PORTSMOUTH - The weekend of August 15-17 will see a gathering of former crewmembers of the USS Albacore. These crewmembers and their families will be coming from all across the country to celebrate the 50th birthday of USS Albacore, which was the basis for modern Navy submarines in terms of shape and control technology.

They will be assembling at Albacore Park on Market Street in Portsmouth on Saturday, August 15 to chat with shipmates they haven't seen in many years and to witness the presentation of a scale model of Albacore as she looked 50 years ago. The model has been constructed by Jerry Blair, a noted museum model maker from California and a member of the Nautical Research Guild. Many a dusty drawer was opened to obtain pictures and information to answer many of Blair's questions so that the model is an exact likeness of the Albacore.

This model will be donated to Albacore Park by Stephen Cuff (also a California resident), who during his Navy service was a ship's superintendent (lieutenant junior grade, limited duty engineering officer).for the Albacore. Cuff, a graduate of Stevens Institute of Technology and the Harvard Business School, is presently chairman of CALEX Manufacturing Company, Inc., of Concord, California.

The ceremony will commence at 11 a.m., and will be followed by a reception at the Portsmouth Sheraton. For more information, contact Albacore Park at 436-3680.