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Photo # USN 1059601:  USS Randolph underway at sea, February 1962

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Randolph (CV-15, later CVA-15 & CVS-15), 1944-1975

USS Randolph, a 27,100-ton Ticonderoga class aircraft carrier built at Newport News, Virginia, was commissioned in October 1944. She went to the Pacific in December 1944 and began combat operations in February 1945, when she sent her planes to attack targets in the Japanese home islands and the Bonins in support of the Iwo Jima invasion. On 11 March, Randolph was hit by a suicide plane while she was anchored at Ulithi Atoll. She lost 25 crewmen but was repaired locally and returned to action in early April. From then until late May 1945, the carrier actively participated in the Okinawa campaign, serving as flaghship of Task Force 58 during the latter part of this period. For the rest of the Pacific War, Randolph launched strikes against the enemy home islands.

With peace restored, Randolph recrossed the Pacific in September 1945, transiting the Panama Canal to join the Atlantic Fleet. Over the next few months, she made two round-trips to the Mediterranean to bring home servicemen. The carrier visited European waters twice while serving as a training ship in 1946-47 and was placed out of commission at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in February 1948. After receiving an SCB-27A modernization, Randolph recommissioned in July 1953 as an attack aircraft carrier, with the new classification CVA-15. She deployed to the Mediterranean for Sixth Fleet duty in 1954.

In 1955-56, Randolph was again modernized, this time receiving an angled flight deck and enclosed "hurricane" bow. She made three more Sixth Fleet deployments during 1956-59 and was then converted to an anti-submarine support aircraft carrier and reclassified CVS-15. Over the next decade, she took part in anti-submarine exercises in the Atlantic, Mediterranean and off Northern Europe. She also acted as support ship for early "Mercury" manned space flights and participated in Cuban missile crisis operations. USS Randolph was decommissioned in February 1969 and laid up in the Reserve Fleet at Philadelphia. Stricken from the Naval Vessel Register in June 1973, she was sold for scrapping in May 1975.

This page features selected views of USS Randolph (CV/CVA/CVS-15).

If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: 80-G-287672

USS Randolph (CV-15)


In the Chesapeake Bay area during her shakedown period, 12 November 1944.
She is wearing camouflage Measure 32 Design 17a.
Photographed from USS Charger (CVE-30).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 96KB; 740 x 605 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

Note:
The original photographic mount card, in the National Archives, incorrectly identifies this ship as USS Shangri-La (CV-38).

 
Photo #: NH 97489

USS Randolph (CV-15)


At anchor in the western Pacific, June 1945.
Photographed by Lieutenant Barrett Gallagher.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 79KB; 740 x 610 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 97490

USS Randolph (CVA-15)


Stands at her assigned anchorage in Hampton Roads, Virginia, during the International Naval Review, 12 June 1957.
Note her deckload of aircraft, with two AJ "Savage" attack planes and 14 FJ "Fury" fighters parked on the flight deck, forward.
Photographed by PH2 Hughes.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 89KB; 600 x 765 pixels

 
Photo #: USN 1059601

USS Randolph (CVS-15)


Underway at sea on 27 February 1962, with two S2F airplanes on her catapults.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

Online Image: 121KB; 740 x 615 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-N-1059601.

 
Photo #: NH 67959

USS Randolph (CVS-15)


Refueling at sea from USS Pawcatuck (AO-108), circa 1960.
USS Waller (DDE-466) is refueling from the oiler's starboard side, while USS Eaton is steaming astern, waiting her turn for a "drink".

Photograph received from USS Waller, 1969.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 159KB; 740 x 605 pixels

 
Photo #: 80-G-274099

USS Randolph (CV-15)


Crewmen fighting fires on the ship's flight deck, after she was hit by a "Kamikaze", 11 March 1945.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 68KB; 740 x 610 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: 80-G-344531

USS Randolph (CV-15)


Alongside a repair ship at Ulithi Atoll, Caroline Islands, 13 March 1945, showing damage to her after flight deck resulting from a "Kamikaze" hit on 11 March.
Photographed from a USS Miami (CL-89) floatplane.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 156KB; 740 x 610 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: 80-G-K-5339 (Color)

USS Randolph (CV-15)

Grumman F6F "Hellcat" fighter parked on the port catapult, March 1945.
Note the plane's tail markings, unique to this ship.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 63KB; 740 x 600 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: 80-G-K-5395 (Color)

USS Randolph (CV-15)

Seaman 1st Class Leonard A. Cassidy spots model aircraft on the ship's "ouija board" hangar and flight deck planning boards, in response to the telephoned orders of air officers. The nearer board represents the flight deck, with the hangar deck board behind it.
Aircraft types represented include F6F, TBM and SB2C.
The original color transparency was received by the Naval Photographic Science Laboratory on 15 June 1945.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 73KB; 740 x 600 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: 80-G-K-6355 (Color)

USS Randolph (CV-15)

A musical trio plays for crewmen in the carrier's sickbay, 11 August 1945.
The players are Musician 3rd Class Joseph Calicari (Violin), Musician 2nd Class Wilfred Batchelder (Base) and Musician 3rd Class Charles Apellonia (Accordion).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 78KB; 740 x 585 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: NH 97491

Sir Winston Churchill


Salutes as he receives honors during a visit to USS Randolph (CVA-15), 26 October 1958.
Photographed by J.C. Ricks.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 76KB; 605 x 765 pixels

 


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


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Page made 6 February 2001
Link added 8 October 2001