WWII Aircraft Carriers only in Pacific?

[scott_vt]

The USS Wasp CV-7 was sunk in Sept 1942 by torpedos in the Pacific. Shortly after, the planned Oriskany, CV-18 was renamed Wasp and remained in service until it was decommissioned and sold for scrap in the '70s. I'd bet your Pop served aboard the CV-18 Wasp. In its later years, its designation changed to CVA-18 (CVA = attack carrier) and finally CVS-18 (anti-submarine carrier) as its mission changed and it was modified.

Good Mornin Jim,
Thanks, yes I do believe that I remember my Pop saying that there was a previous Wasp that was sunk earlier in the war.....

He has some neat pictures of the flight deck that was curled over from stuffing the ship into some gigantic waves during one of the typhons they got caught in out in the pacific

I get sea sick just looking at the pics !

They ended up going into Pearl Harbor to get it repaired !

 

[irvingj]

Fascinating post!

MossRoad-- I've bookmarked your link; next time my uncle comes to visit, if he's able.... I'll show him the link. He was the gunnery officer on the Yorktown CV-5.

One of the last off before it was sunk, he still maintains to this day that the Japanese torpedo didn't hit the Yorktown, but the destroyer (forgot name) that was tied up next to it supplying power while they waited for the blown-out boiler(s) to cool down so they could be re-lit.

The destroyer (Hammond?)'s deck was loaded with depth charges; he believes that when it went down, it tore the bottom out of the Yorktown when it and all of its depth charges blew. Cmdr Harvey Lasell, USN(Ret).

When I can get him to talk about it, he has some very interesting --and sometimes quite humorous-- stories to tell.

 

[jinman]

He has some neat pictures of the flight deck that was curled over from stuffing the ship into some gigantic waves during one of the typhons they got caught in out in the pacific

I get sea sick just looking at the pics !

They ended up going into Pearl Harbor to get it repaired !

Scotty, just think about those poor sailors aboard the tin can destroyers who really deserved to be drawing submarine pay for all the time their ships spent underwater. It was not uncommon for those ships to take "green" water all the way up to the bridge. Even on the 535' cruisers I served aboard, it was common practice to make fun of carrier sailors who complained of rough seas. They would "brown their britches" over a 10 degree roll, but my first cruise off of Cape Hatteras produced a 57 degree roll as we were turning to go back and help some destroyers who could not keep up with us. In calm water, our ship would never have uprighted itself from such a roll.

 

[RobertN]

USS Hornet damage from typhoon
http://www.navsource.org/archives/02/021203.jpg

USS Wasp typhoon damage
http://www.navsource.org/archives/02/021847.jpg

USS Benington typhoon damage
http://www.navsource.org/archives/02/022025.jpg

There are more pictures of all three ships, the waves, and damage. One shows planes strewn upside down on the flight dec
Aircraft Carrier Photo Index: USS WASP (CV-18)

He has some neat pictures of the flight deck that was curled over from stuffing the ship into some gigantic waves during one of the typhons they got caught in out in the pacific

 

[dmccarty]

I have been on the USS Alabama and the sub that is docked nearby. Was it the USS Drum submarine? That was along time ago. They had a news paper article in one of the 16 inch turrent about a very skinny man who was able to crawl through on of the guns.

NC has the USS North Carolina at Wilmington. ::Welcome to the Battleship North Carolina BB55::. They used 16 inch shells to line the parking lots and roads to the ship.

In some ways the ships are pretty crude. Just big huge hunks of steel. You really noticed the change in technology since the ship was built. The fire control computer is a pretty huge space. I bet my el cheapo cell phone has more memory and CPU power.

But all of that makes what the crew and ships did all the more impressive.

When I visited the USS NC they were redoing her wood decks. They pull up the old Teak and sold it in junks for $5 which I bought. I bet the chunk of wood has some stories....

Later,
Dan

 

[Bird]

Yep, Dan, it's the Drum there with the USS Alabama. Very interesting tours. Of course, it's been awhile since we were there; November 12, 1991, to be exact.

 

[scott_vt]

Scotty, just think about those poor sailors aboard the tin can destroyers who really deserved to be drawing submarine pay for all the time their ships spent underwater. It was not uncommon for those ships to take "green" water all the way up to the bridge. Even on the 535' cruisers I served aboard, it was common practice to make fun of carrier sailors who complained of rough seas. They would "brown their britches" over a 10 degree roll, but my first cruise off of Cape Hatteras produced a 57 degree roll as we were turning to go back and help some destroyers who could not keep up with us. In calm water, our ship would never have uprighted itself from such a roll.

Good Evenin Jim,
Well that leaves me out !

I have spent plenty pf time on boats and that just doesnt sound like much fun !

 

[mjarrels]

Even on a large aircraft carrier, seas get a little ruff going around cape horn of south america. People really turn green!

mark

 

[Ace Ford]

My father served on the USS Lexington during WWII. I was fortunate enough to go with him to tour it (it's a floating museum in Corpus Christi, TX now) back on the 50th anniversary of the end of that war. When entering the ship you are requested to sign a guest book. I didn't know that they immediately checked names to see if a Lady Lex veteran had entered. A few moments after we entered, the loud speakers came on and they "piped" aboard my father, listing his rank as chief petty officer, decorations, and war service duty. Everyone stopped what they were doing and applauded. It was a great moment for my father and me. He's gone now, but not forgotten.

 

[MossRoad]

My father served on the USS Lexington during WWII. I was fortunate enough to go with him to tour it (it's a floating museum in Corpus Christi, TX now) back on the 50th anniversary of the end of that war. When entering the ship you are requested to sign a guest book. I didn't know that they immediately checked names to see if a Lady Lex veteran had entered. A few moments after we entered, the loud speakers came on and they "piped" aboard my father, listing his rank as chief petty officer, decorations, and war service duty. Everyone stopped what they were doing and applauded. It was a great moment for my father and me. He's gone now, but not forgotten.

Wow! I bet that was a special moment for both of you! Very classy.