USS BENNINGTON
HISTORY OF USS BENNINGTON (CVA-20)
Prepared by: Public Information Office
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HISTORY OF USS BENNINGTON (CVA-20)
Prepared by: Public Information Office
On August 16, 1777, one of the most historic battles
Of the Revolutionary War took place near Bennington, Vermont.
Nearly 170 years later, the keel of a huge aircraft
Carrier was laid at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, New York. The
Carrier was named in commemoration of the battle and
Christened the USS BENNINGTON on February 26, 1944.
Immediately following commissioning ceremonies, the
Ship started on her shakedown cruise bound for the Gulf of
Paria.
One month later "Big Benn" was back at Norfolk, Virginia
Where she underwent a final yard period prior to shoving
Off for the war zone. The next several months saw BENNINGTON
Operating at sea in the vicinity of the Canal Zone and on
The first day of 1945 she went through the Panama Canal and
Headed for the Pacific.
After joining the Pacific Fleet, BENNINGTON'S first
Heavy encounter with the enemy came on February 19, 1945
When its air group flew continuous beach-head support strikes
Over Iwo Jima, where invasion landings were in progress.
The next big strike to materialize took place at
Okinawa where, on March 1st, she attacked several medium
Sized ships along with Army ground installations.
BENNINGTON'S air group up to this time had shot down 19 Japanese
Planes and damaged 22 others. More than a dozen airfields
Were bombed, hangers destroyed and gunnery emplacements
Blasted.
Two days later, in an attack lasting three days, 57
Enemy planes were shot down or destroyed by strafing while
Another 35 were counted as damaged by BENNINGTON aircraft.
On the morning of March 23, a small convoy of three
Cargo ships and two destroyers was spotted heading for
Okinawa. BENNINGTON'S planes were dispatched to the scene
And succeeded in sinking the entire convoy.
April 1, 1945, Easter Sunday, marked the invasion of
Okinawa. Big Benn, along with a huge amphibious force,
Began an air support operation, which was to continue for
70 days. During that time BENNINGTON pilots alone accounted
for 65 Japanese aircraft with the loss of only one of
the air group planes.
The worst damage BENNINGTON suffered was at the hands
Of nature. The ship had been steaming for 24 hours in
Order to avoid a typhoon but at day break of June 5 she
Was overtaken.
High winds and waves flooded the forward passageways
And living spaces. The powerful seas buckled a 35-foot
Section of the flight deck and both catapults were put out
Of commission. Despite the damage, BENNINGTON launched
A fighter sweep over a Japanese airfield on June 6. That
Evening she headed into Leyte Gulf for storm repairs.
On the morning of July 1, BENNINGTON was again in
Condition for fighting. With a new air group aboard she
Joined a large convoy and conducted raids on three Tokyo
Airfields. BENNINGTON planes were estimated to have damaged
Or destroyed 98 enemy aircraft.
The weeks that followed saw BENNINGTON planes unleashing
attack after attack on shipping, airfields and
Other installations. Finally, the end of the war came
But BENNINGTON remained in the forward area until she
returned to Pearl Harbor October 29, 1945.
From Pearl Harbor the attack aircraft carrier made
Its way back to San Francisco and continued light operations
For several months.
In mid-April she passed through the Panama Canal and
Arrived at Norfolk, Virginia on April 22. A short trip to
Unload ammunition was the last for the Big Benn. She was added
To the "mothball fleet" on November 8, 1946.
In 1950 her reconversion commenced at the Naval Ship
Yard, Brooklyn, New York. Two years later she was
recommissioned and after a shakedown cruise at Guantanamo Bay,
Cuba and a midshipman cruise to Halifax, Nova Scotia,
BENNINGTON took part in a NATO maneuver off the British
Isles along with 369 other vessels.
Five months duty with the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean
followed before the carrier returned to the States
In February 1954.
On May 26, 1954 while steaming from Norfolk, Virginia
To her home port, Quonset Point, Rhode Island, BENNINGTON
Experienced one of the worst sea disasters of modern times.
A series of explosions rocked the ship killing 103 men
And injuring 100 others. The officers and crew of BENNINGTON
were commended and widely acclaimed for the outstanding
manner in which they met this peacetime tragedy.
The ship then entered the New York Navy Shipyard for
Damage repair and modernization. While in the yards she
Was fitted with an angled flight deck which enables her to
Launch and receive aircraft at the same time and with
Greater safety. An enclosed or hurricane bow was also included
in the modernization plans. This new type bow
Affords the flight deck greater protection from heavy seas
In addition to giving the ship a more sleek appearance.
Upon completion of the yard period, April 1, 1955,
BENNINGTON left for a shakedown cruise in Cuba and returned
To the New York area in July for a month's duration. Several
Weeks were spent at sea before the carrier arrived at Mayport,
Florida to make final preparations for joining the Pacific Fleet.
On September 9, BENNINGTON departed Mayport and began
The long trip around South America, stopping at several
Latin American ports before arriving in San Diego, October 20.
After a ten-day stopover at San Diego, her new home
Port, she departed for the Far West to once more take her
Place with the Pacific Fleet.
VITAL STATISTICS
Length of the Flight Deck....... 871 Feet
Extreme width......... 150 Feet
Combat-Loaded Displacement....... 42,000 tons
Highest Point Above Water Line....... 195 Feet
Fuel Oil Capacity........ 1,513,000 Gallons
Fresh Water Capacity........ 148,000 Gallons
Speed........ Excess of 30 knots
Prepared by: Public Information Office
USS BENNINGTON (CVA-20)
NOTE:
The above information was scanned and forwarded;
But because it was difficult to read, it had to be retyped.
It has been retyped just as it was (in its original format).
It was sent in by James Brusa and retyped by Joe Pires - SK3
(nothing has been changed - all grammar errors, etc. remain
just as they were)
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