HOME
|
US Navy -
ships
|
US Navy - air
units
|
USMC - air
units
|
International
Navies
|
Weapon Systems
|
Special Reports |
|
US Navy - Aircraft Carrier CV 31 / CVA 31 - USS Bon Homme Richard |
|
|
|
10/19 | |
Type, class: Aircraft Carrier, Essex class Builder: New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York, USA STATUS: Laid down: February 1, 1943 Launched: April 29, 1944 Commissioned: November 26, 1944 (CV 31) Decommissioned: January 9, 1947 hold in reserve Recommissioned: January 15, 1951 redesignated CVA 31 on October 1, 1952 Decommissioned: May 15, 1953 SCB-27C and SCB-125 modification at San Francisco Recommissioned: September 6, 1955 Decommissioned: July 2, 1971 Struck: September 20, 1989 Fate: sold for scrap in 1992 Namesake: Benjamin Franklin's (1705-1790) Maximes du Bonhomme Richard Ships Motto: ? Technical Data: see: INFO > Essex class Aircraft Carrier - CV |
|
Deployments - Carrier Air Groups/Wings embarked: May 1951 - December 1951 with Carrier Air Group 102 (CVG-102) - Pacific Ocean, Korean War May 1952 - January 1953 with Carrier Air Group 7 (CVG-7) - Pacific Ocean, Korean War August 1956 - February 1957 with Carrier Air Group 21 (CVG-21) - Pacific Ocean July 1957 - December 1957 with Carrier Air Group 5 (CVG-5) - Pacific Ocean November 1958 - June 1959 with Carrier Air Group 19 (CVG-19) - Pacific Ocean November 1959 - May 1960 with Carrier Air Group 19 (CVG-19) - Pacific Ocean April 1961 - December 1961 with Carrier Air Group 19 (CVG-19) - Pacific Ocean July 1962 - February 1963 with Carrier Air Group 19 (CVG-19) - Pacific Ocean January 1964 - November 1964 with Carrier Air Wing 19 (CVW-19) - Vietnam War April 1965 - January 1966 with Carrier Air Wing 19 (CVW-19) - Vietnam War January 1967 - August 1967 with Carrier Air Wing 21 (CVW-21) - Vietnam War January 1968 - October 1968 with Carrier Air Wing 5 (CVW-5) - Vietnam War March 1969 - October 1969 with Carrier Air Wing 5 (CVW-5) - Vietnam War April 1970 - November 1970 with Carrier Air Wing 5 (CVW-5) - Vietnam War |
|
ship images | |
with CVW-5 embarked - Vietnam War - May 1970 with CVW-5 embarked - Vietnam War - May 1970 with CVW-5 embarked - Vietnam War - May 1970 with CVW-5 embarked - Vietnam War - 1970 with CVW-5 embarked - Gulf of Tonkin - June 1969 with CVW-5 embarked - Gulf of Tonkin - June 1969 with CVW-5 embarked - Gulf of Tonkin - April 1969 with CVW-5 embarked - Gulf of Tonkin - April 1969 with CVW-5 embarked - 1969 with CVW-5 embarked - 1969 with CVW-5 embarked - 1969 with CVW-5 embarked - 1969 with CVW-5 embarked - 1969 with CVW-5 embarked - circa 1969 Naval Air Station (NAS) North Island, California - 1968 with CVW-5 embarked - 1968 with CVW-5 embarked - 1968 with CVW-5 embarked - 1968 with CVW-5 embarked - 1968 with CVW-5 embarked - 1968 with CVW-5 embarked - 1968 with CVW-5 embarked - 1968 with CVW-21 embarked - March 1967 with CVW-19 embarked - November 1965 with CVW-19 embarked - 1964-66 with CVW-19 embarked - 1964-66 with CVW-19 embarked - November 1964 with CVW-19 embarked - December 1963-64 with CVW-19 embarked - December 1963 with CVW-19 embarked - November 1963 with CVW-19 embarked - November 1963 with CVW-19 embarked - November 1963 with CVW-19 embarked - November 1963 with CVW-19 embarked - October 1963 with CVW-19 embarked - October 1963 September 1963 with CVG-19 embarked - February 1963 with CVG-19 embarked - April 1962 firing its 5"/38 (127mm/38-caliber) guns - 1962 with CVG-19 embarked - October 1961 with CVG-19 embarked - March 1961 with CVG-19 embarked - 1961 with CVG-19 embarked - April 1960 with CVG-19 embarked - San Francisco, California - November 1959 with CVG-19 embarked - off Beppu, Japan - May 1959 with CVG-19 embarked - 1959 with CVG-19 embarked - Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - November 1958 with CVG-19 embarked - August 1958 1957 manning her 5"/38 (127mm/38-caliber) guns - 1957 with CVG-21 embarked - circa 1956 with CVG-21 embarked - 1956 with CVG-21 embarked - 1956 F2H-3 Banshees (VF-213 / CVG-21) launching USS Bon Homme Richard - 1956 December 1952 redesignated CVA 31 on October 1, 1952 Puget Soud Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington - April 1952 Puget Soud Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington - April 1952 Puget Soud Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington - April 1952 Puget Soud Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington - April 1952 Puget Soud Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington - April 1952 March 1952 March 1952 March 1952 superstructure details - January 1952 with CVG-102 embarked - November 1951 U.S. Navy ordnancemen aboard USS Bon Homme Richard (CV 31) fusing 227 kg (500 lb.) and 40 kg (100 lb.) bombs on Douglas AD-3/-4Q Skyraider planes of attack squadron VA-923, Carrier Air Group 102 (CVG-102), before a strike on Korea on 10 November 1951. To the right is a AD-4W early warning plane ("ND-350") of composite squadron VC-11 Det. G. with CVG-102 embarked - July 1951 with CVG-102 embarked - July 1951 with CVG-102 embarked - June 1951 with CVG-102 embarked - off Korea - June 1951 with CVG-102 embarked - March 1951 1951-53 1951 1951 1951 1951 1951 undated moored at NAS Alameda, California - October 1945 Pacific Ocean - May 1945 Pacific Ocean - February 1945 Pacific Ocean - February 1945 Pacific Ocean - February 1945 at anchor - January 1945 1945 1945 1945 New York Harbor - January 1945 launching ceremony at New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn - April 29, 1944 launching ceremony at New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn - April 29, 1944 |
|
Benjamin Franklin, the American Commissioner at Paris, whose Poor
Richard's Almanac had been published in France under the title
Les Maximes du Bonhomme Richard. Benjamin Franklin (January 17, 1706 - April 17, 1790) ... was an American polymath and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. Franklin was a leading writer, printer, political philosopher, politician, Freemason, postmaster, scientist, inventor, humorist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat. As a scientist, he was a major figure in the American Enlightenment and the history of physics for his discoveries and theories regarding electricity. As an inventor, he is known for the lightning rod, bifocals, and the Franklin stove, among other inventions. He founded many civic organizations, including the Library Company, Philadelphia's first fire department and the University of Pennsylvania. Franklin earned the title of "The First American" for his early and indefatigable campaigning for colonial unity, initially as an author and spokesman in London for several colonies. As the first United States Ambassador to France, he exemplified the emerging American nation. Franklin was foundational in defining the American ethos as a marriage of the practical values of thrift, hard work, education, community spirit, self-governing institutions, and opposition to authoritarianism both political and religious, with the scientific and tolerant values of the Enlightenment. In the words of historian Henry Steele Commager, "In a Franklin could be merged the virtues of Puritanism without its defects, the illumination of the Enlightenment without its heat." To Walter Isaacson, this makes Franklin "the most accomplished American of his age and the most influential in inventing the type of society America would become." Franklin became a successful newspaper editor and printer in Philadelphia, the leading city in the colonies, publishing the Pennsylvania Gazette at the age of 23. He became wealthy publishing this and Poor Richard's Almanack, which he authored under the pseudonym "Richard Saunders". After 1767, he was associated with the Pennsylvania Chronicle, a newspaper that was known for its revolutionary sentiments and criticisms of British policies. He pioneered and was first president of Academy and College of Philadelphia which opened in 1751 and later became the University of Pennsylvania. He organized and was the first secretary of the American Philosophical Society and was elected president in 1769. Franklin became a national hero in America as an agent for several colonies when he spearheaded an effort in London to have the Parliament of Great Britain repeal the unpopular Stamp Act. An accomplished diplomat, he was widely admired among the French as American minister to Paris and was a major figure in the development of positive Franco-American relations. His efforts proved vital for the American Revolution in securing shipments of crucial munitions from France. He was promoted to deputy postmaster-general for the British colonies in 1753, having been Philadelphia postmaster for many years, and this enabled him to set up the first national communications network. During the revolution, he became the first United States Postmaster General. He was active in community affairs and colonial and state politics, as well as national and international affairs. From 1785 to 1788, he served as governor of Pennsylvania. He initially owned and dealt in slaves but, by the late 1750s, he began arguing against slavery and became an abolitionist. His colorful life and legacy of scientific and political achievement, and his status as one of America's most influential Founding Fathers, have seen Franklin honored more than two centuries after his death on coinage and the $100 bill, warships, and the names of many towns, counties, educational institutions, and corporations, as well as countless cultural references. wikipedia |
|
USS Bon Homme Richard (CV / CVA 31): Bon Homme Richard (CV 31), the second ship to bear the name after John Paul Jones’s Revolutionary War Frigate was launched on April 29, 1944 by the New York Navy Yard. She was sponsored by Mrs. J. S. McCain, wife of Vice Adm. McCain. On November 26, 1944, USS Bon Homme Richard (CV 31) was commissioned with Captain A. O. Rule, Jr., in command. Bon Homme Richard departed Norfolk 19 March 1945 to join the Pacific Fleet and arrived at Pearl Harbor on April 5, 1945. Following additional training in Hawaiian waters, the carrier joined TF 38 off Okinawa on June 6, 1945. From June 7-10, she joined in the attacks on Okino Daito Jima and then served with the 3rd Fleet during the air strikes against Japan (July 2 - August 15). She remained off Japan until September 16 and after a short training period off Guam. On October 20th, 1945 she arrived in San Francisco, California. Nine days later she left San Francisco and headed to Pearl Harbor to undergo conversion for troop transport duty. From November 8, 1945 to January 16, 1946 she made trans-Pacific voyages, returning servicemen to the United States. Bon Homme Richard then reported to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for inactivation and was placed out of commission in reserve on January 9, 1947. On January 15, 1951, Bon Homme Richard was recommissioned and on May 10, she departed to San Diego for the Far East. On May 29, she joined TF 77 off Korea and launched her first air strikes on May 31st. Bon Homme Richard continued operations with TF 77 until November 20, 1951. The carrier reached San Diego in mid-December and on May 20, 1952 was off-again to the Far East. She joined TF 77 once more on June 23, 1952 and took part in the heavy strikes against a North Korean power complex from June 24 -25 and the amphibious feint at Kojo from October 12 - 16. She continued operations against North Korean targets until December 18, 1952. On January 8, 1953 she arrived to San Francisco. Her classification was changed from CV-31 to CVA 31 on October 1, 1952. Bon Homme Richard went out of commission on May 15, 1953 due to modernization. On September 6, 1955 she was recommissioned as CV/CVA 31. She had an angled, strengthened flight deck with an enclosed bow, enlarged elevators, and steam catapults. She completed her conversion period on October 31, 1955 and commenced to sea trials in the Alameda-San Diego area. On September 1955, she was recommissioned to start her first of a long series of Seventh Fleet deployments. The initial west coast deployment of a squadron equipped with the new Sidewinder missile was with Fighter Squadron 211, equipped with FJ-3s, aboard Bon Homme Richard in September 1956. On June 6, 1957, two F8U Crusaders and two A3D Skywarriors flew non-stop from Bon Homme Richard off the California coast to USS Saratoga (CVA 60) of the east coast of Florida. This was the first carrier-to-carrier transcontinental flight that was completed by the F8Us in 3 hours 28 minutes and by the A3Ds in 4 hours 1 minute. Bon Homme Richard made additional western Pacific cruises in 1957, 1958-1959, 1959-60, 1961, 1962-63, and 1964, with the last including a voyage into the Indian Ocean. The ship entered the Indian Ocean on April 4, 1964 with the "Concord Squadron," composed of Bon Homme Richard, USS Shelton (DD 790), USS Blue (DD 744), USS Frank Knox (DD 742), and the fleet oiler USS Hassayampa (AO 145). The cruise lasted six weeks and went near Iran, the Arabian Peninsula, then down the African coast and into many ports along the way for goodwill visits. The Vietnam War escalation in early 1965 brought Bon Homme Richard into a third armed conflict, and she deployed on five Southeast Asia combat tours over the next six years. Her aircraft battled North Vietnamese MiGs on many occasions, downing several, as well as striking transportation and infrastructure targets. Occasional excursions to other Asian areas provided some variety to her operations. Bon Homme Richard was ordered inactivated at the end of her 1970 deployment. She decommissioned in July 1971, becoming part of the Reserve Fleet at Bremerton, Washington. The ship was stricken from the Navy List in 1989 and was sold for scrapping on February 4, 1992. Bon Homme Richard received one battle star for her World War II service and five battle stars for participating in the Korean conflict. USN - - - - - another history: Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) was laid down on 1 February 1943 at the New York Navy Yard, being the first Essex-class carrier to be built at the New York Navy Yard. She was launched 29 April 1944 by Mrs. John S. McCain, wife of Vice Admiral John S. McCain, Sr.. The ship was commissioned 26 November 1944, with Captain A. O. Rule, Jr. as her first commander. World War II: Bon Homme Richard departed Norfolk, Virginia on 19 March 1945 to join the Pacific Fleet and arrived at Pearl Harbor on 5 April 1945. Following additional training in Hawaiian waters, the carrier joined TF 38 off Okinawa on 6 June 1945 with Carrier Air Group 91 (CVG-91) aboard. During 7-10 June she joined in the attacks on Okidaitojima and then served with the 3rd Fleet during the air strikes against Japan from 2 July to 15 August. She remained off Japan until 16 September 1945 and after a short training period off Guam, proceeded to San Francisco, arriving 20 October. She left San Francisco 29 October and steamed to Pearl Harbor to undergo conversion for troop transport duty. From 8 November 1945 to 16 January 1946 she made trans-Pacific voyages, returning servicemen to the United States. She was thereafter generally inactive until decommissioning on 9 January 1947. She was mothballed at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington. Korean War: The outbreak of the Korean War on 25 June 1950 called Bon Homme Richard back to active duty. She recommissioned on 15 January 1951 in an unmodernised state and joined TF 77 off Korea on 29 May and launched the first air strikes of CVG-102 on 31 May. Bon Homme Richard continued operations with TF 77 until 20 November 1951. The carrier reached San Diego in mid-December and on 20 May 1952 was off again to the Far East, this time with CVG-7.She joined TF 77 once more on 23 June and took part in the heavy strikes against the Sui-ho Dam on 24-25 June and the amphibious feint at Kojo from 12 to 16 October. She continued operations against North Korean targets until 18 December 1952 and then steamed to San Francisco where she arrived 8 January 1953. Her classification was changed from CV-31 to CVA-31 on 1 October 1952. Modernization and Cold War: Bon Homme Richard then went out of commission on 15 May 1953 preparatory to modernization at the San Francisco Naval Shipyard. She was one of three Essex-class carriers to receive the SCB-27C and SCB-125 modernizations on one refit. Bon Homme Richard emerged from the shipyard with an angled and strengthened flight deck, enclosed "hurricane" bow, steam catapults, a new island, wider beam and many other improvements. She completed her conversion period 31 October 1955 and commenced sea trials in the Alameda-San Diego area. She was recommissioned on 6 September 1955 and began the first of a long series of 7th Fleet deployments on 16 August 1956 with CVG-21 embarked. CVG-5 reported aboard for the 1957 deployment, before CVG-19 reported aboard for the next six deployments in 1958-1959, 1959-1960, 1961, 1962-1963, 1964, and 1965-66. The 1964 cruise included a voyage into the Indian Ocean. Bon Homme Richard also had been in the Indian Ocean for a goodwill trip to Bombay, India at the direction of President Eisenhower during the 1959-1960 Pacific cruise. Vietnam War: Admiral George Stephen Morrison, father of The Doors lead singer Jim Morrison, flew his flag on Bon Homme Richard. Popular myth has it that he had some involvement in the Tonkin Gulf Incident, because he was commander of the U.S. naval forces in the Gulf of Tonkin during the Gulf of Tonkin Incident of August 1964. The aircraft carrier involved in the incident was the Ticonderoga. The Vietnam War escalation in early 1965 brought Bon Homme Richard into a third armed conflict, and she deployed on five Southeast Asia combat tours over the next six years. Her aircraft battled North Vietnamese MiGs on many occasions, downing several, as well as striking transportation and infrastructure targets. Occasional excursions to other Asian areas provided some variety to her operations. Carrier Air Wing 21 (CVW-21) joined the Bonnie Dick for the 1967 deployment to Vietnam. CVW-5 was aboard again for the last three deployments in 1968, 1969, and 1970. Bon Homme Richard was ordered inactivated at the end of her 1970 deployment. She was decommissioned on 2 July 1971, becoming part of the Reserve Fleet at Bremerton, Washington. Adm. Morrison was the keynote speaker at the Decommissioning Ceremony on 2 July 1971 which was one day before his estranged son, Jim, died in Paris, France. Following 20 years in mothballs, she was sold for scrap in March 1992. She was scrapped at Southwest Marine's yard in San Pedro, California. source: wikipedia |
|
|
|
patches + more | |
|
seaforces.org |
USN ships
start page | |