An Atlas launch vehicle propelled a Mercury spacecraft (Friendship September 14, 1967, USS Randolph awaits the arrival of USS Forrestal. Crew of USS Randolph (CVA-15) muster on the flight deck while Friday, 21 July 1961. The Soviet Union placed ballistic missiles in Cuba which could strike New York and Washington, DC. The reception in Turkey was overwhelming. I have a biased interest with Randolph. However, the State Department had a dilemma on future port calls at Denmark. Looking forward, from the island. Source: Seattle NARA, Record Group 181, "Ship's Files ca 19401950.". Mothballed fleet at Bayonne, NJ. John Maxwell Walker (center) playing the "fiddle" with some buddies. In an unprecedented move to elaborate policy, the US embassy claimed "there were no weapons aboard Randolph which would violate well-known Danish policy concerning stationing of nuclear weapons." The Admiral responded with the standard US retort; neither confirming or denying nuclear weapons. Ens John Morris piloted the burning bomber to a water landing on the Inland Sea within sight of land. Mid-air collision of two BAF Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars at Chivres Air Base, Belgium. The war which killed 60 million was over. They were enclosed with the 5 October 1945 Commander Air Force, Pacific Fleet letter FF39/S1, Moments later, one of the P-38 loses control and slams into Randolph's forward deck, killing thirteen sailors and destroying ten of Randolph's aircraft. Center: Johnson Space Center (JSC) Cdr Ian Allan MBE. Dad spent two years on the Randolph but that ship remained in his heart for the rest of his life. [1] Randolph returned to Norfolk, VA on October 15. For a quarter of a century, the Randolph sailor distinguished themselves as a special breed of seafarer. At right, in her final cast-off, Randolph prepares to depart Norfolk for decommissioning at Boston on February 13, 1969. The crew of the Randolph reacts. "Gus" Grissom, pilot of the Mercury spacecraft, Liberty VS-36 "Gray Wolves," and an SH-3A Sea King of HS-7 "Big Dippers" (this particular helicopter, (CL-90), USS Randolph (CV-15), and other units of Task Force 58 steam in the Pacific, TEXT. From the carnage of Pearl Harbor aircraft carriers rose to rule the sea. With seawater entering the capsule, named Liberty Bell 7, Grissom's life was endangered. However, nothing can top CVS-15 appearance in the opening credits of the 1963 movie "Follow the Boys." Efficiency Award presented to the Engineering Dept. The B-59 hunt followed an accidental U-2 intrusion into Russia while another U-2 was shot-down over Cuba. "Flying Tigers" rescues astronaut Virgil They faced kamikaze strikes, hurricanes, a drowning astronaut, and nuclear Armageddon with a righteous resolve, while promoting the best of American values. The This Randolph was unrecognizable from her World War II angular appearance. Aerial view of USS Randolph (CVA-15) underway . Wish died as a result of injury received from a falling small pair of shears at the New York Navy Yard. of the frigate in mid-October. USS Randolph in background, Randolph's crew crowd the deck during Friendship 7's reentry, Liberty Bell 7 was discovered and raised in 1999, 38 years after it sank. Tensions eventually defused, allowing diplomacy to prevail. The ship was set to "Condition Zebra," which is the maximum state of readiness for survivability. Randolph sounds 3 more blasts. Photographed by Lieutenant Barrett Gallagher. cruise, MaySeptember 1966. His son, Tom, explains: "[My father] had a piece of metal that he said was shrapnel from the kamikaze TOKYO WITHIN TEN DAYS PARA IN MESSAGE TO TOKYO MCARTHUR SAID,"I SHALL Consequently her hull number was CV-15. You see, my father, Eugene Santos, called this ship home during World War II. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-287672). By David W. Joy December 2005 Naval History Magazine Volume 19, Number 6 Article View Issue Comments While in the shipyard, mother nature took another swipe at Randolph as Hurricane Hazel struck. The fantail rising out of the water with the screws whining in the air. Either would have led to a catastrophic explosion. WHOSE SACRIFICE HAS GIVEN US OUR FREEDOM" X JAMES FORRESTAL X, ALL HANDS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY MARINE CORPS AND COAST GUARD MAY TAKE SATISFACTION IN THE CONCLUSION the Atlantic on 20 July 1999. Randolph was the first U.S. Atlantic Fleet carrier "The Naval Historical Center / of / The Department of the Navy / presents circa 1956. Upper left: F6F Hellcats catapulting from Randolph. USS Randolph (CV-15), 23 March 1945. Center Number: S61-02894 Aircraft types represented include F6F, TBM and SB2C. . Randolph became the first US capital ship sailing directly into combat, after shakedown, without returning to the yard for refitting. "we are such stuff as dreams are made on". Each succeeding crew preserved the excellence of the past. The Soviet Union threatened to intervene in Egypt and attack London and Paris with atomic bombs. By 1950 China had fallen to Communism, and US forces became embroiled in Korea, fighting a Communist invasion. Allen has restored and flies an impressive collection of vintage aircraft. On 1 June 1961, SHANGRI-LA, along with USS INTREPID (CV 11) and USS RANDOLPH (CV 15), . "Willie Fudd" (Grumman E-1B Tracer, VAW-12 "Bats" squadron) launch from He and his gunner Cletis Phegley scurried onto the survival raft. Aviation News, October USS Randolph (CVS-15) men, en route to New York, spell out a File name: CVA 15 647437-5-54, US Navy Photo, 5/8/54. However, the homesick ship couldn't be kept from the sea. Grissom's suit filled with water and downwash from the helicopter's rotors was pushing the astronaut below the surface. Once at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, a new method had to be developed to repair the ship and rapidly return her to service. Randolph did send a medical team to Atlantic Viscountess to render aid for an injured man, who was later bought on the carrier for treatment. Photograph is dated June 1945, but was probably taken in May. (ARH-1) at Ulithi Atoll, Caroline Islands, 13 March 1945, showing damage to her after flight deck resulting On the second trip, Randolph raced to bring 6,700 soldiers home before Christmas but was slowed by, hurricane gales. "Goblin at the Doorstep" highlighted the company's S2F Trackers flying off the deck of the USS Randolph. The attack killed 25 of her crew. attack while at anchor at Ulithi Atoll, 11 March 1945. "Hundreds of Randolph sailors vie for viewing space on the recovery carrier's flight ), Comments, Suggestions or Image submissions, E-mail Carrier Information Base (HMNB) Portsmouth, 1966. Another four Hellcats from Randolph raced ahead to relieve the fighters already onsite. starboard), an HUP-2 Retriever of HU-2 Det. The "A" designates the ship as an attack carrier. The crew of the Randolph reacts jubilantly. A U.S. Navy Vought F4U-4 Corsair of Bombing Fighter Squadron (VBF) Sold 24 May 1975 to Boston Metals, Baltimore, Md., for $605,999.99 and subsequently scrapped at South Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center (photo # NH 97491). Randolph (CV-15) Bell 7, arrives aboard the recovery ship, USS Randolph (CVS-15), 21 July 1961, following This was also Churchill's first helicopter ride, which the former Prime Minister described as "exhilarating. On 29 October 1956, Israel, Britain, and France invaded and captured the Suez Canal in Egypt. Roster of Officers, USS Randolph (CV-15) and Air Group Sixteen, These great warships stand ready to assert American might in times of war, peace, and humanitarian relief. These planes launched from, and returned to floating airbases which moved throughout the Pacific like chess pieces. Air Group 12 was replaced by Air Group 16, skippered This added an angled flight deck and an enclosed hurricane bow. Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitcher, USN, Commander, Task Force 58 (at left), with The recovery USS Hancock spotted the "bogies" on radar 68 miles out and vectored night fighters toward them. Randolph's first post-war cruise, in 1946, sent the ship into the Mediterranean, visiting Italy, Greece, Turkey, and Lebanon. After World War II, this venerable carrier accomplished something extraordinary. of U.S. nationals from Alexandria. Eugene Santos (working in the supply department) was one of the sailors who brought the Randolph to life. Since the days of sail, crews coveted the distinction of serving as the flag ship. Most major systems worked smoothly, and the flight was a great success as an engineering feat. photo above. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center (photo # NH 97490). Work began in November 1952 at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, and Shangri-La recommissioned in January 1955, with angled flight deck, enclosed bow, new island, steam catapults and many other improvements. (Thanks to Robert M. Cieri). Hitting the bottom of swells, Randolph would come to an abrupt stop, shuddering violently. However, in the post-war era a 6,700-ship navy is unaffordable. One VB-12 Helldiver was damaged attacking a hangar. With the early morning light, they clearly saw 'RANDOLPH' inscribed on the fantail. Randolph directed the destroyer Stormes to execute an "emergency breakaway." He insisted that this was an actual piece of the kamikaze plane itself. The prototype flew for the first time on 4 December 1952 and more than 1,000 S-2s were delivered by Grumman. Fred Millard Larson was Christoper M. Larson's after her SCB-27A modernization, with an interesting mix of F9F Cougars, AD Skyraiders capsule sank soon after splashdown and was not recovered until nearly forty years later. National Archives and Records Administration photo (# 80-G-469988). Only two Frances made it to Ulithi, arriving at night. modex AW14, VS-39 "Hoot Owls", Antisubmarine Air Group (CVSG) 60, aboard USS Randolph FATE Note the damage to the after flight deck of Randolph resulting from a kamikaze hit on 11 March 1945. Below, USS Randolph commissioning on October 9, 1944. The U.S.S. 1996.253.7245.029. In Copenhagen, Randolph found herself in a diplomatic scuffle. [Signature]". capsule, Liberty Bell 7, of the Mercury-Redstone 4 (MR-4) mission. The USS Randolph was training off the Virginia Cape with her Task Group when orders came to join the fleet quarantining Cuba. In May 1975, the Navy sold the ship with the priceless history to Union Material and Alloys, of Bayonne, NJ, for $1.5 million for the expressed purpose of scrapping. twin brothers in the foreground. Parks. After the incident, Admiral Forrest Sherman threaten to shoot down any Air Force planes practicing strafing runs on the fleet. SH-3A Sea King helicopters, HS-7 "Big Dippers" squadron, on flight deck, Port side sponson, 5" gun mount. Upper right: Randolph in a hard port turn. Typically a "Centurion" Welcome Aboard Card for USS Randolph (CV-15) celebrating Legendary CBS news man, Walter Cronkite, filmed a documentary on-board Randolph -- aptly named: "Sub-Killers." Randolph had a 25-foot rupture in the hull and a torching fire, which was quickly brought under control. Randolph did what she always did; brought the crew back home. Randolph's radar detected a ship approaching fast on a collision course. In 1966, the tanker operator settled with the US Government for $277,000 in. Official U.S. Navy Photograph (#1039207), dated 24 September 1958. Seaman Santos was shielded from the blast by the mailbags. S-2D Tracker, modex AW34, VS-34 "Proud Tigers", Antisubmarine Air Tethered to the destroyer by a fuel line, Randolph couldn't maneuver. Glenn and Friendship 7 were transferred to Randolph. This photo was possibly taken in the summer of 1967, since it shows Antisubmarine Carrier Air Group Roads, Virginia, during the International Naval Review, 12 June 1957. The pierside photos were taken at Pearl Harbor about 6 days after the collision: John Juarez HT1 USN Ret. in the Atlantic Fleet to win the Engineering Award six consecutive years." greeting to the sailing ships participating in the first Operation Sail, July 1964. Ports visited were: Belfast, Ireland (August 1966); Edinburgh, Scotland; The Randoph, ship's newspaper, Vol. Magic Carpet loading of US Army soldiers at Naples, Italy, 24 November January 10, 1970: off Jacksonville, Fla. 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