Warbird Information Exchange

Anyone know the name of the last straight deck Essex Class carrier that operated?

Seems such a shame that one of those straight deck carriers weren't preserved. I understand why it didn't happen but it's still a shame

I don't know the last operational straight deck Essex class carrier, but the last one available for saving was the USS Bunker Hill. I recall this because there was an effort to which I donated back in the early '70's that was trying to save the ship specifically because she was not altered. Sadly, that effort failed and she was scrapped.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Bunker_Hill_(CV-17)

-Tom

Further to the discussion, there's some hair-splitting as to which straight decks were last to operate. The reason is: operate as what? If it's "operate as a full-service carrier", then I believe the USS Oriskany was the last to be converted to an angled deck. If it's "operate in any fashion", then it was probably the USS Boxer, USS Princeton, and/or USS Valley Forge, as those ships were redesignated as helicopter carriers and operated with straight decks till their demise.

The "Post-War Rebuilds" section at this link will give you some idea of how the class went through conversions:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essex-clas ... ft_carrier

-Tom

Great pictures, I'll have to add them to the carriers section

http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/NARG/carriers.html

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Part 4


USS Chenango (CVE 28), P40 aircraft on board, October 1942


USS Bogue (CVE 9) loading planes for ferry duty, at Pier 14, Staten Island, New York. Photographed January 16, 1944


P-47's on the deck of the USS Mission Bay


P-40K's from the Escort carrier USS Breton


An OS2U Kingfisher seaplane is craned aboard the auxiliary carrier Charger (ACV 30) in 1942


Lockheed PV-1 Ventura Loading Aboard CVE-69 Kasaan Bay 1944


Lockheed PV-1 Ventura Loading Aboard CVE-69 Kasaan Bay 1944 II


Lockheed PV-1 Ventura on Deck of CVE-69 Kasaan Bay in SF Bay Area 1944

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Part 5

Below is the USS Wasp delivering RAF Spitfires to Malta in 1942

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Part 6




Fleet Air Arm Swordfish Buzz USS Wasp 1942


Fleet Air Arm 813 Squadron Swordfish Aboard USS Wasp 1942

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Part 7


USS Block Island dropping off P-47's in N Ireland


Overhead view of the escort carrier Sitkoh Bay (CVE 86) underway transporting aircraft c 1959


The escort carrier Thetis Bay (CVE 90) pictured underway transporting PBY Catalina aircraft c 1944


USS Bataan loaded with PV-1's


Overhead view of the escort carrier Barnes (CVE 20) transporting Army Air Forces P-38 Lightning and P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft c 1943


USS Manila Bay (CVE-61) en route from San Diego to Pearl Harbor, 24–31 August 1944, with 14 PBJ-1D Mitchells from Marine Bombing Squadron (VMB) 611


USS Valley Forge (CV-45)


USS Fanshaw Bay (CVE-70)

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Part 8


The carrier Philippine Sea (CVA 47) returns to port carrying transport planes in addition to airplanes of her embarked air group c 1952


USS Cape Esperance


The Military Sea Transportation Service transport Windham Bay (T-CVE 92) pictured transporting jet aircraft c 1953


Homme Richard (CVA 31) pictured returning from a combat cruise to Korea with planes of her air group and R4D transports on deck.


USS Yorktown standing in for a WWII Japanese carrier for the filming of the movie Tora, Tora, Tora

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Thanks for fixing this thread Mark. I appreciate it!

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Interesting to see the wartime photos - men all over the guns and so forth then the photos bringing back German and Japanese aircraft - guns stowed and no one on deck. Such a contrast. . .

Tom P.

Great pictures! Thank you! One of the pictures showed the USS Manila Bay CVE-61 steaming from San Diego to Pearl on August 24-30. How many days did it take to steam from Saipan to San Diego? She delivered the P47Ds for the 318thFG 73rdFS to Saipan on about June 25th. That has to be a long trip. She got back to the US and restocked and reloaded with aircraft and underway in about 60 days.
Hugh

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Fantastic photos in this thread, thanks Mark. I'd love to see more wartime Royal Navy carrier shots. have you got any of the MAC Ships?

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