Randolph (CV 15) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 15 text:

X '-!.,.f ISTORY OF THE FIRST RANDOLP Our aircraff carrier is fhe second combafanf U. S. naval vessel fo bear fhe name of Randolph. The firsf Randolph was a 32-gun frigafe which carried a crew of 350. Named for Virginia's Revolufionary War pafriof, Peyfon Randolph, fhis ship was one of fhirfeen of her class, builf for fhe Confinenfal Navy in I776 on fhe hisforic Delaware River, near Philadelphia. Her capfain was Philadelphia's gallanf officer, Nicholas Biddle. Sailing from fhaf cify in I777, she scoured Aflanfic coasfal and Caribbean wafers for enemy Brifish bloclraders. Among fhe prizes which she capfured was fhe 20-gun warship, Brifon. In March, I778, she encounfered fhe Brifish ship-of-fhe-line, Yarmou'l'h, a 64-gun frigafe. Early in fhe fighf Capfain Biddle was injured. Esfablishing a Randolph fradifion, he refused fo go below, and insfead direcfed operafions from a chair on deck. The baffle was shorf buf furious. Alfhough Randolph was desfroyed by a shof info her magazine, she firsf gave a good accounf of herself, smashing fha fopmasfs and bowsprif of her more powerful foe. Modern-day successor fo fhis fighfing Revolufionary War ship, Randolph CV-IS, has carried ouf fhe frigafe's never-say-die fradifions. And by launching planes which sank 87,000 fons of Japanese ships, nof fo menfion fhe ofher damage done, she has added new.lusfre fo fhe record of Randolph againsf fhe enemy.

Page 14 text:

, X M'- H I ,LHAE ,,, ., -...,f.-.,d.f.,.fif.---- -f -.... .--H Q- . . Y ' eu..-Q... ' ' ' ' ' ,g 4-41. Y i v Y g ,V Wy, ,, ,,,,.. ,, ,.. . . 4.. Q... .... ua .'.. ., v r wr- ......-.-,..-.- vu?-.tn-may inner: A f' lv- ' - - , , '- 4 .e 1 s, ' i f mm 'l I 1 ., I , ,ui 5 K Q , 1. .e ' - iitibmll ., .........., u. 'ef -iff L11----11-H 'P PEYTON RANDOLPH The man who has been honored by having Two fighling ships, a colonial frigale and a World War ll aircrall carrier, bear his name is Peylon Randolph, dislinguished Revolulionary War palriol of Virginia. Born in l72l, he graclualecl from William and Mary College and laler wenl' lo England 'lo sludy law al' l'he Temple. He was appoinled King's AH'orney of Virginia in l748, and framed 'lhe remon- sfrance fo the King againsl' passage of 'lhe Slamp Ao+. Chosen Presidenl' of 'l'he Firsfl Con+inen'ral Congress, which mel' al Philadelphia, Seplember 5, I774, and again elecled when if reassembled May l0, l775, +he same year of his dealh. A long-lime friend of George Washing+on, he served his counlry wi'l'h dislinclion and l'lOnOl . -. , ,,. ..... - . -va ......p 4- ,- A-t.ha1--Ln,1.ll'w:-.M -5 5-1- , . . -

Page 16 text:

i.-.1 l Q , X X ty., . , k. 1 gn' c ,M 1 4 ' if - .,. -J..4.... - ,LM . . M- CAPTAIN FELIX BAKER, USN Served as Commanding Officer from commissioning uniil 26 July l945. A graduaie of U. S. Naval Academy Class of i920 and a Naval Aviaior since l924, lie was our slcipper for The Firsi Raids on Tolcyo and during +l1e arduous Okinawa campaign.