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USS Wasp CV-7

The eighth USS Wasp (CV-7) was a reduced version of the Yorktown class aircraft carrier. Reduced by the fact she was constructed to use up the remaining tonnage allowed for carriers of the U.S under existing treaties. Wasp was laid down in April of 1936 in Quincy, Massachusetts at the Fore River Shipyard. She was launched on April 4, 1939 and sponsored by Carolyn Edison. Captain John W. Reeves, Jr. in command, Wasp was commissioned on April 25, 1940 at the Army Quartermaster Base in South Boston, Massachusetts.

Getting underway from Boston in June, Wasp steamed to Hampton Roads Virginia and then to the Caribbean for her shakedown cruise, arriving at Guantanamo Bay for Independence Day. During her shakedown, one of the Vindicator aircraft was lost at sea with two of her crew. Departing the Caribbean on July 11, Wasp then returned to Hampton Roads where she embarked planes from the 1st Marine Air Group. Completing qualifications, Wasp disembarked the Marines and their planes and moved north to Boston for repairs. Leaving Boston for Norfolk, Virginia on August 21, she then conducted training operations landing her fighters and scout-bombers, before putting into the Norfolk Navy Yard for alterations on her turbines on August 28. Returning to Hampton Roads on completion of her repairs, Wasp ran her final sea trials on September 26, 1940.

Assigned to Carrier Division 3, Patrol Force, Wasp shifted to NOB Norfolk on October 11. With her complement of Army Air Corps planes and her own spares and utility unit Grumman J2Fs, Wasp tested take-off runs of standard Navy and Army aircraft. This was the first time that Army aircraft had flown from a Navy carrier and would foreshadow her use as a ferry ship in WWII. With the completion of this operation, Wasp departed Norfolk for Guantanamo, arriving October 19, 1940. She flew qualification and refresher training flights in the area until her return to Norfolk on November 26, where she stayed through Christmas and then returned to Guantanamo on January 27, 1941. Leaving Guantanamo for Hampton Roads on March 4, 1941, Wasp rescued seamen aboard a floundering schooner on March 8, in heavy weather. Later that same day, Wasp disembarked her rescued mariners, and then put into Norfolk Navy Yard for repairs.

Wasp conducted normal operations out of Norfolk with calls at Guantanamo, the Virgin Islands and Grassy Bay until July of 1941. Wasp ferried vital Army Air Force planes and pilots to Iceland on July 28, returning to Norfolk August 14. Wasp then conducted patrol operations in the Atlantic with calls to Placentia Bay, Newfoundland, Hvalfjordur, Iceland and Grassy Bay. She also served as flagship from August 24 to September 2 for Rear Admiral H. Kent Hewitt, Commander Cruisers, Atlantic Fleet. She was at anchor at Grassy Bay on December 7, 1941, as the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.

After a call at Martinique, USS Wasp sailed for Norfolk for overhaul that would last to January of 1942. Returning from a patrol to NS Argentia, Newfoundland and Casco Bay, Maine, Wasp was ordered to the British Isles on March 26. She was to reinforce the Home Fleet of the Royal Navy with Task Force 39. Wasp arrived at Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands in April of 1942 and departed April 9 for Greenock, Scotland. Wasp had drawn ferry duty once again, loading 47 Spitfire Mk. V fighters of the RAF bound for Malta. Departing for Malta on April 14, Wasp launched her Grumman Wildcats on April 20 to provide air cover, and then sent off the Spitfires for Malta. Returning to England, Wasp, along with the British carrier HMS Eagle, loaded another contingent of Spitfires and once again steamed towards Malta on May 3. Wasp and Eagle reached their launch point early on May 9, launched their Spitfires and turned for England.

With only two carriers left in the Pacific after the battles of the Coral Sea and Midway, Wasp was ordered to Norfolk for alterations and repairs. Captain Reeves was promoted to flag rank and was replaced by Captain Forrest P. Sherman on May 31. Leaving Norfolk on June 6, USS Wasp transited the Panama Canal and arrived at San Diego on June 19. Departing on July 1 for the Tonga Islands as part of a convoy carrying the 2nd Marine Regiment, Wasp, Saratoga and Enterprise were then assigned to the Guadalcanal campaign. Wasp launched her first combat air patrol on August 7, with successful strikes on Tulagi, Gavutu , Tanambogo, Halavo, Port Purvis, Haleta and Bungana. Wasp spent the next month providing air cover for convoys headed for Guadalcanal. Ordered south for refueling, Wasp did not participate in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons, where USS Enterprise was lost.

While escorting transports carrying the 7th Marine Regiment to Guadalcanal on September 15, 1942, USS Wasp was struck by three torpedoes fired by a Japanese submarine. All three struck in the vicinity of the gasoline tanks and magazines, causing additional explosions and fires. Having expended great effort but unsuccessful in containing the fires, Captain Sherman gave the order to abandon ship at 15:20. Rescue efforts from Laffey (DD-459), Lansdowne (DD-486), Helena (CL-50) and Salt Lake City (CA-25) saved 1,946 men from USS Wasp. Torpedoed by Lansdowne, Wasp sank at 2100 hours on September 15, 1942. USS Wasp earned two Battle Stars for her service in World War II.

If you were exposed to asbestos while serving on the USS Wasp (CV-7), 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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