Kearsarge (CVS 33) - Naval Cruise Book

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Created for Reflections 1964, Calvin Kearsarge was thus born. . .a reflection of those things happy, sometimes sad, the good times mingled with the bad. of things funny and of things to be remember- ed. Calvin is not typical of Mr. Kearsarge. but thinking back we all remember those impossible moments and the funnv circumstances. . .Thus it is Calvin who cruises with us through 1964.

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USS KEARSARGE AIRCRAFT CARRIER By the early 1940 ' s carrier aviation had found its niche in fleet operations and the stage was set for the third and most famous KEARSARGE to take its place as a ship of the line. Commissioned in 1946 USS KEARSARGE (CV-33) patrolled the Atlantic until 1950 and the outbreak of hostilities in Korea. She immediately underwent conversion from Essex to Oriskany Class, and by early 1952 was an attack carrier, ready to perform a vital role as part of Task Force 77 operating off the coast of Korea. The years that followed the long deployment to Korea were filled with service and accom- plishment. During 1954-55 KEARSARGE took part in the evacuation of the Tachen Islands while planes of embarked Air Group ELEVEN flew covering missions. Back in the U.S. in 1956 she was modified with the angled deck and hurricane bow. Late in 1958 Mighty Kay moved from San Diego to Long Beach and launched into her new mission as an Anti- submarine Hunter-Killer Carrier. A most glamourous footnote in KEARSARGE history was the recovery of astronaut CDR W.M. Shirra and his Sigma 7 spacecraft after the six orbit space flight on 3 October 1962, and the subseciuent recovery of Major L. Gorden Cooper at the con- clusion of his 22 orbit MA-9 space flight. . .It was a proud and famous Lady, steeped in tradition and history that put to sea on 19 June 1964 to take her place in the U.S. Far Eastern arsenal.

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THE LIFE WE LEFT On 18 June 1964 the diverse elements came together, the USS Kearsarge from Long Beach and CVSG-53 from San Diego. . . Now welded together as Antisubmarine Warfare Group One.