Navy Firefighting School on a Casco Bay Island

Little Chebeague Island from the South c1947 Portland is seen in the center at a distance - click to enlarge
Photo: National Archives: Northeast Region via www.mainememory.net

  During World War Two the US Navy established a Recreation Center on Chebeague (Shh-beak) for sailors to rest from battles.  The Navy also had a shortage of firefighting training so, since the Navy owned the land, it was established on Chebeague.
  Many sailors trained at the school for fleet duty and although the main school was at Newport, Rhode Island the Chebeague school added capacity.  Some of the student were successful in fighting shipboard fires.  The School had a lecture hall, a large steel and wood frame wall and a large oil tank, both of which were set on fire repeatedly during training.

The Lecture Hall in 1947 - click to enlarge
Photo: National Archives: Northeast Region via www.mainememory.net

  Following is a photo of the USS Braine tied up at the Boston Navy Yard in 1945.  The ship was badly burned in a fire - which was successfully put out by crews that had trained on Chebeague.
The ship was repaired and remained in the Fleet until 1947 when is was sold to the Argentine Navy.  It was sold for scrap in 1971.

USS Braine in port at Boston Navy Yard - click to enlarge
Photo: National Archives: Northeast Region via www.mainememory.net