USS Coral Sea CVA-43 Association

440710 AA Built at Newport News Shipbuilding Co. Cost: $87.6 mil. Date keel laid
460402 AB Launched by Mrs. (ADM) Thomas C. Kincaid, Coral Sea hero
460402 CJ Named: WWII naval battle 7-8 May 1942, stops Jap invasion plans
470000 AG Modified storage and assembly areas for nuclear bomb
471001 AC Commissioned at Nor NSY. NavSec John L. Sullivan, speaker
471001 AI Ship's patch insignia in color, HOOK Spring `85
471001 BR NIJA, Ship signal flag and radio call sign issued by Navy
471001 CO New CO: Storrs, Aaron P., III. "Putt". 1st CO
471001 DN Nickname : BIG C, CORAL MARU, AGELESS WARRIOR
471001 PO First homeport: Norfolk to 26 February 1957
480119 BO 480405 : Shakedown cruise to Cuba and Panama Canal
480119 GR CVGB-5 embarked, tail code C
480427 MF 1st launch of P2V-2 Neptune (nuclear capable),off Norfolk
480607 FM 480806 : 1st Med cruise. Midshipmen. Golfe Juan call
480607 GC CVG-17 embarked, tail code R. HOOK Clayton
480811 CO New CO: Vosseller, Aurelius B. at Norfolk OB
481007 AJ 490219 : Island modernization, new bridge at Norfolk NSY
490307 GA P2V-3C with 10,000# dummy atomic load launch, off Norfolk
490503 FM 490926 : 2nd Med cruise. Italy, Malta, Turkey, Cuba
490503 GC CVG-2 embarked, tail code M. HOOK Clayton
490600 DO Port calls to 6/27 : Augusta & Palermo, Sicily; Naples, Leghorn, Rapatto
490704 CF July 4th celebrated at Cannes, France during long port call
490711 CO New CO: Goldwaite, Robert at Cannes, France. USNA ' 24
490727 DO Port calls: Istanbul, Turkery to 8/1. Then Souda Bay, Crete 8/15
490800 DO Other port calls: Naples; Cannes & Gibraltar; Newport, RI
490919 EO Navy Occupation Service medal for ops in European waters
500421 GF 1st take-off (Hayward) of atomic bomb capable AJ-1 plane. HOOK Wi 89
500429 CO New CO: Trapnell, Frederick M. at Norfolk OB. USNA ' 23
500625 BG Korea War outbreak status : Homeport, Norfolk
500831 GA VC-5 carquals with Savage AJ. CO Capt J. Hayward. HK Wi 89
500831 GF 1st landing & TO of atomic bomb capable AJ-1 plane. Hayward. HK Wi 89
500909 FM 510201 : 3rd Med cruise. A-bomb parts carried
500909 GC CVG-17 embarked, tail code R. HOOK Clayton
500909 GF Banshee F2H-2 first major deployment by VF-171 & VF-172
500909 MF 1st carrier to deploy with the non-nuclear parts for an A-bomb
510201 DO Port calls: Herakelton, Crete; Oran, Morocco; Algiers, Algeria
510212 CO New CO: Russell, James S. at Norfolk OB. ADM. Langley, CV 1 pilot
510320 FM 511006 : 4th Med cruise. NATO exercises.Greece & Turkey
510320 GC CVG-1 embarked, tail code T. HOOK Clayton
510456 EO Navy Occupation Service medal for ops in European waters
510904 EO Navy Occupation Service medal for ops in European waters
510922 DO Port call: Lisbon, Portugal. Other calls in Italy, France, Greece, Turkey
511010 AJ 520219 : Overhaul at Norfolk Navy Yard
520210 CO New CO: Pirie, Robert B. at Norfolk Navy Shipyard. USNA ' 26. Obit in file
520419 FM 521012 : 5th Med cruise. 1st visit to Split,Yugoslavia
520419 GC CVG-4 embarked, tail code F. HOOK Clayton
520700 DA Editors. U.S.S. CORAL SEA, FORTUNE July 52
520911 DO 520914 : Port call : Split, Yugoslavia. First carrier to call in country
520914 DD Marshal Tito visits ship off Split, Yugoslavia
520930 DI a Earns Navy Battle "E" for Atlantic Fleet for Fiscal 1952
521001 AH Designated CVA-43 , attack carrier
521004 EO Navy Occupation Service medal for ops in European waters
521107 CO New CO: Riley, Herbert D. at Norfolk Navy Shiyard
530426 FM 531021 : 6th Med cruise. Oran, Algiers, Naples & Barcelona, Palermo
530426 GC CVG-8 embarked, tail code E. HOOK Clayton
530810 CO New CO: Caldwell, Henry Howard at Naples, Italy
531014 EO Navy Occupation Service medal for ops in European waters
540614 CO New CO: Sears, Harry E.
540707 FM 541220 : 7th Med cruise. Two NATO exercises participant
540707 GC CVG-10 embarked, tail code P. HOOK Clayton
540930 DI a Navy Battle E for FY 1954 Atlantic Fleet
541000 DD Gen. Franco visits ship at Valencia, Spain call
541211 EO Navy Occupation Service medal for ops in European waters
541222 CO New CO: McDonald, David L. Admiral, CNO
550405 FM 550929 : 8th Med cruise. Only cruise with Fury (FJ-2)
550405 GC CVG-17 embarked, tail code R. Olson File p4
550921 EO Navy Occupation Service medal for ops in European waters
550930 DI a Navy Battle E for FY 1955 Atlantic Fleet
551017 CO New CO: Gentner, William E. Jr.
560813 FMs 570211 : 9th Med cruise. Sardinia. Suez crisis patrol
560813 GC CVG-10 embarked, tail code P. HOOK Clayton
560908 CG AJ-1 trial crashes into 9 parked planes while landing
561010 CO New CO: Jaap, Jasper A. . USNA ' 32
561020 DD King Paul & Queen Frederica visit at Phaleron Bay,Greece
561020 DO Port calls in late October: Piraeus, Greece; Istanbul, Turkey
561030 NI Evacuates Americans from Egypt during Suez crisis
561225 CF Christmas celebrated at Cannes, France port call
570226 FH 570415 : Cape Horn cruise (3/17). Norfolk to Puget Sound
570226 GC No formal air group known, decommissioned
570415 DO Ports calls: Santos, Brazil; Talcahuano, Valparaiso, Chile; Balboa, CZ
570416 AJ 600125 : 1st modernization, SCB 110A at Puget Sound yard
570424 AF 600125 : Decommissioned for modernization at Puget Sound
600125 AE Recommissioned at Puget Sound. New homeport: Alameda NAS
600125 CH Details of SCB-110A Jane's 1963, copy in file
600125 CO New CO: Gray, James S. Jr. at Bremerton NSY. USNA ' 36
600318 DO Port call 3 days, Vancouver, begins. Largest ship under Lion's Gate bridge
600401 PO Homeport : Alameda to 2 March 1983
600919 FF 610527 : 1st WestPac cruise. Laos crisis,Japan,Hong Kong
600919 GC CVG-15 embarked, tail code NL. HOOK Clayton
601205 CO New CO: Lynch, John J. at Yokosuka, Japan. Boston College 1933
610100 ND Operates in South China Sea as Pathet Lao, Laos crisis escalates
610429 EV Vietnam Expeditionary Force service dates; to 9 May 61
610527 GA VMA-324,121 from Japan replace FITRONS for all attack CVW
610818 CF Enters San Diego Bay for naval aviation 50th anniversary. Largest to date
611023 GA 100,000 th landing aboard ship celebrated. A4D Skyhawk
611101 CO New CO: Weisner, Maurice F. Admiral
611212 FF 620717 : 2nd WestPac cruise. Vietnam Expeditionary Ops
611212 GC CVG-15 embarked, tail code NL. HOOK Clayton
611214 CH Pilot Landing Aid Television, first carrier installation
611214 MF 1st carrier Pilot Landing Aid Television (PLAT) installed
620112 EV Vietnam Expeditionary Force service dates; to 27 Jan 62
620200 DO Port calls: Kobe, Yokosuka, Sasebo in Japan
620313 GA Demon, F3H, catapulted while at anchor at Yokosuka demonstration
620330 DD Japan Prime Minister, 23 Diet members tour ship, Yokosuka
620527 DO 620603 : Port call at Hong Kong
620717 MF 1st attack carrier to operate in Bering Sea
620723 CO New CO: Elder, Robert M. in San Francisco Bay. U of WA '40.
620723 DA Tillman, Barrett. Bob Elder. HOOK Fa 89. Biography
620908 AK 621221 : Overhaul period at Hunters Point NSY
630202 CD Aground 8 hours in San Francisco Bay enroute Alameda. Ends SoCal ops
630213 CO New CO: Roemer, Charles E. at Alameda pier
630403 FF 631125 : 3rd WestPac cruise.Australia, Coral Sea services
630403 GC CVG-15 embarked, tail code NL. HOOK Clayton
630422 CF Crosses Equator and International Date Line same time, enroute Australia
630502 CF Commemorates Coral Sea battle with port call at Sydney, Australia
630603 ND Supplies 256,000 gallons of water to drought in Hong Kong
640216 CO New CO: Charbonnet, Pierre N. Jr. USNA ' 41
641207 FN 651101 : 1st Vietnam extended war cruise. 10,000 sorties
641207 GC CVW-15 embarked, tail code NL. NHC Battle Order p 3
650115 CO New CO: Cassell, George L.
650125 EV 650704 : Vietnam Armed Forces Expeditionary Service Medal
650200 CF 4 CVs mass in Opn Candid Camera off Vietnam; CVs 10, 19, 43, 61
650206 BF 1st combat operations from carrier to Dong Hoi military barracks, No. Viet
650704 ES 651023 : Vietnam Service Medal awarded for combat ops off coast
651002 GA 150,000th trap by Lt. Ronald E. McKowan, VF 154 in a F-8D Crusader
651101 DL 167 line days on 6 line periods with 21 planes lost in combat
651101 DO Olongapo, Phil. Is; Hong Kong; Yokosuka, Japan
651101 MF Record 331 days deployed, 245 days at sea, over 10,500 landings
651104 BD Navy Unit Commendation for Vietnam duty from 7 Feb 65
651122 AJ 660430 : Major overhaul at Hunters Point, San Francisco
660218 CO New CO: Ault, Frank W. USNA ' 42. At Hunters Point NSY
660729 FN 670223 : 2nd Vietnam war cruise. 2 Hong Kong liberties. 109 line days
660729 GC CVW-2 embarked, tail code NE. HOOK Clayton
670223 BD Navy Unit Commendation for Vietnam war cruise
670223 DL 109 line days on 3 line periods with16 planes lost in combat
670223 ES Vietnam Service Medal awarded for combat ops off coast
670318 CO New CO: Shawcross, William H. at Hunters Point NSY
670724 CF San Francisco formally adopts ship in ceremonies
670726 FN 680406 : 3rd Vietnam war cruise. Chinese down ferry plane
670726 GC CVW-15 embarked, tail code NL. NHC Battle Order p 9
670726 GF Last cruise of A-1 Skyraider by VA-25
670826 CG Loses propeller blade causing a 2-week return to Yokosuka for repairs
671018 CG Collision with MOUNT KATMAI, AE-16 breaks 2 elevators
671023 CG SH-3A helocopter from KEARSARGE hits ship causing fatalites on aircraft
671025 CE 9 injured when Zuni rocket explodes in assembly area
671025 CG Zuni rocket ignites in assembly area. 9 seriously burned
671107 CT Saves 37 crew of sinking LOYAL FORTUNES near Hong Kong
671222 DD Bob Hope gives Christmas performance aboard ship off Vietnam
671225 CF Christmas Day celebrated with Hong Kong liberty period
680123 EK Korea Expeditionary Service Medal to 22 March 1968
680220 GF Last combat sortie for A-1 Skyraider in Vietnam. Last deployment cruise
680223 DO Port calls: Hong Kong (2), Subic Bay, Phil. (2), Sasebo, Japan
680302 CO New CO: Ferris, James at Sasebo
680406 BD Navy Unit Commendation for Vietnam cruise
680406 DL 132 line days on 5 line periods with 15 planes lost in combat
680406 ES Vietnam Service Medal awarded for combat ops off coast
680907 FN 690418 : 4th Vietnam war cruise. 110 lline days
680907 GC CVW-15 embarked, tail code NL. NHC Battle Order p 11
680930 DI Earns Navy Battle "E" for Pacific Attack for fiscal 1968
681121 CG Catapult shot put A-4C in water. CDR M Naschek VA-216 dies
690418 BD Navy Unit Commendation for Vietnam cruise
690418 DL 110 line days on 5 line periods with 4 planes lost in combat
690418 DO Port calls: Christmas in Japan; Singapore; Hong Kong (Mar 12-18)
690418 ES Vietnam Service Medal awarded for combat ops off coast
690516 CO New CO: Gorsline, Samuel G. Jr. USNA ' 44. File
690923 FN 700701 : 5th Vietnam cruise. Australia. Elevator damage
690923 GC CVW-15 embarked, tail code NL. NHC Battle Order p13
691212 CE Minor explosion in shaft alley caused by cigarette
700115 CL Heavy seas damage No.2 elevator. Removal at Subic Bay
700613 DO 700619 : Port call, Sydney, Australia
700701 BD Navy Unit Commendation for Vietnam war cruise
700701 DL 125 line days on 5 line periods with 1 plane lost in combat
700701 DO Port calls: Hong Kong, Sasebo, Subic Bay, Yokosuka
700701 ES Vietnam Service Medal awarded for combat ops off coast
700702 AJ 710601 : Complex overhaul at Hunter's Point yard. $44 million
700825 CF San Francisco Mayor Joseph Alioto presented token helm at Alameda
701016 CO New CO: McDonald, Wesley L. at Hunters Point NSY. Admiral
710907 CO New CO: Harris, William H. at Alameda Naval Air Station pier
711112 FN 720717 : 6th Vietnam war cruise. Haiphong Harbor mining
711112 GC CVW-15 embarked, tail code NL. NHC Battle Order p 15
720509 BB Gives air defense for mining of Haiphong, No.Viet harbor
720509 DA Osborne, Art. AIR DEFENSE FOR HAIPHONG MINING, PRO 9/74
720717 DL 148 line days on 6 line periods with 12 planes lost in combat
721102 CO New CO: Peck, Paul A.
721717 ES Vietnam Service Medal awarded for combat ops off coast
730200 MF Most combat line days (875) in Vietnam War, 7 cruises
730309 FN 731108 : 7th Vietnam war cruise. Vietnam coast peace patrol
730309 GC CVW-15 embarked, tail code NL. NHC Battle Order p 18
731108 DL 84 line days on 6+ line periods with 14 planes lost in combat
731108 ES Vietnam Service Medal awarded for combat ops off coast
740125 CO New CO: Rogers, Thomas S. Jr.
741205 FF 750702 : 11th WestPac cruise. Indian O, Cambodian coast
741205 GC CVW-15 embarked, tail code NL. NHC Battle Order p 19
741205 NA Portion of WestPac cruise spent in Indian Ocean ops
750400 DA Anderson, Richard M. THE MIDWAY CLASS CARRIERS, WI 2/75
750412 ND Supports evacuation of Phnon Phem, Cambodia
750428 ND Helicopters evacuates refugees as South Vietnam falls
750506 DO 750510 : Port call to Singapore.
750514 BY Meritorious Unit Commendation awarded for Mayaguez ops
750515 EJ Air strikes on Cambodian gunboat over MAYAGUEZ capture
750530 DO 750605 : Port call : 1nd U.S. carrier since Saratoga, CV 3 to visit Perth
750630 AH Designated CV-43, All-purpose carrier
750718 CO New CO: Frick, Joseph F. USNA ' 53
750806 AJ 760518 : Complex overhaul at Long Beach Naval Yard
760704 CF San Francisco pier visit for bicentennial celebration
770215 FF 771005 : 12th WestPac cruise. South China Sea, Yellow Sea
770215 GC CVW-15 embarked, tail code NL. HOOK Clayton
770301 CO New CO: Aitcheson, George A. at Pearl Harbor
770717 GD Crash of A-7 off Okinawa, LCdr Gerald L. Hausmann dead. tailhook Officer
771005 DO Port calls : 3 port calls to Pusan, Subic Bay, Yokosuka
780131 BK 780217 : CarQuals in southern California operating area
780307 AJ 790208 : Overhaul at Puget Sound. $80 million, 5" guns out
780603 CO New CO: Arthur Stanley R. at Puget Sound NSY
791113 FF 800611 : 13th WestPac. Korea, Indy O. Aids hostage rescue
791113 GC CVW-14 embarked, tail code NK. Go Navy. Clayton HOOK
791113 GG CVW-14 CAG Capt. David N. Rogers
791113 NA Portion of WestPac cruise spent in Indian Ocean ops
791222 CO New CO: Dunleavy, Richard M.at Subic Bay. 1st naval flight officer as CO
800118 DO 800120 : Port call at Phattya, Thailand. Singapore Jan 25 begins liberty
800201 NG Enters Indian O. Ordered to Arabian Sea to relieve Midway, Hostage ops
800424 EI Navy Expeditionary Service Medal for Iran hostage support
800424 NG Operations with NIMITZ during Iran hostages rescue try
800509 CF Port call : Subic Bay ending 102 consecutive days at sea
800522 ND Philippines. Deployed to Korea during political unrest after assassination
800714 AJ 801010 : $30 million modernization
810507 BK Leaves for training cruise to Pearl Harbor, Hawaiian Islands
810802 CO New CO: Johnson, Jerome L. at Alameda Naval Air Station
810820 FF 820323 : 14th WestPac cruise. Indian O., No.Arabian Sea
810820 GC CVW-14 embarked, tail code NK. HOOK Clayton. Go Navy p10
810820 GG CAG CVW-14 Cdr.Richard A. Wilson
810820 NA Portion of WestPac cruise spent in Indian Ocean ops
810820 NA Indian Ocean ops in GonzoEx 2-81 and Bright Star 82
810924 DO Port call: Subic Bay, Philippine Is.
811008 DO Port call: Singapore.
811011 EI 811020 : Navy Expeditionary Service Medal for Iran hostage support
811031 DA Poole. CVW-14/CV-43 RETURNS FROM WESTPAC.., HOOK Sum 82
820000 DA 81-82 Cruise Book. THIRTY-FIVE YEARS OF CORAL SEA
820323 CF Flowers and confetti blanket ship under Golden Gate Bridge to Alameda
820700 DM Movie `THE RIGHT STUFF' July 1982, about early astronauts
821015 CF San Francisco, leads 15 Navy `Fleet Week' ships column
830321 DO Port calls: Naples, Italy & Cannes, France
830321 FF 830912 : 15th WestPac cruise. Global Coast Change. See HE
830321 GC CVW-14 embarked, tail code NK. Go Navy p7
830321 HE 830912 : Global coast change. Alameda, Suez, Norfolk
830400 NA Portion of WestPac cruise spent in Indian Ocean ops
830411 CS Aleutian chain operations near USSR with CV-41 & CVN-65
830614 NM 830912 : Global. Suez, 9th Med cruise, Alameda, Nicaragua, Norfolk
830614 SC Suez Canal transit, North*. During global coast change
830809 NC Deploys to Nicaragua to counter Soviet arm shipments
830912 DO Port calls: Phattaya, Singapore, Subic, Sasebo, Hong Kong
830912 PO Homeport : Norfolk
831000 DA Hissem. S.D. HARD KNOCKS, HOOK, Fall 83 p.54
831001 CO New CO: Taylor, Jeremy D. Naval Postgraduate School ' 65 Bio CV 34
831017 AJ 850118 : Norfolk Yard-15 month complex overhaul, $186 mil
831217 CE Fire in main engine room in overhaul in Norfolk Navy Yard
840831 CO New CO: Tucker, Robert E.
850118 CH Combat systems and catapult specifications at date.WI-185
850300 AI CV, CVW, Squadrons insignia, color. HOOK Spring 85
850412 CG Collides with Ecuador cargo `Napo' off Cuba. Bow damage
850521 CO New CO: Ferguson, Robert H.
850606 BK 850620 : COMPTUEX 3-85. Training ops of NC & VA coasts
850700 BF Former CO: Tucker, Robert E.Jr. relieved after $11 million collision
850813 CS 850907 : ReadEx 3-85, NATO ops in Eastern Atlantic with UK and NL
851002 FM 860519 : 10th Med cruise. Gulf of Sidra ops & Libya raids
851002 GC CVW-13 embarked, tail code AK. HOOK Su 86 p58
851002 GF 1st Marine deployment of F/A-18, VMFA-314 & VMFA 323
851002 GG CVW-13 CAG Capt John P. Gay / 11/29 Cdr Byron L. Duff
851003 DE Boiler problems develop during Med cruise
851124 NG Near Malta. Ship alerted for Libyan hijack response
851129 DO Port call: Haifa, Israel, in port
851129 GX CVW-13 CAG Cdr Byron L. Duff rel. Capt John P. Gay
851225 CF Port call for Christmas & New Years: Naples, Italy
860324 NG Gulf of Sidra,Libya. Operates with CVs 60 & 66.Opn Attain Document
860404 DO Port call: Malaga, Spain
860415 BD Navy Unit Commendation for Libyan combat ops
860415 EM Navy Expeditionary Service Medal for Libyan coast strike ops
860415 NG Launches air attacks on Benghazi, Libya targets. Opn Eldorado Canyon
860510 DA Breast, Jerry C. BATTLE STATIONS, WINGS OF GOLD, Sum 87
860519 DA CVW-13 ' 85-86 cruise report: HOOK Sp 86 p52
860519 DO Port calls: Naples (2), Toulon, Istanbul, Catania, Palermo, Trieste
860721 AK 861106 : Norfolk NSY, major boiler trouble repaired
860800 DA CVW-13/CV-43 . 9-page article & photo pages. HOOK Sum 86
870223 CO New CO: Bremner, Bruce B. At Norfolk OB
870929 FM 880328 : 11th Med cruise. African Eagle Ex off Morocco
870929 GC CVW-13 embarked, tail code AK. HOOK Su 88 p77
870929 GG CVW-13 CAG Capt William Switzer
871011 BK Enters Med. Begins 3-day National Week exercises in Gulf of Sidra
871225 DO Christmas at Naples, Italy during inport period
880212 DO Port call: Izmul, Turkey, inport date. Other liberty at Marseille, France
880622 CO New CO: Allen, Lloyd Edward. Last CO
880700 DE Cited for dumping medical wastes off North Carolina coast
881000 DA Ed. CORAL SEA AT WAR, TONKIN GULF YACHT CLUB, 1988
881231 DB Romano, Angelo. WINGS FROM THE CORAL SEA, 1988
890419 NF NE Puerto Rico. Aids stricken USS IOWA, BB-61, fire injured
890531 FM 890930 : 12th Med & final cruise. Replaced CVN-71
890531 GC CVW-13 embarked, tail code AK. HOOK Wi 89 p90
890714 CF Port call for Bastille Day, Cannes, France
890801 EL Navy Expedition Medal. Rushed to Lebanon, LCOL Higgins is hung
890801 NG Helped evacuate American Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon
890930 BF Last cruise report, HOOK Winter 1989
890930 DO Port calls : Palma, Spain; Marseille, France (2nd time)
900400 DA Clayton, P. & Cressman, R. MORE THAN A SHIP, HOOK Sp 90
900430 BF 2+ million nautical miles, 375,000 landings, 70,000 crew
900430 DA Pawlowski, Garth L. FLAT-TOPS AND FLEDGLINGS, book, p312
900430 DA Ship booklet. DECOMMISSIONING OF USS CORAL SEA, files
900430 IB Decommissioned at Norfolk Naval Base, Pier 12
900501 CM Complete list of Commanding Officers in file
901100 BF At Norfolk Naval Shipyard. To be towed to Philadelphia for parts salvage
910430 AL Stricken from Navy Register
910430 PP Final homeport : Norfolk
910600 DA Cressman, Robert J. THE AGELESS WARRIOR, NAVAL REVIEW
910904 DB Haslev, Ole AVIATION, OPERATIONAL, CONSTRUCTION HISTORY
920531 DB Coral Sea Assn CORAL SEA HISTORY BOOK, Turner Publ. Co.
930304 BF Sale Bid # 31-3359 dated March 4, 1993, appraised $300K
930706 BF Scrap: Seawitch Marine Salv., Fairfield Tm., Baltimore,MD
930706 BF Arrives in Baltimore for scrapping. Museum plan failed
990712 DC Herman Doernbach, 3144 S. 98th St. Milwaukee, WI 63227 414-321-0098
990712 DQ Herman Doernbach, E-mail hermanwd@aol.com
2000412 DW http://www.geocities.com/cv43coralsea/index.html
2000809 BF Scrapping completed as last 80' section is pulled ashore