Essex (CVS 9) - Naval Cruise Book

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, ,,f..,,-L, V. Mg.-,.m-V-11-:fr-1-Q-vcw'ff:rm2f12vs9725gi1e :bc J, -. 1- ev .,s-,fb 151 gud- 'viii-afhkgg.: -1a'fiJ':7'Yf' ,J-s -7'Jf5':!i 'ff ' 1 '28 Q ff rf . t A - 1, W, - asss or-'fs r in Z , ' , be xxx. . .i On 16 September, a damaged F2H, in at- tempting to land, cleared all three barriers and crashed into parked planes on the star- board bow, starting a serious fire. After successfully bombing targets over North Korea, two F2H Ban- shees prepare to approach for landing on board ESSEX. An at-sea blizzard slowed operations of Task Force 77 and flight deck crews had to pause in their cycle of launching and re- covering air craft to shovel ice and snow from the flight deck. 4 gm!

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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.

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THE PEACEFUL PACIFIC .,..- . Orff K ky.. I : ESSEX slips under the Golden Gate Bridge and into San Francisco Bay, following the completion of their second Korean Cruise. During the balance of 1953, and during all of 1954, ESSEX operated between the San Diego Operational area, and the Philippines, where she conducted launching exercises in the South China Sea and Manila Bay. In this period of activity, she operated with many other ships, including PHILIPPINE SEA, TARAWA, PRINCETON, WASP, HELENA, KEARSAGE, and others, conducting carrier qualifications and other training de- signed to maintain the maximum readiness of the embarked air group and crew should ESSEX be needed anywhere for active combat. During July, 1955, she again entered Puget Sound Navy Yard for overhaul, and remained there for the balance of the year and during the winter months of 1956. When she left the Bremerton Yard in March, she emerged with a longer deck of 889 feet, an angled deck, a hurricane bow, a second deck-edge elevator, as well as a larger displacement. She resumed operations in the San Diego Operations Area, conducting air defense exercises and other maneuvers and drills off the California coast. Then, on 16 July, 1956, she departed San Diego for a peace-time cruise to the Western Pacific. ESSEX made calls at Pearl Harbor, Kobe and Sasebo, Japan, and Subic Bay, Philippines, before returning to the States in January, 1957. ESSEX then rounded Cape Horn, to ioin the Atlantic Fleet. En route from one coast to the other, she stopped at Balboa, Valparaiso and Rio de Janeiro, arriving in Mayport, Florida, her new home port, on 1 August 1957. Wives of ESSEX crew members wave good-bye -again-as ESSEX departs for a peaceful cruise to WESTPAC. 1 I., I I f-. 'UU If M