Cunard joined a long line of well-wishers on board Queen Mary in Long Beach, California on Friday to mark the 75th anniversary of the legendary cruise liner’s first transatlantic journey between Southampton and New York in 1936.

The celebrations were kicked off by a General Manager’s reception. Present were historians, maritime devotees and past guests and crew members of the icon of the seas.

Also present were a number of WW2 squadron members who united for the first time since the Queen Mary transported them across the Atlantic Ocean during an era when she was known as the Grey Ghost.

The guests included Stuart Babcock of Hartford in Connecticut. He was attached to the 34th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron and journeyed on board the Queen Mary between New York and Glasgow between 21st and 27th March 1944. The men from the reconnaissance squadron were unarmed – except for their cameras. They acted as the eyes of the allied forces.

Babcock was in the company of his daughter Susan. He seemed visibly emotional to be on board the ship for the first time in 75 years.

UK guests included a delegation sent by the R.M.S. Queen Mary Association, which has its base near Southampton, England. The President of the Association is Cunard’s retired Commodore, Ronald Warwick. Their mission is to preserve the beloved cruise liner’s history.

Cunard was represented at the reception by Jackie Chase, who said: “Since 1967, when Queen Mary retired to her new home in Long Beach, California, she has continued to fascinate visitors from all over the globe.”