Yorktown (CVS 10) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 19 text:

Steaming out of Puget Sound for a test run of her engines, The Fighting Lady is once again ready to roam the high seas. XTENSIVE modernization during the months at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard showed few visible ch-anges. Her topside gun mounts had been removed and her outmoded island structure had been replaced with a narrow more streamlined structure, but outwardly she appeared the same. Only a trained eye could tell that her 65 million dollar face lifting had fitted her for her new 'jet age role. From the first day that she put to sea for engine trials, you could tell that she had lost none of her gallant, steadfast, adventuresome spirit that had earned her the title of Fighting Lady in World War II. Ca ptain Nation takes command.

Page 18 text:

Rear Admiral Smith, Commanclani, I3+h Naval District, introduces representative crewmen to I guests during recommissioning ceremony. OR SIX long years following World War ll she had lain idle in a part of the Pacific Reserve Fleet at Bremerton, Washington, her great past by then almost forgotten. Then, early in 1952 she awoke to the hollow ringing of footsteps echoing through her empty bowels as workmen from the nearby ship- yard came to fetch her. For many months she had seen her sister ships spring into action, and she remembered the tales of those who returned. She knew that war clouds once again had gathered in the Far East. As one by one other ships were called to do their part, she ached in every seam to join them, to once again part the waves and rush down upon the enemy . . . screaming defiance from every gun and every plane. Now her chance had come at last . . . she was to be reactivated. So it was, on December 15, 1952 ,... six years, five months and 241 days after being placed in the moth- ball fleet . . . that again she rang to the laughter and the good natured cursing of her new crew and to the commands of her new skipper. This then is the story of a ship with many names . . . kind names, abusive names . . . happy names. This then is the story of the Yorktown . . . aThe Fighting Lady. First slice of recommissioning cake is cut by Mrs. Nation, with the Skipper assisting.

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The Oakland Bay Bridge as it appears in the late evening. 1 l SAN F ANG SCU N FEBRUARY 20, 1953, two months after commissioning ceremonies were held, dock trials completed, and the Black Gangv had announced they were delighted with the performance of the g'Lady,s,7 power plant, the Yorktown got underway for Ala- meda, California to take on aviation stores, fuel and gasoline in preparation for under- way training to be held in San Diego. She caught her first glimpse, in over six years, of the Golden Gate early on the morning of the 21st, After four days alongside the dock at Alameda she was underway again, this time for San Diego. On board, were the first 20 of several hundred Secretary of the Navy guests that were to follow, and eventually cause her crew to proudly duh her 'Ullhe Show- boat.