Bon Homme Richard (CVA 31) - Naval Cruise Book

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de zeaem! Ewzzging 'Me 'fzaaldtdoa into 'Me anime History began for the second USS BON HOMME RICHARD on November 26, 1944, with her commissioning at the New York Navy Yard. Soon afterwards she answered the call of the sea to battle and began making a trail which would see the name BON HOMME RICHARD heralded on the sea, in the air, on two oceans, and in two wars. After training excercises and a shakedown cruise off Trinidad, the ship proceeded to the Bay- onne Navy Yard for post-shakedown repairs before becoming a part of the Pacific Fleet on March 24, 1945. Shortly thereafter, BON HOMME RICHARD was ordered to San Diego to load aircraft and personnel for transportation to Pearl Harbor. Thirty-three and one-half hours later, on April 1, 1945, she departed San Diego arriving at Pearl Harbor on April 5, 1945. While conducting training operations in the Pacific, a night air group was assigned, making her a night aircraft carrier. This was shortly after the ENTERPRISE, which was then the only night carrier with the Fast Carrier Task Force, was damaged during operations in support of the Okinawa Campaign. Having joined Task Force 38 at sea the BONNIE DICK flew combat air patrol and launched day and night strikes against Okino and Daito Jima. With Task Force 38, the ship proceeded to the Philippine Islands, and from there participated in operations consisting of air and surface activities against enemy installations. In general, these air strikes and surface bombardments were on Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu and Shikoku, culminat- ing in the cessation of hostilities on August 15, and the formal surrender by the Japanese nation on September 2, 1945. Through September 15, the ship operated off the southern and eastern coast of Honshu, flying Combat Air Patrol, airfield reconnaissance flights, prisoner of war camp reconnaissance flights, and supply drop missions to P.O.W.,s. On September 16, after being continuously underway for 78 highly eventful days, she entered Tokyo Bay and dropped anchor, ending her World War II activities which had given the BONNIE DICK the reputation of being the Black Phantom for repeated night raids by her Night Carrier Air Group. For the remainder of 1945 the ship shuttled between Pacific Island ports transporting passengers for discharge on 'Magic Carpet' duty. By July 31, 1946, she had steamed 92,245 miles since com- missioning and was at that time decommissioned at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington. BON HOMME's days of rest were numbered evepn as she was sealing her last porthole, for Communist aggression was at that very time on the move. Shortly after the Communist invasion of South Korea in June of 1950, the carrier was called out of the reserve. RecommissionedJanuary15, 1951, the ship began strikes against targets in Korea following training operations off California. Throughout the Korean conflict, the 'BONNIE DICK, and her air groups tallied an impressive record of strikes against enemy railroads, hydroelectric projects, industrial areas, aircraft, and other war materials. Following the Korean Conflict, the BON HOMME RICHARD was once again decommissioned on May 15, 1953, and this time went to San Francisco Naval Shipyard to receive a major conversion. San Francisco saw the recommissioning two years later, of the BONNIE DICK with a 'new look.' She now boasted such salient features as an angled flight deck, enclosed hurricane bow, larger capacity elevators, steam catapults, and the latest radar equipment and armament. After 27 months, and having undergone the largest and longest conversion job ever attempted in the yards at Hunteris Point, California, the BONNIE DICK became one of the Navy's most modern carriers. During the years since major reconversion, the BON HOMME RICHARD has logged many firsts as man overboard, general quarters, practice flights, air defense, replenishing and refueling drills have been held. Underway training, timely periods at sea, minor and major missions, fleet reviews, fleet activity participation, and ambassador of good will to the peoples of the world are a part of her peacetime purpose. The title Ready Ambassadors for Peace has been earned by the men of this ship which is active in the President's People-to-People program, and makes her crew proud to be part of 21 great ship, the USS BON HOMME RICHARD, CVA-31.

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