A city in southern California; home of the Rose Bowl and the California Institute of Technology.
(CL-65: dp. 10,000; l. 608'4"; b. 55'4"; dr. 63'; s. 33 k.; cpl. 1200; a. 12 6", 12 5"; cl. Cleveland)
Pasadena was laid down 6 February 1943 by Bethlehem Steel of Quincy, Mass.; launched on 28 December 1943; and commissioned 8 June 1944, sponsored by Mrs. C.G. Wopschall, Capt. Richard B. Tuggle commanding.
Pasadena arrived in the Philippines in November 1944 to begin her combat service. Primary responsibility for the new cruiser was defense against air attack, but her guns were added to the bombardment force off Iwo Jima in February 1945. In her 10 months of war, Pasadena steamed from the southeastern tip of Indochina to northern Japan with many stop in between. The cruiser was active in bombardments on the Ryukyus and screened carriers during the invasion of Okinawa and the July air raids against the enemy home islands.
On occupation duty until January 1946, Pasadena thereafter returned to San Pedro, Calif. for overhaul. Returning to the Pacific, the cruiser exercised with other units of the fleet until decommissioned 12 January 1950. In reserve at Bremerton for 20 years, the cruiser was finally broken up for scrap in 1971.
Pasadena earned 5 battle stars for service in World War II.