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USS Essex CV-9 (WWII)

The USS Essex was an aircraft carrier, and was the lead ship in her class. Commissioned on December 31, 1942, she was active not only in World War II, but also in the Korean War and Project Apollo. For her service in World War II she received a Presidential Unit Citation and thirteen battle stars. For her Korean War service she was awarded a Navy Unit Commendation and four battle stars.

The USS Essex in World War II

The USS Essex sailed to Pearl Harbor in May of 1943. Her first activity after departing the naval base involved carrier operations against Marcus Island. In early October, she launched an attack on Wake Island, and November brought her first amphibious assault, the landing at Tawara in the Gilbert Islands. Back at sea in early December, she attacked Kwaialein on December 4, and delivered her second amphibious assault, this time against the Marshalls, between January 29 and February 2 in 1944.

Next, the USS Essex joined with two other task forces to create a formidable carrier strike force that subsequently launched an attack against Truk on February 17 and 18. The task force trio sank eight Japanese ships before traveling to the Marianas. En route, the carrier force repelled serial air attacks before continuing on to attacks on Guam, Trinian, and Saipan on February 23.

Next on the agenda for the Essex was an overhaul in San Francisco, which turned out to be the only overhaul the ship would receive in wartime. Following this, she became the carrier for the "Fabled Fifteen," Air Group 15, which was lead by David McCampbell, who became the U.S. Navy's WWII aerial ace fighter. The Essex then joined up with two other carriers for strikes on Marcus Island on May 19 and 20, and Wake Island on May 23.

Between June 12 and August 10, the Essex was deployed to provide support for the occupation of the Marianas. On September 6 to 8 she lead an attack against the Palau Islands, and then provided aerial support for landings at Peleliu.

During the remainder of 1944, the USS Essex continued her frontline activities, ins trikes against Okinawa on October 19, and Formosa on October 12 to 14. On October 24 and 25 she took part in the Battle for Leyte Gulf, and during November participated in attacks on northern Philippines Islands and Manila. She was damaged for the first time in WWII on November 25, when she was hit by a kamikaze.

After repairs, she returned to Leyte to provide support for the December 14 to 16 occupation of Mindoro, and then helped search for survivors after the December 18 typhoon that hit the area. She launched strikes aginast Sakishima, Luzon, and Okinawa, participated in the Lingayen Gulf operations, and then entered the South China Sea for strikes against Formosa, Hainan, and Hong Kong. Over January 20 and 21, 1945, the Essex withstood yet another typhoon, before another round of strikes against Formosa, Okinawa, and Miyako Shima.

The Essex continued attacks in the Tokyo area preparatory to landings at Iwo Jima, but between March 23 and May 28 she was involved mainly in providing support for the conquest of Okinawa. During the last days of the war, she was involved in raids on Japanese lands between July 10 and August 15, and continued to provide defensive air patrols until early September.

The USS Essex was decommissioned and placed in reserve on January 9, 1947. During this time she was modernized with a new flight deck and streamlined structure, before being recommissioned in 1951.

After the War

The USS Essex also served in the Korean War, with three tours between 1951 and 1953. In the late 1950s she was involved in reconnaissance and patrol missions, and training exercises. In 1961 the Essex had been slated to participate in the subsequently aborted Bay of Pigs invasion.

After also serving as carrier ship for the Apollo I and Apollo 7 projects, the USS Essex was decommissioned on June 30, 1969. She was struck from the Navy list in 1973 and scrapped in 1975.

One important thing to know about the USS Essex and other Navy ships is that these contained a large amount of asbestos, and many U.S. Navy men have developed asbestos-related diseases as a result of asbestos exposure that occurred during their years of service. If you were exposed to asbestos while serving on the Essex CV-9 (WWII), 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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