USS REDFIN (SSR-272)
Port Antonio, Jamaica
 

When REDFIN pulled into Port Antonio a banana boat was tied to the only pier and so REDFIN had to anchor out for the evening.  The banana boat was supposed to leave in the morning and we would then be able to moor alongside the pier.  

The actor, Errol Flynn, owned a large part of Port Antonio.  He owned a hotel, the Tichfield, and a small island just off Port Antonio.  He had a fishing boat and a yacht in the area.  The yacht was in the bay on its side.  Workmen were painting her.  It was neat how they did it, not having a dry dock.  They listed her over and did their work.  

The fishing boat was used as a ferry, free gratis, the night we had to anchor out.  She was a beauty.  About 15 feet wide and 35’ to 40’ long with two engines that sounded real throaty as she headed for shore.  A one-man crew was supplied along with the boat and for a cigarette or two, he’d let you drive it.  It was the best Liberty Launch I’d ever rode.  

Now for the island.  This is where Errol had his parties for his Hollywood friends.  Lots of booze, music and native girls.  One girl, now past her prime, told us stories of the parties.   WOW!  She said she had been Errol’s number one girl.  We had to swim out to the island to get there.  I didn’t go because at the time I could not swim.  

Back to the Hotel Tichfield.  On the first night Stevenson and his friends were swimming in the pool when one of the ships officers thought they had gone in uninvited and ordered them out of the pool.  Actually, the crew was treated as a guest of the hotel and given the use of all the facilities.  So everyone was able to use the pool.  Port Antonio, Jamaica was one of the greatest liberty ports.

Art Fried