Squadron Patch
Squadron Patch
1960 to 1964
1960 to 1964


Welcome Aboard!

My Military Page


I spent 4 years in the United States Navy. During that time I was stationed at Miramar Naval Air Station, at San Diego, California, now known as Top Gun. I was in Fighter Squadron 211 and our Aircraft was F8U. During my 4 years I was sent overseas on 3 occasions with the 7th Fleet. Our Ports included Hawaii, Okinawa, Philippine Islands, Hong Kong, China, Japan and of course Viet Nam.
I have gathered material from a friend who was aboard the Aircraft Carrier USS Hancock. The Hancock was known as the Fighting Hanna. I will give my friend's name and URL number at the end of my page.
I want to note one thing in which I am proud of--Fighter Squadron 211 shot down the first enemy Aircraft of the Viet Nam Era. In 1962 she assisted in turning the ships around during the Cuban Missile showdown.
I was also on board the USS Lexington for a short time in 1961, and she can now be seen in Corpus Christi, Texas.


Fighting Hanna
Fighting Hanna

This page is dedicated to the "Fighting Hanna" and the men who served aboard her...



The Life of CV/CVA-19--1944-1976. The aircraft carrier USS Hancock CV-19, the third vessel of the United States Navy named in honor of the famed statesman, John Hancock, was launched on January 24, 1944, at the Bethlehem Steel Company in Quincy, MA. She was formally accepted into the Navy in April 1944, Captain Fred T. Dickey in command.

After fitting out in the Boston Navy Yard and shake-down training off Trinidad and Venezuela, Hancock returned to Boston for alterations 9 July. She departed Boston 31 July enroute to Pearl Harbor via the Panama Canal and San Diego, and from there sailed 24 September to join Admiral W. F. Halsey's 3rd Fleet Task Group 382...

Hancock got underway the following afternoon for a rendezvous point 375 miles west of the Marianas where units of Vice Admiral Mitscher's Fast Carrier Task Force 38 were assembling in preparation for the daring cruise to raid Japanese air and sea bases in the Ryukus, Tormosa and the Phillippines. Thus, enemy air power was paralyzed during General MacArthur's invasion of Leyre. When the armada arrived off the Ryukyu Islands 10 October 1944, Hancock's planes rose off her deck to wreak destruction upon Okinawan airfields and shipping. Her planes destroyed 7 enemy aircraft on the ground and assisted in the destruction of a submarine tender, 12 torpedo boats, 2 midget submarines, 4 cargo ships and a number of sampans. Next on the agenda were Formosan air bases where 12 October Hancock's pilots downed six enemy planes and destroyed nine more on the ground. She also reported one cargo ship definitely sunk, three probably destroyed and several others damaged...

DATA
Commissioned 15 April 1944, De-commissioned 9 May 1947, Re- designated CVA-19, 1 October 1952, Re-commissioned 15 February 1954. First steam catapult installed May 1954, De -commissioned 30 January 1976, Broken up 31 January 1976....

WWII- October 10, 1944 to August 15, 1945
Philippines, Iwo Jima, Japan 1944- 1945. Damaged by explosion 21 January 1945, Kamikaze attack 7 April 1945. Awarded Navy Unit Commendation Asiatic- Pacific Area, Campain Service Medal with five battle stars, American Area Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation Campaign Ribbon
( two stars ). Republic of the Philippines Presidential Unit Citation Badge...

Scorecard WWII
723 enemy planes destroyed, 17 warships sunk, 31 merchant ships sunk, 10 enemy planes downed by ships guns, 221 shipmates either killed of missing in action...

Vietnam Deployment As CVA-19
12 ( tied with Oriskany CVA-34 for most deployment) Last Western Pacific deployment 18 March 1975- 20 October 1975. Participated in Operation Eagel Pull evacuation of Phnom Penh, Cambodia and Operation Frequent Wind' evacuation of Saigon, South Vietnam in April 1975. One of the last Essex class carriers to operate in the attack role....


Fighter Squadron 211 Fly Over
Fighter Squadron 211 Fly Over

A man has not lived, until he has almost died for those who have fought, Life has a flavor the protected will never know.
Signed, Vietnam Verteran
(The above was found written in pencil on the metal seat back of a bus in Northern Thailand many, many years ago.)


Sign My Guestbook

View My Guestbook


HOME BACKNEXT



More USS HANCOCK SITES

HANCOCK HOMEPAGE

HANCOCK HISTORY 






The music here is purely for entertainment and educational purposes only,
 without any commercial interest whatsoever or profit of any kind.
Music and graphics have copyright by their respective artists and 
or record companies. All Rights  Reserved 2001 © Babybird Designs.
Fill out your email address
to Join my Free Mailing List for New Pages!
Powered by YourMailinglistProvider.com


I want to Thank Rey,
for the use of pictures
on my site.
Be sure to stop by his place at:

http://members.theglobe.com/Rey5/


AUDIO BIBLE ON-LINE
(This site is great!)