Flag Flies Again Over Fort Gorges

Local businesses volunteer to repair and restore USS Portland mainmast and popular flagpole

Portland, Maine - This week, the City of Portland with help with several local businesses including Cianbro, Horizon Solutions, Hertz Equipment Rental, Glidden Professional Paint, Spectrum Auto Body Supply, Gorham Flag, Maine Marine Supply and Hamilton Marine completed repairs to both the mainmast of the USS Portland located at the Fort Allen Park along the Eastern Promenade and the flag pole located atop Fort Gorges. As a result of exposure and weather damage, more than a dozen holes had formed along the mainmast of the heavy Navy cruiser. Cianbro volunteered to lead the repair effort by patching the damage and repainting the structure, which should preserve the historic landmark for years to come. Also succumbing to the elements, the halyard for the Fort Gorges flag pole was snapped this past spring during a storm. As a result, no flag could be flown over the island. Local businesses partnered to repair the pole, install new lighting and provide a new flag, which can now be seen flying over the fort.

Authorized on February 13, 1929, the USS Portland, a heavy cruiser known as Sweet Pea, played a crucial role for the Navy during WWII. The Portland was involved in a number of battles during the war and in one on November 13, 1942, the ship took a torpedo hit, which blew off both inboard propellers and jammed the rudder. Even though the steering damage forced the ship to steam in circles during the battle, the Portland was still able to defend itself and sink the Japanese destroyer, Yudachi.



Due to the USS Portland’s outstanding record during the war, the ship was selected as the site for the surrender of the headquarters of Japan’s forces in the Pacific.  The signing of these documents took place at the same hour on September 2, 1945 as the ceremonies aboard the battleship Missouri.

Following the war, the Portland was a part of the massive effort to transport American troops home from Europe, known as Operation Magic Carpet. On her second voyage, the Portland encountered a violent hurricane with seas up to one hundred feet. The storm was so rough that the New York Times erroneously reported the Portland had been lost at sea. Damage from the storm was severe and caused the death of two men with two others swept out to sea and more than fifty injured. Upon its return to New York, the ship was declared unseaworthy and was decommissioned July 12, 1946.

Retired Navy Captain Arthur Forrestall led the effort to salvage the pieces of the USS Portland and bring them to Maine. The USS Portland Memorial was installed and first dedicated at the Fort Allen Park July 4, 1962. It was rededicated in November of 2011 following significant repairs. The city’s USS Portland collection also includes the ship’s brass steering wheel, a compass, the builder’s plate and silver service.

Following the War of 1812, the United State Army Corps of Engineers proposed the construction of a fort on Hog Island Ledge in Casco Bay at the entrance of the Portland Harbor. Named after Sir Ferdinando Gorges, construction of the fort began in 1857. Completed in 1865, the granite structure was last used by the military during WWII to store submarine mines. It was acquired by the City of Portland in 1960 and is open to the public as a park. A flag pole hoisting a large American flag was installed on the fort in 2004.