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| USN Essex-class aircraft carrier 27,100 Tons (standard) 36,380 Tons (full loaded) 820' x 93 x 34' 2"' 4 x Twin 5" guns 8 x Quad 40mm 46 x 20mm cannon 91-103 aircraft |
Ship History Built by New York Naval Shipyard in Brooklyn, NY. Laid down December 15, 1942 as an Essex-class aircraft carrier. Launched February 26, 1944 as the second USS Bennington CV-20 named for Bennington, Vermont the site of the Battle of Bennington during the Revolutionary War sponsored by the wife of Congressman Melvin Maas of Minnesota. Commissioned August 6, 1944 in the U.S. Navy (USN) under the command of Captain James B. Sykes and completed sea trials and a shakedown cruise. Wartime History On December 14, 1944 departed New York bound for the Pacific. On December 21, 1944 transited the Panama Canal and eight days later arrived at San Diego. On January 1, 1945 departs San Diego bound for Pearl Harbor arriving a week later and for the remainder of the month conducted training off Hawaii. On February 1, 1945 departs Pearl Harbor with USS Belleau Wood, USS Bunker Hill, USS Randolph and USS Saratoga (CV-3) with USS Alaska bound for Ulithi arriving a week later and joins Task Force 58 (TF 58) and became a unit of Task Group 58.1 (TG 58.1). On February 10, 1945 departs Ulithi via Tinian to conduct exercises then steam northward for carrier strikes against Japan. PARTIAL HISTORY On February 18, 1945 during the afternoon launched 16 fighters, 11 dive bombers and 11 Avengers on a strike against shipping and shore installations at Futami Bay on Chi Chi Jima. The strike inflicted damage on small ships, the seaplane base and waterfront sites in the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire that damaged TBM Avenger 22889 (MIA) causing it to collide with TBM Avenger 22904 (1 rescued, 2 MIA). PARTIAL HISTORY On July 24, 1945 roughly 100 miles off the southern most point of Honshu and launched a strike against Toyohashi Airfield, Kowa, Tanabe, Yahata, Kisabe, Kobe and Shioya. Also, two strikes were launched against Kure and Kure Harbor in conjunction with the rest of Task Force 58 that experienced heavy anti-aircraft fire and claimed hits on warships and carriers. Lost is FG-1D Corsair 88062 pilot Lt. Rodney C. Tabler (MIA). PARTIAL HISTORY After hostilities ended, Bennington continued operations in the Japanese home islands in support of occupation forces. Her aviators conducted routine patrols as well as searches for camps containing Allied Prisoners Of War (POWs). On September 10, 1945 entered Tokyo Bay remained in the Far East until mid-October when she departed across the Pacific via Saipan to disembark her air group and Pearl Harbor then to the west coast. On November 7, 1945 arrived San Francisco. During January 1946 departs with a load of planes and personnel to Pearl Harbor then training off Hawaii. On March 30, 1946 returns to San Francisco. In early April 1946 embarks Carrier Air Group 19 (CVG-19) on a voyage via the Panama Canal then to Norfolk arriving April 22, 1946 and remains there for the next seven months. On November 8, 1946 decommissioned and anchored as part of the Atlantic Reserve Fleet for four years. Cold War On October 29, 1950 arrives New York Naval Shipyard for SCB-27A Essex-class aircraft carrier modernization over the next two years. During October 1952, while completing alterations, re-designated as an attack aircraft carrier (CVA-20). On November 13, 1952 Captain David. B. Young took command in a ceremony attended by more than 1,400, including the Secretary of the Navy Dan A. Kimball and Rear Admiral Roscoe H. Hillenkoetter. On February 13, 1953 embarked Marine Air Group 14 (MAG-14) under the command of Colonel W. R. Campbell and departs New York for carrier qualifications off Florida. Fate On January 15, 1970 decommissioned from the Navy. On September 20, 1989 sold for scrap. On January 12, 1994 towed to India and broken up for scrap. Awards For her World War II service, USS Bennington earned three battle stars. References NavSource USS Bennington (CV-20) (later CVA-20 and CVS-20) (photos) Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) USS Bennington (CV-20/CVA-20/CVS-20) NARA U.S. S. Bennington CV-20 Action Report For Period 10 February -- 2 March 1945 page 3, 10, 12 (Page 3) "Bennington planes (16 VF, 11 VB, 11 VT) joined others in a strike on shipping and harbor installations, northern part of Futami Bay, Chichi Jima. Heavy AA encountered. Lost or missing: 2 VT, 1 VB, 2 pilots, and 5 aircrew men. Damage inflicted on small ships, seaplane base and waterfront shops." Contribute
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