Hancock (CVA 19) - Naval Cruise Book

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1944 USS HANCOCK CVA-19— ' 31 Over the course of our nation ' s history five ships have been named Hancock in honoj of the first signer of the Declara- irf. Independence, John Hancock. : was a Continental schooner Ityed in the fleet of General hington during the Revolu- whici Georg tionary Aided by tl second Hanc lerican ship Boston, the -gun frigate, cap- tured the prize British frigate Fox in one of the earliest sea battles of the Revolu- tion. The British searched for the ship, and after two days of searching, HMS Rainbow sighted Hancock, which tried to elude the enemy until the prize could be harbored in America. After two days, however. Rainbow captured Hancock, which was renamed HMS iris and became known as one of the fastest frigates of her day. s:i . ■ ?!jWv

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I On Top of It All

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1975 Years of History and Pride ' A screw steamer named John Hancock, the third HANCOCK was launched at Boston Navy Yard on October 26, 1850, manned by a temporary crew and sent to aid in quelling riots at nearby New Bed- ford, Massachusetts, before assuming her intended position as a midshipmen trainer at the U.S. Naval Academy in 1851. at New York and in the West Indies, Mex- ico and South America. The current HANCOCK was com- missioned at Quincy, Massachusetts, In April 1944 as part of a fleet of ships con- structed to help end World War II In the Pacific. Originally owned by the War Depart- She served her country as the newest in ment, the fourth H ANCOCK, a ' 44, and in 75, as the oldest, she still transportship, served as a receiving ship serves.