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NavSource Online: Aircraft Carrier Photo Archive

Courtesy of CAPT Gene Oleson, CHC, USN (Ret)
(bluejacket.com)

USS BON HOMME RICHARD (CV-31)
(later CVA-31)

(Profile, 1969–1970, courtesy of ©Windjammer-Arts Naval Art & Aviation Art)

Courtesy of Al Grazevich

Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign: November - Hotel - Charlie - Lima

Unit Awards, Campaign and Service Medals and Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row: Presidential Unit Citation / Navy Unit Commendation (2) / Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (2)
2nd Row: American Campaign Medal / Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1 star) / World War II Victory Medal
3rd Row: Navy Occupation Service Medal ("Asia" clasp) / National Defense Service Medal (2) / Korean Service Medal (5 stars)
4th Row: Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (2) / Vietnam Service Medal (10 stars) / Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Gallantry Cross Medal with Palm)
5th Row: United Nations Korean Medal / Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal / Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)

CLASS - ESSEX (Short Hull)
Displacement 27,100 Tons, Dimensions, 872' (oa) x 93' x 28' 7" (Max)
Armament 12 x 5"/38AA, 32 x 40mm, 46 x 20mm, 82 Aircraft.
Armor, 4" Belt, 2 1/2" Hanger deck, 1 1/2" Deck, 1 1/2" Conning Tower.
Machinery, 150,000 SHP; Westinghouse Geared Turbines, 4 screws
Speed, 33 Knots, Crew 3448.

Operational and Building Data

The second Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) was launched 29 April 1944
by New York Navy Yard, and commissioned 26 November 1944.

FATE Decommissioned to reserve 2 July 1971. Stricken for disposal 20 Sept 1989.
Sold for scrap and subsequently scrapped at San Pedro starting in 1992.

Click On Image
For Full Size Image

Size

Image Description

Contributed
By And/Or Copyright

Name

NS098629217

109k

CV-31 was named Bon Homme Richard after a Continental Navy frigate whose name was actually spelled Bonhomme Richard. The name was a French translation of Benjamin Franklin's nom de plume, "Poor Richard." When John Paul Jones received the Duc de Duras from the King of France, Louis XVI, he renamed the former French East Indiaman Bonhomme Richard to honor Franklin, the American Commissioner at Paris whose famous almanacs had been published in France under the title Les Maximes du Bonhomme Richard.

Despite the difference in spelling, CV-31 is considered the second ship of the name. The error may have crept in as early as the 1860s when the name was assigned to a steam frigate that, finally, was not built. The issue was later compounded, no doubt, by the haste with which an enormous number of ships had to be named during World War II. (CV-10 was also initially named Bon Homme Richard, but was renamed Yorktown, 26 September 1942, in tribute to CV-5.)

NS098629217: Drawing of Continental Navy's Bonhomme Richard underway. Courtesy of Tommy Trampp.

NavSource

The Early Years — World War II

NS023137

542k

USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31), World War II.

Overhead plan and starboard profile meticulously drawn by John Robert Barrett.

Navy Yard Associates

NS023108

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USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) slides down the building ways, as she is launched at the New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York, on 29 April 1944.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-K-3888).

Scott Dyben

NS023501

159k

Aerial view of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, BuAer photo # 290081, received 2 December 1944. There are five aircraft carriers in sight (refer to NS023501a): (1) Reprisal (CV-35) under construction in Dry Dock #6; (2) Coral Sea, later Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVB-42) under construction in Dry Dock #5; (3) Kearsarge (CV-33) under construction; (4) Oriskany (CV-34) under construction; and (5) USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31), commissioned 26 November 1944.

Naval Historical Center photograph.

Ron Reeves

NS023501a

464k

NS023501b

254k

New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York, photographed 2 December 1944. Carriers under construction in dry docks (right center) are [2] Coral Sea, later Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVB-42) and probably [1] Reprisal (CV-35).

Description: Copied from "Navy Yards and Stations" 3rd Naval District, volume III.

Photo: Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC), # NH 93235.

[3] Kearsarge (CV-33) and [4] Oriskany (CV-34) are under construction, and [5] Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) had been commissioned on 26 November.

NHHC, via Ron Reeves

NS023501c

256k

NS023130

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Brooklyn Navy Yard, Dry Dock #7 (Bayonne, N.J., annex), late 1944–early 1945.

Pieter Bakels

NS023188

470k

USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31). U.S. Marines manning 20mm gun during snow storm at Bayonne, New Jersey. Photograph released 7 January 1945.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-324581.

NARA

NS023117

100k

USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) anchored in New York Harbor, with supply barges alongside, 9 January 1945. Photographed from a Naval Air Station, New York, aircraft, flying at an altitude of 300 feet.

NS023117: Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History & Heritage Command (NHHC), # NH 97341.

NHHC

NS023117f

294k

Courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com

NS023117a

249k

USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) photographed on 9 January 1945, six weeks after commissioning, unloading aircraft bombs at New York. She is shown wearing Measure 32/17A. This bow view shows clearly that the port catapult is situated somewhat further aft than the starboard one. Note the flight deck markings, the aircraft elevators offset to one side of the ship's centerline, and the large number of 20mm AA guns. Note floating crane and covered lighters. (USN photo, A.D. Baker Collection.)

Robert Hurst

Larger copy courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com

NS023117g

587k

USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31), 9 January 1945. Bow view at 300 feet.

U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-298080.

NARA

NS023117b

708k

USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) photographed on 9 January 1945. This stern view gives an idea of the comparative widths of island and flight deck, and shows the large number of arrester wires across, and the numerous AA guns mounted along the edges of, the latter. The ship's bell can be seen behind the two 40mm directors at the bottom of the picture.

U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-298084.

Robert Hurst

NARA

NS023117c

464k

USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) one more time in a distant photo on 9 January 1945, wearing camouflage 32/17A, version two. Photo taken by Naval Air Station, New York.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-298087.

Courtesy of C. Lee Johnson, usndazzle.com,
via Mike Green

NS023117d

745k

USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31), this time from starboard, on 9 January 1945, wearing camouflage 32/17A, version two. Photo taken by Naval Air Station, New York.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-298093.

Courtesy of C. Lee Johnson, usndazzle.com,
via Mike Green

NS023117e

687k

The Essex-class carrier USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) is seen from the port side on 9 January 1945, wearing camouflage 32/17A, version two. Photo taken by Naval Air Station, New York. The vertical colors are Navy Blue (5-N), Ocean Gray (5-O), and Haze Gray (5‑H), with the horizontal surfaces deck blue (20-B).

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-298082.

Courtesy of C. Lee Johnson, usndazzle.com,
via Mike Green

NS023101

1.24M

USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) underway in the Gulf of Paria, between Trinidad and Venezuela, 7 February 1945.

National Naval Aviation Museum photo, # 1999.488.038.003.

Mike Green

NS023147

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Aerial view of USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) underway in the Central Pacific, 31 May 1945.

National Naval Aviation Museum photo, 1996.488.038.006. Robert L. Lawson Photograph Collection.

Mike Green

NS091904301

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USS Tappahannock (AO-43) refueling to port USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) and to starboard USS Missouri (BB-63), 8 July 1945. US Navy photo.

Note: This photo appears to have been taken at about the same time as the one below.

NS016328h

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USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) and USS Missouri (BB-63) refueling from USS Tappahannock, 8 July 1945.

USN photo now in the collections of the US National Archives in College Park, Maryland (# 80-G-470354).

Note: the official caption incorrectly identifies the carrier as USS Hancock (CV-19). (Special thanks to Tracy White—Researcher @ Large— and Richard Jensen for the correct identification and date.)

Note: This photo appears to have been taken at about the same time as the one above.

Sean Hert

NS023153

75k

USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) under the Golden Gate, 18 October 1945.

U.S. Army

NS023118

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USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) tied up at Carrier Pier # 2, Naval Air Station, Alameda, California, on 27 October 1945. USS Commencement Bay (CVE-105) is in the right background.

Official U.S. Navy photograph from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command, # NH 97340.

Pieter Bakels

NS021778

156k

Deactivated warships tied up at Pier 91, Seattle, Washington, in a photo dated 9 January 1947. On the near side of the pier are the carriers Essex (CV-9); Bon Homme Richard (CV-31); and Bunker Hill (CV-17), closer to camera. On the far side of the pier is the carrier Ticonderoga (CV-14) and the battleships Indiana (BB-58) and Alabama (BB-60).

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-373247.

Robert Hurst

Robert M. Cieri

Ron Reeves

Korea

NS023178

USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31), circa 1951.

U.S. Navy photo.

David Buell

NS023122

101k

San Diego Bay, 1951. USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) picked up Carrier Air Group 102 (CVG-102) and departed San Diego for the Far East on May 10, 1951 on her first Korean cruise. The deployment lasted more than seven months — Bonnie Dick returned to San Diego on December 17.

David Buell

NS023143

38k

USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) underway with Carrier Air Group 102 (CVG-102), probably off Korea, during their 10 May–17 December 1951 Korean War Cruise.

Ted Loughlin, USS BonHomme Richard CV/CVA-31/LHD-6,
via Harry Gordon, AMS3, VF781

NS023144

357k

F9F-2B Panthers attached to VF-781 fly by USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) during their 10 May–17 December 1951 Korean War Cruise. The photo was apparently taken by one of the F9F-2P's from VC-61 Det. G, "Eyes of the Fleet," also part of Carrier Air Group (CVG) 102.

Harry Gordon, AMS3, VF781

NS023109

81k

USS Yarnall (DD-541) hauls away to starboard after "topping off" from the oiler USS Manatee (AO-58), during replenishment operations off Korea, circa August 1951. USS Leonard F. Mason (DD-852) is approaching from astern to fill her bunkers next. USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) is refueling on the oiler's opposite side. Photograph was released by Commander Naval Forces Far East under date of 7 August 1951.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center (photo # NH 97348).

NHC

NS023138

162k

USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) off Korea, October 1951.

Photo by N.A. "Stretch" Brown, Gunners Mate 3rd Class aboard USS Los Angeles (CA-135).

N.A. "Stretch" Brown collection, via Carol Edgemon Hipperson, author of Radioman: An Eyewitness Account of Pearl Harbor and World War II in the Pacific.

CV-31 Bon Homme Richard + CA-135 Los Angeles

NS023139

151k

USS Los Angeles (CA-135) and USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) moored at Yokosuka, Japan, October 1951.

Photo by N.A. "Stretch" Brown, Gunners Mate 3rd Class aboard Los Angeles.

N.A. "Stretch" Brown collection, via Carol Edgemon Hipperson, author of Radioman: An Eyewitness Account of Pearl Harbor and World War II in the Pacific.

NS023139a

130k

USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) moored at Yokosuka, Japan, October 1951. Tail code "D" identified Carrier Air Group (CVG) 102, established for reserve squadrons called to active duty on 1 August 1950.

Photo by N.A. "Stretch" Brown, Gunners Mate 3rd Class aboard USS Los Angeles (CA-135).

Photos submitted by ENS Robert P. Nichols and his son, Bill Nichols, via Bob Canchola.

Ensign Nichols was a US Naval Aviator aboard USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) during the Koran War and flew the F4U-4 Corsair with VF-783 "Minutemen," a Reserve Squadron called to active duty on 2 August 1950 (and redesignated VF-122 on 4 February 1953). He said that most of the photos were taken by his good friend who was an official photographer of the ship, and that he would have the photos developed and when he had extras that weren't going to be used he'd offer them to Robert.

We thank the unknown photographer, Ensign Nichols and his son, Bill, for sharing the photos with us.

First Korean Cruise, 10 May–17 December 1951.

NS023181 386 Kb	NS023181a 708 Kb	NS023181b 418 Kb	NS023181c 541 Kb	NS023181: ENS Robert P. Nichols; Robert, years later, telling his family a story from his past. “My father joined the Navy right out of High School and made it into a flight program. He said out of about 100 men, he and one other guy made the cut. Another guy who joined right out of HS and was in the same program was a fella named Neil Armstrong.” NS023181a: “Squadron VF-783 had a training accident and lost 4 pilots. So my father and 3 other young pilots right out of training at Corpus Christi NAS were assigned as replacement pilots. The squadron was a Naval reserve unit made up of veterans from WWII. My father was to be the wingman of LT Eugene 'Gene' Redmond. He was a motorcycle cop from the LAPD. He was also a double ACE from WWII. On their way from San Diego to Korea, LT Redmond told his guys that they should all take a picture because, "you never know who won't be coming back." That's them taking a picture on the deck of the *Bon Homme Richard.” “Four days later (June 3, 1951) at dawn, they were spotted on the deck getting ready for their first combat mission. LT Redmond was to take off first with my father right after him. His Corsair* [(BuNo 80947)] lost power on takeoff and he spun into the sea and was lost (NS023181b). My father was spotted next to him, and he gave it all it had and gave the thumbs up. And he said before he knew it he was up. He circled the carrier until another pilot came up on his wing and said, "you're with me now. Stay on my wing." And they went and completed the mission... which was a bridge (NS023181c).” NS023181d: “Ens. Nichols Credited With Hit on Enemy—Ens. Robert P. Nichols, of 3971 Albatross St., has been credited with scoring a direct hit on enemy anti-aircraft batteries in Korean fighting during a co-ordinated attack by Corsairs and Skyraiders from Reserve Carrier Air Group 102, the Navy announced yesterday. The attack was launched from the aircraft carrier *Bon Homme Richard, operating with Task Force 77.” (1951). NS023181f: “September 2, 1951—We had quite a day today. It was Sunday, but no one was in church. LT Podrar said his engine quit right after take off. I saw his rescue which was excellent. Later on, on this same hop, LT Bell got hit with AA, his plane caught fire, and he bailed out. His plane blew up right after he bailed out. He landed 4 miles from the bomb line and was picked up by a helo. LT Anderson had 4 hung VT (Variable Timing/proximity) bombs and no flaps on landing. So far we have lost 21 planes from CAG-102. NS023181j: AD-4W Skyraider, BuNo 124092 (modex ND-36?), Composite Squadron (VC) 11 Det. G. NS023181k: HO3S-1, Helicopter Utility Squadron (HU) 1 "Pacific Fleet Angels" Det. G. NS023181l: F4U-4 Corsair, Fighter Squadron (VF) 783 "Minutemen" (Reserve Squadron called to active duty on 2 August 1950). NS023181m: “Dad said out of the four replacement pilots that were assigned to Naval Reserve Fighter Squadron VF-783, he was proud of the fact that he was the only one who had not gotten his 'feet wet.' Getting your 'feet wet' meant that you had to ditch into the ocean and had to be picked up.” “But that almost changed one day on an attack on Wonsan harbor. They had been attacking the port and warehouses for a few days. One day my Dad looked down into the harbor and saw dozens of huge hammerhead sharks. He was impressed with not just the number of them, but also their size. Well, fast forward 24 hours, and they were once again making attack runs on the port facilities. However, this time they were met with heavy anti-aircraft fire. Dad's Corsair* was hit with this fire. His plane began to emit a thick black trail of smoke. He checked his oil pressure and indeed it was falling. So the other pilots in his flight told him that he needed to bail out. They assured him they would fly cover over him until a helicopter could pick him up. But all Dad could think about were all those sharks he had been admiring just a day before. He let them know that there was no way he was bailing out into that harbor.” “He told them to let the ship know that he was flying out toward her. And he would get as far to her as he could before landing in the open ocean. And he told them to get that helicopter to start his way. And they might meet half way. He said, 'they can't miss me... I'm the one covered in oil and trailing black smoke.' As he continued to fly toward the ship, the plane continued to trail black smoke, but it was flying. He was able to limp in and landed his crippled Corsair on the *Bonnie Dick. Dad said the Corsair* was a 'tough old bird.' (Pictured is the Harbor where he was almost shot down.)”
NS023181d 307 Kb	NS023181e 246 Kb	NS023181f 1.29 Mb	NS023181g 328 kb
NS023181h 1.37 Mb	NS023181i 1.27 Mb	NS023181j 1.28 Mb	NS023181k 1002 kb
NS023181l 1.15 Mb	NS023181m 780 kb

NS023120

175k

A great aerial view of USS Bon Homme Richard, circa 1951–1953. Location unknown.

(Probably taken while returning to Alameda, California, 17 December 1951.)

The Family of
C.E. Shelby

NS023120a

117k

Another aerial view of USS Bon Homme Richard, apparently taken at about the same time as the one above.

Wolfgang Hechler

NS023155

117k

A U.S. Navy Douglas AD-4W Skyraider (BuNo 124761) of Fleet Composite Squadron (VC) 12, attached to the aircraft carrier USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) during the Korean War. Photo United States Naval Institute.

From Carrier Combat, by David Wragg.

Robert Hurst

NS023111

32k

An aerial view of Bon Homme Richard's stern, 28 March 1952.

NHC

NS023187

327k

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, 18 April 1952, USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31), Radio/Radar Antenna Arrangement & Rigging. Broadside View (090°). NY8-6387.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Record Group 19, NARA Identifier 7578142, Container Id: Box 1580, Folder 339.

NARA,
via Michael Mohl

NS023187a

257k

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, 18 April 1952, USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31), Radio/Radar Antenna Arrangement & Rigging. Starboard View (045°). NY8-6388.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Record Group 19, NARA Identifier 7578143, Container Id: Box 1580, Folder 339.

NS023187b

237k

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, 18 April 1952, USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31), Radio/Radar Antenna Arrangement & Rigging. Starboard View (135°). NY8-6389.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Record Group 19, NARA Identifier 7578144, Container Id: Box 1580, Folder 339.

NS023187c

286k

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, 18 April 1952, USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31), Radio/Radar Antenna Arrangement & Rigging. Port View (315°). NY8-6390.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Record Group 19, NARA Identifier 7578145, Container Id: Box 1580, Folder 339.

NS023187d

325k

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, 18 April 1952, USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31), Radio/Radar Antenna Arrangement & Rigging. Stern View (180°). NY8-6391.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Record Group 19, NARA Identifier 7578146, Container Id: Box 1580, Folder 339.

NS023156

159k

VU-7-5432—San Diego, 20 May 1952—USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) deploys for WestPac and the Korean War, with CVG-7 embarked consisting of the following squadrons: VF-71 "Purple Devils," F9F-2 Panther; VF-72 "Hawks," F9F-2 Panther; VF-74 "Be-Devilers," F4U-4 Corsair; and VA-75 "Sunday Punchers," AD-4 Skyraider, among others. This deployment lasted until 8 January 1953. US Navy photo by Fleet Air Photo Lab, NAS San Diego.

Robert M. Cieri

NS023160

84k

A U.S. Navy Grumman F9F-2 Panther (BuNo 123469, nicknamed "Papasan") attached to Fighter Squadron (VF) 71, Carrier Air Group (CVG) 7, deployed aboard USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) flies over Task Force 77 while engaged in operations against North Korean targets, in a photo dated 1 August 1952. The carriers were Bon Homme Richard, USS Essex (CV-9)—right—and USS Princeton (CV-37).

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo (# 80-G-480645).

Tommy Trampp

NS023172

792k

USS Guadalupe (AO-32) refuels destroyer USS Uhlmann (DD-687) and aircraft carrier USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31) during operations off Korea, 31 October 1952. Carrier Air Group (CVG) 7 was embarked aboard Bonnie Dick.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-449900.

David Buell

NS023157

80k

F9F Panther jet fighters and F4U Corsair fighter bombers on Bon Homme Richard's hangar deck, during operations off Korea. Photo is dated 15 November 1952.

The plane in center is an F4U-5, while that at right is an F4U-4. The F9F-2Ps at left are nicknamed "Life" and "Look", after popular pictorial magazines of the day.

Official U.S. Navy photograph, from the collections of the Naval History & Heritage Command (# NH 97350).

Gerd Matthes, Germany

NS023157a

92k

Grumman F9F-2P Panther photo plane parked on the hangar deck of USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31), during operations off Korea. Photo is dated 15 November 1952.

The plane, which appears to be Bureau # 123700, bears markings for 85 missions and is nicknamed "Life", after the popular pictorial magazine.

Official U.S. Navy photograph, from the collections of the Naval History & Heritage Command (# NH 97351).

Gerd Matthes, Germany

NS023154

109k

Aircraft warming up on the flight deck of USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31), in preparation for another Thanksgiving Day strike against the Communists in Korea. Photo is dated 27 November 1952. Aircraft include F9F Panther jet fighters, F4U Corsair fighter bombers and AD Skyraider attack planes.

Official U.S. Navy photograph, from the collections of the Naval History & Heritage Command (# NH 97349).

Gerd Matthes, Germany

NS023131

94k

USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31) arrives off Pearl Harbor, returning from a Korean War combat tour, 31 December 1952. Aircraft on her flight deck include three R4D transport planes in addition to F4U fighters and AD attack planes of her air group.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center (#NH 97342).

Gerd Matthes, Germany

NS023123

186k

Aerial view of USS Bon Homme Richard, possibly taken while approaching Pearl Harbor at the end of her second and final Korean War cruise, May 10, 1952 – January 8, 1953. Carrier Air Group 7 (CVG-7) deployed with Bonnie Dick.

Robert M. Cieri

NS023193

1.29M

An AD-4 Skyraider delivers its bombs during the Korean War. It appears to wear the tail code ("L") of Carrier Air Group (CVG) 7, which made a single deployment to Korea, 20 May 1952–8 January 1953, aboard USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31), with Attack Squadron (VA) 75 "Sunday Punchers" flying the AD-4.

National Naval Aviation Museum photo, # 2011.003.226.050.

Robert Hurst

NS0259ds

1.33M

"Official Navy Photo. Released by Dept. of Defense"
"Aircraft carriers of the fleet: USS Antietam (CVA-36) with new canted flight deck, upper left; USS Coral Sea (CVA-43) upper right; USS Midway (CVA‑41), lower left; USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31), lower right; center, artist conception of the USS Forrestal (CVA-59). The Forrestal's keel was laid at Newport News (7-14-52) and is scheduled for launching in 1954."

USN Official Photo, # 484875, dated 15 Jul 1953.

David comments: "[P]erhaps unknowingly, the people of Navy Public Affairs or whoever put this montage together, certainly did a great job of assembling a 'past, present and future' of carrier aviation, including the airship, first canted (angled) deck, first large carriers, first supercarrier, and a link to World War II in the form of the as-yet unmodified CVA 31."

David Buell

SCB-27C/SCB-125 Modernization & Beyond — Vietnam

NS023198

83k

Hunters Point, 17 August 1953. Forward flight deck removed and stored for scrapping.

Source: NARA San Francisco, "Hunters Point Historical Photo Collection 1904–74" (NY1-2069-G-S-8-17-53).

Tracy White, Researcher @ Large

NS023161

178k

Hunters Point, 13 October 1954.

Source: NARA San Francisco, "Hunters Point Historical Photo Collection 1904–74" (NY1-1772-(GS)-10-13-54).

Tracy White, Researcher @ Large

NS023163

76k

Hunters Point, 5 June 1955.

Source: NARA San Francisco, "Hunters Point Historical Photo Collection 1904–74" (NY1-2040-6-5-55).

Tracy White, Researcher @ Large

NS023199

111k

Hunters Point, August 1955. Pilothouse.

Source: NARA San Francisco, "Hunters Point Historical Photo Collection 1904–74" (NY1-3338-L-8-55).

Tracy White, Researcher @ Large

NS023128

118k

Recommissioning at Hunters Point, San Francisco Naval Shipyard, 6 September 1955, after modernization.

Source: San Francisco Naval Shipyard – Hunters Point, Historical Shipyard Photographic Collection 1904–74 NARA Pacific Region (San Francisco). Photo # NY1-3532-L-9-55.

Tracy White, Researcher @ Large

NS023112

43k

A three quarter view of Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31) underway on sea trials after reconversion at Hunters Point Naval Shipyard in San Francisco, 15 September 1955 (photo # USN-680661).

NHC