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| (CVA-34: dp. 27,100; 1. 888'; b. 147'6" (ew.); dr. 31'; s. 33 k.;cpl. 3,460; a. 8 5", 14 3", 80 ae.; cl. Oriskany)
Oriskany (CVA-34), an attack aircraft carrier was laid down 1 May 1944by the New York Naval Shipyard, launched 13 October 1945; and sponsored by Mrs. Clarence Cannon. While still incomplete, her construction was suspended12 August 1947. She remained in a state of preservation until after theoutbreak of hostilities in Korea in June 1950, then was rushed to completion.She commissioned in the New York Naval Shipyard 25 September 1950, Capt.Percy H. Lyon in command. Oriskany departed New York 6 December 1950 for carrier qualificationoperations off Jacksonville, Fla. followed by a Christmas call at Newport,R. I. She resumed operations off Jacksonville through 11 January 1951, whenshe embarked Carrier Air Group 1 for shakedown out of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. After major modifications at New York Naval Shipyard 6 March through2 April, she embarked Carrier Air Group 4 for training off Jacksonville,then departed Newport 15 May 1951 for Mediterranean deployment with the 6th Fleet. For the next few months she added her far-reaching air arm to the strengthof the 6th Fleet, the silent, flexible, and controlling weapon of deterrenceto overt Soviet aggression in the Mediterranean and the Near East. The mobile7th Fleet was deeply committed to a shooting war to help restore the independenceand freedom of South Korea. Oriskany was part of the affirmative answer to the crucial question as to whether the Korean War would have an affectupon the Navy's ability to maintain the status quo in the Mediterranean. Having swept from ports of Italy and France to those of Greece and Turkey,thence to the shores of Tripoli, Oriskany returned to Quonset Point, R.I. 4 October 1951. She entered Gravesend Bay, New York 6 November 1951 tooffload ammunition and to have her masts removed to allow passage underthe East River Bridges to the New York Naval Shipyard. Overhaul includedthe installation of a new flight deck, steering system, and bridge. Workwas complete by 15 May 1952 and the carrier steamed the next day to takeon ammunition at Norfolk 19-22 May. She then got underway to join the Pacific Fleet, steaming via Guantanamo Bay, Rio de Janeiro, Cape Horn, Valparaiso,and Lima, arriving San Diego, Calif. 21 July. Following carrier qualifications for Air Group 102, Oriskany departedSan Diego 15 September 1952 to aid UN forces in Korea. She arrived Yokosuka17 October and joined Fast Carrier Task Force 77 off the Korean Coast 31October. Her aircraft struck hard with bombing and strafing attacks againstenemy supply lines and coordinated bombing missions with surface gunstrikesalong the coast. Her pilots downed two Soviet-built MIG-15 jets and damageda third 18 November. Strikes continued through 11 February, heaping destruction upon enemyartillery positions, troop emplacements, and supply dumps along the mainbattle front. Following a brief upkeep period in Japan, Oriskany returned to combat 1 March 1953. She continued in action until 29 March, called at Hong Kong, then resumed air strikes 8 April. She departed the Korean Coast 22 April, touched at Yokosuka, and then departed for San Diego 2 May, arriving there 18 May. Following readiness training along the California coast, Oriskany departedSan Francisco 14 September to aid the 7th Fleet watching over the uneasytruce in Korea, arriving Yokosuka 15 October. Thereafter she cruised theSea of Japan the East China Sea, and the area of the Philippines. Afterproviding air support for Marine amphibious assault exercises at Iwo Jima,the carrier returned to San Diego 22 April 1954. She entered San FranciscoNaval Shipyard for modernization overhaul completed 22 October when shestood out to sea for the first of a series of coastal operations. Oriskany arrived at Yokosuka from San Francisco 2 April 1955, and operatedwith the Fast Carrier Task Force ranging from Japan and Okinawa to the Philippines.This deployment ended 7 September and the carrier arrived Alameda, Calif.21 September. The attack carrier cruised the California Coast while qualifying pilotsof Air Group 9, then put to sea from Alameda 11 February 1956 for anotherrigorous Westpac deployment. She returned to San Francisco 13 June and enteredthe ship~yard for overhaul 1 October. She decommissioned there 2 January1957 for modernization work that included a new angled flight deck and enclosedhurricane bow. New, powerful steam catapults were installed by the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Wash. Oriskany recommissioned at the San Francisco Naval Shipyard 7 March 19.59,Capt. James Mahan Wright in command. Four days later she departed for shakedownout of San Diego with Carrier Air Group 14 embarked. Operations along thewest coast continued until 14 May 1960, when she again deployed to Westpac,returning to San Diego 15 December. She entered San Francisco Naval Shipyard30 March 1961 for a five-month overhaul that included the first aircraftcarrier installation of the Naval Tactical Data System (NTDS). Oriskany departed the shipyard 9 September for underway training outof San Diego until 7 June 1962 when she again deployed to the Far East withCarrier Air Group 16 embarked. She returned to San Diego 17 December 1962for operational readiness training off the west coast. The carrier again stood out of San Diego 1 August 1963 for Far Easternwaters, with Carrier Air Group 16 embarked. She arrived Subic Bay 31 August1963; thence to Japan. She stood out of Iwakuni, Japan the morning of 31October enroute the coast of South Vietnam. There she stood by for any eventualityas word was received of the coup d'etat taking place in Saigon. When thecrisis abated, the carrier resumed operations from Japanese ports. Oriskany returned to San Diego 10 March 1964. After overhaul at PugetSound Naval Shipyard she steamed for refresher training out of San Diego,followed by qualifications for Carrier Wing 16. During this period her flightdeck was used to test the E-2A "Hawkeye," the Navy's new airborneearly warning aircraft. She also provided orientation to senior officersof eight allied nations. Oriskany departed San Diego 5 April 1965 for Westpac, arriving Subic27 April. By this time more United States troops kind landed in South Vietnamto support Vietnamese troops against increased Viet Cong pressure to destroythe independence of that nation. Oriskany added her weight to the massiveAmerican naval strength supporting the freedom of South Vietnam. In combatoperations that brought her and embarked Carrier Wing 16 the Navy Unit Commendationfor exceptionally meritorious service between 10 May and 6 December 1965,she carried out over 12,000 combat sorties and delivered nearly 10,000 tons of ordnance against enemy forces. She departed Subic Bay 30 November andreturned to San Diego 16 December. Oriskany again stood out of San Diego for the Far East 26 May 1966, arrivingYokosuka 14 June. She steamed for "Dixie Station" off South Vietnam27 June. Wearisome days and nights of combat shifted to "Yankee Station"in the Gulf of Tonkin 8 July. In the following months there were brief respitesfor replenishment in Subic Bay. Then back into the action that saw her launch 7,794 combat sorties. The carrier was on station the morning of 27 October 1966 when a fireerupted on the starboard side of the ship's forward hanger bay and racedthrough five decks, claiming the lives of 44 men. Many who lost their liveswere veteran combat pilots who had flown raids over Vietnam a few hoursearlier. Oriskany had been put in danger when a magnesium parachute flare exploded in the forward flare locker of Hanger Bay 1, beneath the carrier'sflight deck. Her crewmen performed fantastic feats in jettisoning heavybombs which lay within reach of the flames. Other men wheeled planes out of danger, rescued pilots, and helped quell the blaze through three hoursof prompt and daring actions. Medical assistance was rushed to the carrierfrom sister aircraft carriers Constellation and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Oriskany steamed to Subic Bay 28 October, where victims of the fire weretransferred to waiting aircraft for transportation to the United States.A week later the carrier departed for San Diego, arriving 16 November. San Francisco Bay Naval Shipyard completed repairs 23 March 1967 and Oriskany with Carrier Air Wing 16 embarked, underwent training. She then stood outof San Francisco Bay 16 June to take station in waters off Vietnam. Designatedflagship of Carrier Division 9 in Subic Bay 9 July, she commenced "YankeeStation" operations 14 July. While on the line 26 July she providedmedical assistance to the fire-ravaged attack carrier Forrestal. Oriskany returned to the Naval Air Station pier at Alameda Calif. 31January 1968, and entered San Francisco Bav Naomi Shipyard 7 February foran eight,month overhaul. Upon completion of work the carrier underwent refresher training and flight qualifications before deploying to the Far East in April1969. Into 1970 she continues to serve her nation in the Pacific. Oriskany received two battle stars for Korean Service and five for Vietnamese service. USS Oriskany Reunion Association. Click here! |
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