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USS Eldorado (AGC-11/LCC-11) 

Please see below for item level images and donated collections containing photographs of USS Eldorado (AGC-11/LCC-11) 

USS Eldorado (AGC-11) was launched 26 October 1943 as Monsoon by North Carolina Shipbuilding Co., Wilmington, N.C., under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. P. A. Peeples; transferred to the Navy 1 February 1944; converted by Bethlehem Steel Corp., Brooklyn, N.Y.; and commissioned 25 August 1944, Captain J. R. Wallace in command.

USS Eldorado (AGC-11) sailed from Norfolk 15 September 1944 and arrived at San Diego 29 September to embark Rear Admiral L. F. Reifsnider who broke his flag as Commander, Amphibious Group 4. In November USS Eldorado (AGC-11) sailed to Pearl Harbor and there became flagship for Vic Admiral R. K. Turner, Commander, Amphibious Forces, Pacific. Arriving at Guam 12 March 1945, USS Eldorado (AGC-11) embarked Lieutenant General S. B. Buckner, USA, Commanding General of the 10th Army, then after rehearsals at Leyte in the Philippines, hove to off the Hagushi Beaches.

At the end of the war USS Eldorado (AGC-11) was at Manila preparing for the proposed invasion of the Japanese home islands. She returned to Pearl Harbor in October where Admiral Turner and his staff debarked. Alternately at Pearl Harbor and at west coast ports, USS Eldorado (AGC-11) continued to serve as flagship for succeeding amphibious commanders in the Pacific. With the outbreak of the Korean war Eldorado was ordered to the Far East. Returning to the States, USS Eldorado (AGC-11) became flagship for Rear Admiral W. E. Moore, Commander, Amphibious Group 1, in October 1952, and sailed for the Far East where Admiral Moore assumed command of TF 90's amphibious forces.

USS Eldorado (AGC-11) returned to the west coast in the fall of 1953, and continued to serve as flagship for Amphibious Group 1, now commanded by Rear Admiral L. S. Sabin, Jr., until June 1954, then embarked Vice Admiral T. G. W. Settle, Commander, Amphibious Forces, Pacific, until August. In the summer of 1956 USS Eldorado (AGC-11) sailed to arctic waters with Army officers embarked, to resupply bases at Wainwright and Point Barrow, Alaska. In addition to operations along the west coast from her home port at San Diego, USS Eldorado (AGC-11) took part in arctic supply operations once more in the summer of 1957, and cruised to the Far East from January to May 1958, and again from December 1959 into 1960. In April and May USS Eldorado (AGC-11) visited ports in Indonesia and Australia, participating in Australia's 18th annual celebration of the Battle of the Coral Sea before returning to San Diego, 31 May where she remained, participating in local operations through 1962.

For a complete history of USS Eldorado (AGC-11) please see its DANFS page.