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USS Belleau Wood CVL-24

Throughout the history of the United State military, a number of ships have played important roles in helping our country's troops win battles and become stronger. One such ship was the USS Belleau Wood CVL-24. Read on to learn about the colorful history of this ship, which was named in memory and honor of the World War I Battle of Belleau Wood.

In the early 1940s, the United States government reclassified the New Haven CL-76 as CV-24. In February of 1942, she was renamed the Belleau Wood and in July of 1943, she was classified as CVL-24. The ship was launched in December 2942 by the New York Shipbuilding Corp in Camden, New Jersey and commissioned on March 1943 with Captain A. M. Pride in command of the ship. The USS Belleau Wood CVL-24 was sponsored by Mrs. Thomas Holcomb, was the wife of the current Marine Corps Commandant.

After a brief shakedown cruise, which went well, the USS Belleau Wood CVL-24 was sent to Pearl Harbor to become a part of the Pacific Fleet. She assisted in the support of Baker Island's September occupation and joined in the September 18, 1943 raid of Tarawa and the October 5-6 raid of Wake Island. From November 19, 1943 to December 4, 1943, this ship took part in the invasion of the Gilbert Islands.

In 1944, the USS Belleau Wood CV-24 became part of Task Force 28 and particiaped in raids and seizures in Kwajalein and Mauro Atolls; the Marshall Islands; Truk; Saipan, Tinian, Rota, and Guam; Paulau, Yap, Ulithi, and Woleai; Sawar and the Wake Islands in support of seizure of Hollandia, New Guinea; and Truk, Satawan, and Ponape. In June, this ship was involved in the occupation of Saipan, the 1st Bonins raid, the Battle of the Philippine Sea, and the 2nd Bonins raid. Of these, the most notable mission was during the Battle of the Philippine Sea when the USS Belleau Wood CV-24's aircrafts directly hit and sank Hiro, a Japanese aircraft carrier.

From the end of June and through July, the USS Belleau Wood CV-24 was repaired and renovated in Pearl Harbor. She then rejoined Task Force 58 and participated in support for the August occupation of Guam. The ship then joined Task Force 38 to support troops in the occupation of southern Palaus in September and October. Afterwards, she was involved in the Philippine Island raids, the Morotai landings, the Okinawa raid, the northern Luzon raid, the Formosa raid, the Luzon air strike, and the Battle of Cape Engano.

One of the most tragic battles that the USS Belleau Wood CV-24 saw was on October 20, 1944 when she shot down a Japanese suicide bomber off the coast of Leyte. The plane fell onto the flight deck and the crash set off ammunition on the ship, resulting in 92 confirmed deaths or sailors missing in action. The USS Belleau Wood CV-24 sailed to Ulithi for temporary repairs before heading on to Hunter's Point in California for a complete overhaul.

Following renovations in California, the USS Belleau Wood CV-24 joined Task Force 58 once again, taking part in the raids on Honshu Island and Nansei Shoto in Japan. She then supported in the landing on Iwo Jima and participated in strikes again Japan from March 1945 to June of that same year. After becoming part of the fleet supporting raising at Leyte, she participated in the July - August final air strikes against Japan's home islands. Japan ultimately surrendered afterwards.

The USS Belleau Wood CV-24 took part in the September celebratory flights over Tokyo after the surrender. She remained in the Asian waters until October before returning to Pearl Harbor. A few short days later, the ship was headed for San Diego, and until early 1946, the USS Belleau Wood CV-24 was on "Magic Carpet" duty, transporting those in the service between Guam, Saipan, and San Diego.

In January of 1947, this ship officially became inactive and was docked at the Alameda Naval Air Station until 1953, when she was transported to France as part of the Mutual Defense Assistance Program. There, she was renamed Bois Belleau (a loose French translation of Belleau Wood) and served in the French Navy until 1960, replacing the Arromanches. After serving Franch, the ship was returned to the United States. She was officially stricken from the Navy's active and reserve lists in October of 1960 and was later sold for scrap metal.

Although this ship is one of the most respected in the U.S. Navy, it is not without its dark moments. Namely, this ship was built using products that contain asbestos. Asbestos is extremely dangerous, and anyone working on building, repairing, or demolishing the ship has been put at risk, along with all sailor who ever worked or traveled aboard her. If you were exposed to asbestos while serving on the USS Belleau Wood CVL-24, or have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, Asbestos.com offers a free packet with more information. Enter your contact information in the form in the right column and we'll send a copy immediately.

Aircraft Carriers Index

USS America USS Antietam CV 36 K USS Antietam CV 36 USS Badoeng Strait CVE 116 USS Bairoko CVE 115 USS Bairoko CVE 115 USS Belleau wood CVL 24 USS Bennington CV 20 USS Bon Homme Richard CVa USS Boxer CV USS Bunker CV USS Cabot CVL 28 USS Constellation CV USS Coral Sea CV USS Corregidor CVE 58 USS Sable ix USS San jacinto CVL USS Saratoga CV USS Saratoga CV3 USS Shangri La

USS Cowpens CVL 25 USS Enterprise CV 6 USS Enterprise CVN USS Essex CV 9 USS Forrestal CV USS Franklin CV 13 USS Hancock CV 19 USS Hornet CV 12 USS Hornet CV 8 USS Independence C1 USS Independence CVL 22 USS Intrepid CV 11 USS Kearsage CV 33 USS Kearsage CV USS Kitty Hawk USS Sicily CVe USS Sitkoh bay USS Tarawa CV USS Ticonderoga CV USS Valley forge CV

USS Lake Champlain CV 39 USS Langley CV 1 USS Langley CVL 27 USS Lexington CV 16 USS Lexington CV 2 USS Leyte CV 32 USS Midway CV USS Oriskany CV USS Phillipine Sea CV USS Point cruz CVE USS Princeton CV USS Princeton CVL USS Randolph CV USS Ranger CV USS Rendova USS Wasp CV 18 USS Wasp CV 7 USS Wolverine IX 64 USS Yorktown CV 10 USS Yorktown CV 5

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