Yorktown (CVS 10) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 16 text:

,. .,.. -,,- 1- And so it went for six more months until. the Japanese capitulation. On August 15, 1945, the Commander-ln-Chief, Pacific Fleet ordered a cessation of all offensive operations and one episode in the life of a great fighting ship was brought to a close. It is indicative of YORKTOWN's spirit that even during the rage of battle there had been comical moments. One was the landing of Marine pilots. Three Marines had become lost during a 30,000 feet air patrol over Okinawa and had wandered several hundred miles out to sea. They were almost out of fuel when YORK- TOWN picked up their distress calls. Though none had ever Fniade ia carrier' landing they were directed to awsafeireturn aboard. One Marine who made a perfect recovery asked afterwards, What was that man doing waving those pallets back therew? He was quickly an- swered by a sailor who said ubrother, he's the Landing Signal Officer, and he was giving you a wave-offln In January, 1947, YORKTOWN was de- comissioned and attached to the Pacific Re- serve Fleet. Five years later she was recom- inissioned CVA-10 and pounded Communist supply lines until the end of the Korean conflict.

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By now the crew of the Fighting Lady must have felt invincible. They,had participated in numerous actions and had repelled repeated air and sub attacks by luck, maneuvering, and a constant flow ot hot lead from theiir5uns.t 18 March 1945, the spell was broken. lronically, a minor skirmish dealt YORKTOWN her sole injury of the war. Her log reports: Q 1500 Third Hludyw came out of the clouds dead ahead and dropped awbomb that landed on the starboardisignal bridge, passed through that deck and down through 20 MMM' battery number seven, exploding alongside near the second deck. Three men were killed and 18 wounded h l 12 and 19 Sq ft were tom in the side of the ship- The Judy began two o es, - -v ' ' ' . huted. . . disintegratlng on Pull Out and the Japs parac n . I h hout . - ' ly as she remained completely operationa t roug . The YORKTOWN was finally hu, though not SCHOUS 1

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Modernized several times since Korea, YORKTOWN received her latest major modifi- cation in 1958, when she was configured to Carry out a new mission as the nucleus of a Hunter-Killer ASW Force and was redesignated CVS-10. She has made several cruises to the Western Pacific supporting her country,s policy in the Far East. With the end of overt hostilities, one might assume YORKTOWN's role in history is ended and the days of ships of the line are over. The Fighting Lady has made eight cruises to the Far East since Korea. She has represented America in the Straits of Formosa, Sea of Ja- pan, and the Tonkin Gulf. She has saved lives and she has taken them. And her men sail to- day experiencing the same fears and joy as did those who sailed her in World War II. It is they who keep YORKTOWN alive.