Bon Homme Richard (CVA 31) - Naval Cruise Book

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When the sea first called a Bon Homme Richard to war, the United States was but a grand proposition and the principles of freedom and independence set forth for a new republic were very much in danger. Realizing that British maritime might threat- ened the growth of American seapower during the Revolutionary War, Captain John Paul Jones, a Colonial naval officer of Scottish birth, was sent to France to procure a squadron with which to raid English shipping near the British home islands. In forming a squadron of American and French ships, Capt. Jones was given com- mand on Feb. 4, 1779, of the Duc de Duras, a weak, old, notoriously slow sailing merchant- man which had already completed two voyages to Far Eastern ports in India and China. Capt. Jones had received the Indianman from the King of France with the aid of American Commissioner to France Benjamin Franklin, so Jones renamed the vessel, after refltting and arming, the Bon Homme Richard to honor Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanac U. Bon Homme Richard is idiomatic French for poor Richard . When the sea first called the 152-foot conti- nental frigate forth under Yankee colors, the tired old ship was met with misfortune after misfortune in form of fog, gales, collision, and squadron dissension among captains before the Richard was to enter its final hour of service. After sailing from L' Orient, France, June 19, 1779, the Bon Homme led a seven ship squadron toward England. Two French ships were lost in a fog and the remaider of the fleet debated an attack on fortified Edinburgh Castle. After abandoning the Edinburgh attack and experiencing dissension among French captains who did not respect his command, Capt. J ones rendezvoused the squadron near Flamborough Head, Scotland, where the British Baltic merchant fleet was sighted in Bridlington Bay. The American squadron attacked sections of the fleet by nightfall with the Bon Homme Richard encountering the small two-decker, H.M. F rigate Serapis commanded by Capt. Richard Pearson. After exchange of broadsides, it became evident that the situation of the Richard was tragic from the beginning. As the battle continued, the disparity of fire- power was telling as the Richard's decks and rigging fell to pieces under the British cannon. When it seemed that the Yankee vessel, manned by American sailors and French soldiers, would surely be lost without a glimpse of victory, Capt. Jones proved that the sea was his home and he wise in its ways. The American commander headed his ship into a collision with the Serapis and brought heavy and accurate musket fire down upon her decks, forcing her gunners away from her cannon. The Serapis managed one more broadside that almost sank the Bon Homme. Over half of the Richard's gunners and deck hands were dead or wounded. The American Frigate Alliance had come alongside, failed to recogize which was the enemy ship in the moonlight, and fired several boadside into the Richard and the Serapis. Fire broke out on both ships. Over three feet of water now frlled the Bon Homme Richard's hold. It was then that the sea chose to bestow immortality to the sinking borrowed frigate, her battered crew, and most of all, her plucky captain. A crewman turned to Capt. Jones and called for him to strike the Richard's colors. The reply: I may sink, but will never strike. Capt. Pearson, hearing only part of the converstation, called out Quarter, Captain? Are you asking for quarter?,' I have not yet begun to fightlv was the undy- ing epithet of John Paul Jones. He made good his word. He successfully boarded the Serapis, took her, and hoisted the American colors from her staff. But the Bon Homme Richard, with American, French, and English dead transferred aboard, sank. The Serapis was sailed to Texel, Holland, where she was anchored on Oct. 3, 1779 and subsequently sold. Capt. Jones took command of the Alliance. the first bon homme richard to meet the sea had cz short We

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jim and our enemy Our country This is the story of the men and the sea and their home. It is the story of the U.S.S. Bon Homme Richard QCVA-31D and its trip to the Far East from the late summer of 1956 until the early spring of 1957. It is the story of men-their hopes and their dreams and their memories. This is the story of a ship. It is neither a happy ship or a sad ship nor a good ship or a had ship-but is all of these things. Like a beautiful Woman the Bon Homme has many moods. This is the story of admirals and seamen. . . of men who climb lines and men who fly planes. It is the story of the men of the Bon Homme Richard, the men of Carrier Division Seven, and the men of Carrier Air Group 21. It is our story. Bon voyage.

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When the sea again called a Bon Homme Richard to battle, it was to further the same cause at its namesake-and to combat essential- ly the same enemy, aggressive totalitarianism. Upon commissioning at New York Navy Yard, Nov. 26, 1944, aircraft carrier No. 31 slid down the ways to an era which would see the name Bon Homme Richard heralded on the sea, in the air, on two oceans, in two wars. Previously, the name Bon Homme Richard was assigned to the CV-10 which was under construction early in World War II on the East Coast. However, when the USS Yorktown CCV-5D was sunk at the Battle of Midway, the Navy decided to assign the name Yorktown i' to the CV-10 hull and use the Bon Homme Richard name at a later date. With training exercises completed, the Richard entered the Pacific theater against the retreating Japanese. The ship, with several air groups embarked, participated in attacks on enemy islands and the Japanese homeland. Following the surrender, the ship served as a troop transport on several Magic Carpet cruises bringing American the present shqy has seen its share 0 combat men home. The Bon Homme was decommissioned Jan. 9, 1947, at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Wash., and placed in the Heet reserve. Shortly after the Communist invasion of South Korea in June, 1950, the carrier was called out of the reserve. Recommissioned Jan. 15, 1951, the ship began strikes against targets in Korea following training operations off California. Throughout the Korean confiict, the Richard and her air groups tallied an impressive record of strikes against enemy railheads, hydroelectric projects, industrial areas, aircraft, and other war material. Following the 'cpolice action the Bon Homme Richard was again decommissioned on May 15, 1953, and taken to San Francisco Naval Shipyard to receive a major reconversion. Boasting such new salient features as an angled flight deck, enclosed hurricane bow, strengthened angle flight deck, elevators with a larger capacity, steam catapults in addition to the latest radar equiment, and armament, the present Richard was recommissioned Sept. 6, 1955 at San Francisco.