The USS Essex

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The USS Essex

Picture of USS Essex goes here

The USS Essex was the fourth ship with the same name. She was launched early in 1942, during World War II, to head for the Pacific Ocean. She was hit for the first time by a Japanese kamikaze pilot, when he hit the flight deck landing in planes fully gassed for takeoff. That accident resulted in the deaths of 15 sailors and 44 were injured. There was extensive damage to the Essex. She shortly returned to action after repairs were made. At the end of the war, the Essex earned the Presidential Unit Citation and 13 battle stars for her war service.

She returned to the American mainland in September 1945 to Washington State for inactivation. In early 1947, the Essex was placed out of commission in reserve. A time of modernization gave the Essex a new flight deck and a streamlined island superstructure.

The USS Essex returned to service on January 16, 1951. After a brief cruise in Hawaiian waters, she began the first of three tours in Far Eastern waters during the Korean war. She served as flagship for Carrier Division 1 and T(ask) F(orce)-77. She was the first carrier to launch F2-H "Banshee" twinjet fighters on combat missions. On September 16, 1951, one of these planes, returning from a mission and damaged in aerial combat, was returning to the ship when it crashed into aircraft parked on the forward flight deck causing an explosion and fire which killed seven men. After repairs were made at Yokosuka in Japan, she returned to frontline action on October 3, 1951 to continue air strikes up to the Yalu River in North Korea and provide close air support for U.N. troops.

On December 1, 1953, she started her final tour of the Korean War, sailing the China Sea with the Peace Patrol. From November 1954 to June 1955, she engaged in training exercises, operated for three months with the 7th Fleet, assisted in the Tachen Islands evacuation, and engaged in air operations and fleet manuevers off Okinawa in Japan.

The USS Essex received 4 battle stars and a Navy Unit Commendation for her Korean War service.

PHOTOS OF THE SHIP GOES HERE


	Welcome! \| home The Korean War \| Navy Dad \| The USS Essex \| Korean War Links \| Uncle Didge \| Letters and Stuff \| Family Veterans \| Military Links \| POW/MIAs \| Miscellaneous \| Webmaster \| Awards \| Credits The USS Essex Picture of USS Essex goes here The USS Essex was the fourth ship with the same name. She was launched early in 1942, during World War II, to head for the Pacific Ocean. She was hit for the first time by a Japanese kamikaze pilot, when he hit the flight deck landing in planes fully gassed for takeoff. That accident resulted in the deaths of 15 sailors and 44 were injured. There was extensive damage to the Essex. She shortly returned to action after repairs were made. At the end of the war, the Essex earned the Presidential Unit Citation and 13 battle stars for her war service. She returned to the American mainland in September 1945 to Washington State for inactivation. In early 1947, the Essex was placed out of commission in reserve. A time of modernization gave the Essex a new flight deck and a streamlined island superstructure. The USS Essex returned to service on January 16, 1951. After a brief cruise in Hawaiian waters, she began the first of three tours in Far Eastern waters during the Korean war. She served as flagship for Carrier Division 1 and T(ask) F(orce)-77. She was the first carrier to launch F2-H "Banshee" twinjet fighters on combat missions. On September 16, 1951, one of these planes, returning from a mission and damaged in aerial combat, was returning to the ship when it crashed into aircraft parked on the forward flight deck causing an explosion and fire which killed seven men. After repairs were made at Yokosuka in Japan, she returned to frontline action on October 3, 1951 to continue air strikes up to the Yalu River in North Korea and provide close air support for U.N. troops. On December 1, 1953, she started her final tour of the Korean War, sailing the China Sea with the Peace Patrol. From November 1954 to June 1955, she engaged in training exercises, operated for three months with the 7th Fleet, assisted in the Tachen Islands evacuation, and engaged in air operations and fleet manuevers off Okinawa in Japan. The USS Essex received 4 battle stars and a Navy Unit Commendation for her Korean War service. PHOTOS OF THE SHIP GOES HERE