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USS Yorktown CV-10 (WW II)

The USS Yorktown CV-10 was an aircraft carrier that had a distinguished career in the United States Navy. Work began on the USS Yorktown CV-10 in late 1941. She took the name of the Yorktown after the USS Yorktown CV-5 was sunk in the Battle of Midway. She is the oldest aircraft carrier that is still intact. The USS Yorktown is currently in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, where she serves as a museum ship.

The construction of the new Yorktown was completed and she was launched on January 21, 1943. After initial training runs, she headed to Pearl Harbor to begin her military career. In Pearl Harbor the Yorktown ran a route between Wake Island, Hawaii and the west coast of the United States. Some of these activities were training runs while others were bombing routes. In November the Yorktown headed out to join the Pacific Fleet as part of the assault to push the Japanese Navy back. After a series of air raids, the USS Yorktown returned to Hawaii. Over the next several months, the Yorktown was involved in a variety of air attacks in the Marshall Island, Maloelap, New Guinea and Kwajalein. Eventually, the aircraft flying from the Yorktown would move onto land installations, with the Yorktown bringing them close enough to bomb airfields in Guam.

Battle of the Philippine Sea

One of the most impressive feats of the time was the Yorktown's impressive defense against the Japanese aircraft who planned an attack against her planes. The Yorktown had official duties of striking air bases that belonged to the Japanese on the island of Guam. The purpose of this was to cut off access for the Japanese. While this plan was established, another problem developed. The Japanese formulated a plan to attack the Yorktown while she sat unprotected at sea. An adjustment of plans led to half of the aircraft continuing the bombing raid on the airfields of Guam, while the remainder went forward to defend the Yorktown from attack. The plan was successful, and by the end of the attack, the aircraft on the Yorktown had destroyed 37 planes and dropped over 20 tons of bombs.

This type of aggressive battle was not uncommon for the Yorktown, and she spent the rest of her tour in aggressive combat, coupled with transoceanic trips to refuel, be repaired and transport sailors. By the end of 1946, she was back in the US, where she was decommissioned. A workhorse such as the Yorktown should not expect to remain inactive, and within five years she was recommissioned. Although the fighting had ended in the Korean War, she headed to the area to conduct training exercises.

Once she arrived back in the United States she was used for the filming of the documentary "Jet Carrier". She continued with light duty after this, conducting various training exercises along the west coast. In January of 1955, she was used for the evacuation of Chinese Nationalists from the Tachen Islands. When she returned home, she had extensive modernization completed which allowed her to launch and land newer and more powerful jets.

In early 1959, the USS Yorktown spent time in Vietnam in her new career as an antisubmarine aircraft carrier. After this, along with some routine training runs, she returned to her new base in Long Beach, California. In 1964, her real involvement in the Vietnam War began, with special operation duties in the South China Sea. After several months home, she returned to the fighting in Vietnam. She completed three tours of duty in Vietnam. Once home, in 1967, the USS Yorktown entered the Long Beach Naval Shipyard for much needed repairs. In December, she headed back out to the Sea of Japan. This was the beginning of an additional three tours that she would complete, launching air strikes and performing search and rescue missions.

Once again home, it was time for another round of repairs, and once again, she served as a base for the filming of a movie, this time it was Tora!Tora!Tora! Even when not involved in war time efforts, the USS Yorktown was active, in 1968 she was involved in the recovery of Apollo 8. In January of 1969 she was sent to join the Atlantic Fleet, based in Norfolk, Virginia. In June of 1970, the USS Yorktown was decommissioned, and in 1974 she was donated to Patriot's Point in Charleston, South Carolina where she remains as a museum, and a national historic landmark. During the time she spent in battle, she earned 16 battle stars and the Presidential Unit Citation.

If you were exposed to asbestos while serving on the USS Yorktown CV-10, 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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