Essex (CVS 9) - Naval Cruise Book

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PN' , f X A r 1..-il g , : 3 .-cw- 'f. arms -g.- -syn.. -1 -gm.-s':: ,,.:,, it ji Q , H ESSEX appeared all but deserted as she lay in drydock at Puget Sound iust prior to her recommissioning. The Fightin'est Ship in the Fleet was home Home was the sailor, home from the seas. Home was the Fightin'est ship in the Fleet, her battles over, her title won, re- won, her name and her spirit famous. Home was ESSEX from the war. lt had been a great struggle, and ESSEX's efforts had been equally as great. The ship broke many new records and estab- lished many firsts. The ship was credited with more ships sunk, and more planes downed than any other ship operating in the Pacific Theatre. Her men gave of themselves all that there was to give, and then they gave some more. They participated in every major engagement ofthe war, and saw action through- out the Pacific, as the war progressed on bloody stepping stones north to Tokyo. They earned the right to call themselves the Fightin'est by their every action, and this gallantry was rewarded by their Citation from the President of the United States. But the war was over, and the fighting at an end . . . ESSEX was home, and tired. On 13 March 1946 she was towed from California to the Naval Station, Seattle, Washington and there on 9 January, 1947, she was placed out of com- mission in reserve. For two years, ESSEX lay decommissioned, exhausted by her travels, and by the intensive periods of combats she had sustained. But, in 1949, she was brought out of retirement, and was literally rebuilt by the Navy Yard at Bremerton, Washing- ton. A new 887' fiight deck was added, a streamlined island structure, and a greater displacement by several thousand tons. On 15 January 1951 at Puget Sound, ESSEX was recom- missioned. Among the distinguished guests to witness the re- birth of this great ship were Fleet Admiral Nimitz, Vice Admiral Murry and Vice Admiral Durgen. Captain Austin W. Wheelock assumed command and ESSEX departed the shipyard 6 March 1951 for San Diego, California. The world was again restless. Hostilities had broken out in Korea, in June of 1950, and the United States was deeply in- volved in this police action. Once again, the need for this mighty ESSEX was felt, and she was called to the Pacific for active duty in the Korean campaign.

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I ESSEX commenced air operations shortly after ioining Task Force 77. KOREA Peace patrol, police action, 'international conflict . . . the headlines called it everything, but ESSEX was once again at war. On 28 June 1951, with CVG-5 embarked, ESSEX departed San Diego, arriving at Pearl Harbor on 3 July. After a month of training exercises in the Hawaiian area, RADM J. Perry, COM- CARDIV I, broke his flag aboard ESSEX and preparations were made to depart for Yokosuka, Japan. ESSEX joined Task Force 77 off the coast of Japan on 22 August, and with BON HOMME RICHARD, BOXER, NEW JER- SEY, HELENA, TOLEDO, LOS ANGELES, and a host of de- stroyers, she commenced her participation in the strikes against the Korean peninsula. From 18 August through 19 September, ESSEX launched 1826 sorties. Her planes supported United Nations ground forces advancing north of the thirty-eighth parallel. Her support included close and deep support, photo and armed reconnais- sance, interdiction of enemy supply lines, and strikes against major installations. Her planes brought heavy damage to tanks, trucks, cars, bridges, supply dumps, gun emplacements, rail- road facilities, and killed some 1072 troops. Her operations off the east coast of Korea continued throughout the fall, with her planes causing damage to convoys as far away as Yangdok. In December, RADM Perry relieved RADM F. W. McMahon as CTF 77, and ESSEX's role became even greater, as she now led the Task Force in its striking opera- tions. Strikes continued against North Korean targets in support of ground troops, concentrating on the destruction of railroad installations to hamper the movement of enemy troops through- out the desolate country. During this period of activity, which lasted until 5 March, 1952, her Air Group and crew experienced 94 combat operating days. ESSEX returned to San Diego from her first peace patrol on 25 March 1952, and remained there for nearly three months, during which time she had a yard period in Puget Sound. But by the end of June, she was once again training in the Hawaiian area, ready for another series of operations in the Korean con- flict. ESSEX departed Pearl Harbor on 3 July 1952, and arrived at Subic Bay, Philippine Islands later the same month. On 17 July, RADM A. Soucek, COMCARDIV III, broke flag in ESSEX, I and the next daythe-ship departed Subic Bay in TG 50.8. com- posed of ESSEX, PHILIPPINE SEA and a group of destroyers. Their mission was to make a show of force oFf the China Coast as a deterrent to Communist Chinese aggressive action against Nationalist forces on Formosa, and to bolster Nationalist Chinese morale as well. Mass air parades were staged over the Formosa Straits on 22 and 23 July, and then ESSEX returned to Yokosuka, where RADM Soucek shifted his flag to BOXER. Once more, ESSEX ioined Task Force 77, and continued the program of flight operations in support of ground activities commencing on 1 August. During this combat period, ESSEX Air Group Two made strikes on Changiin, Hamberg, Ambyon, Songjin, and other Korean cities. On 20 August, ESSEX's Air Group joined with the United States Air Force and other United Nations aircraft for coordinated large-scale strikes against supply areas on the west coast of Korea. Again, on 29 August, she contributed 104 sorties to the all-out UN strike at Pyong- ang. Y During October, ESSEX joined with carriers PRINCETON, BON HOMME RICHARD and KEARSAGE, in support of forces in training maneuvers in Koio. She also struck blows at enemy railroad facilities at Hyesaniin, near Manchuria, along the Yalu River during this period. On 17 November, ESSEX operat- ing with ORISKANY, made strikes on Chongiin and Kyongsong, and during December, she bombed Hungyung, Rashin, and Kwangsuwan Airfield. At the end of December, ESSEX participated in a revived all-out main supply route introduction, smashing rail and other facilities. Following that, she embarked on a program of at- tacking enemy front line positions, troop and supply areas. The conflict wore on to its eventual stalemate on the 38th parallel, and peace talks that were to last nearly two years were begun in the compound at PanMunJom. In January, ESSEX was detached from Task Force 77, and sent home. ESSEX returned with her reputation as a fighting member of the U. S. Navy, enriched and enhanced by her hard-working activities in support of the American position in Korea.