20-milimeter Oerlikons added enough close-in defense to outpunch nearly anything in the Axis arsenal.

RADM Fahrion flew his flag from Fall River.

ADMIRAL F.G. FAHRION: USS Fall River served as flagship to Admiral Frank George Fahrion during the 1946 atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands. The namesake of the decommissioned guided missile frigate USS Fahrion (FFG-22), Frank George Fahrion was born on April 17, 1894, in Pickens, West Virginia.

During World War II, Fahrion was the Destroyer Screen Commander for the “Yorktown” carrier task force in the early Central Pacific raids on the Gilbert Islands. For service as Chief of Staff to Commander North Pacific Force, he was awarded the Legion of Merit. He earned a Gold Star in lieu of a second Legion of Merit for the skillful direction of research development and manufacturing phases of the successful torpedo program, while commanding the Naval Torpedo Station in Newport, Rhode Island, February 1943 - July 1944. The Bronze Star Medal for Valor was won by Fahrion as Commanding Officer of the battleship USS North Carolina during Fleet raids ranging from the Philippines to Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He was advanced to flag rank in January of 1945. In recognition of his skillful and intensive direct naval gunfire support missions while commanding Cruiser Division Four throughout the Okinawa Campaign, Admiral Fahrion received a Gold Star in lieu of a second Bronze Star Medal.

After retirement from the Navy, Admiral and Mrs. Fahrion made their home in La Jolla, California, where he died on January 16, 1970. Source

SIGETY SPEAKS ON FALL RIVER IN FALL RIVER FOR BICENTENNIAL: The distinguished former USS Fall River officer Charles Sigety visited Fall River, MA, in July 2003 to deliver a presentation on CA131 for the city's bicentennial celebration. Held at Fellowship Hall at the First Congregational Church, the presentation included remarks by former USS Massachusetts Memorial Committee president Joseph Feitelberg, who chronicled Battleship Cove's evolution into the world's largest historic naval ship exhibit. After the presentation, both men opened the floor for a Q&A period, which was enjoyed by all!

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