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| Courtesy of CAPT Gene Oleson, CHC, USN (Ret) (bluejacket.com) |
Contributed by Mike Smolinski |
FATE
Redesignated as an ASW carrier (CVS 15) 31 Mar 1959. FRAM II
life extension 1960-1961.
Decommissioned to reserve 13 Feb 1969. Stricken for disposal 1 June
1973 and subsequently scrapped.
| Click On Image
For Full Size Image |
Size | Image Description | Contributed
By And/Or Copyright |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Namesake |
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![]() NS021527 |
34k | CV-15 was named after Peyton Randolph (1721-1775), a member of and first President of the First Continental Congress (September 5-October 21, 1774 and May 10-23, 1775). | Picture courtesy of ushistory.org |
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![]() NS021527a |
118k | The first Randolph was a 32-gun frigate whose construction was authorized by the Continental Congress on December 13, 1775. Designed by Joshua Humphreys, she was launched on July 10, 1776, by Wharton and Humphreys at Philadelphia. Captain Nicholas Biddle was appointed commander of the Randolph on July 11, and he took charge of the frigate in mid-October. (Read the DANFS entry for the first Randolph at the Naval Historical Center Website.) |
Illustration from the Charleston Naval Shipyard, now in the collection of Mr. Palmer Olliff. Submitted by Robert Hall. |
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| The Early Years World War II |
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NS021501 |
24k | Undated, war time image. Shown here with a deck load of aircraft. | USN | |
![]() NS021513 |
96k | In the Chesapeake Bay area during her shakedown period, 12 November 1944. She is wearing camouflage Measure 32 Design 17a. Photographed from USS Charger (CVE-30). Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-287672). |
Scott Dyben | |
![]() NS021504 |
157k | Newly arrived to Ulithi, the Randolph is seen at anchor on February 8, 1945. | USN | |
![]() NS021518 |
63k | Grumman F6F Hellcat fighter parked on the port catapult, March 1945. Note the plane's tail markings, unique to this ship. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-K-5339). |
NHC | |
| Kamikaze Attack, March 11, 1945 |
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![]() NS021512 |
68k | Crewmen fighting fires on the ship's flight deck, after she was hit by a kamikaze, 11 March 1945. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-274099). |
Scott Dyben | |
![]() NS021505 |
95k | Struck by a long range kamikaze on March 11, 1945, the hole in her flight deck is seen here. | USN | |
![]() NS021516 |
110k | As above. U.S. Navy photo, from the Naval War College. |
Joe Radigan | |
![]() NS021515 |
155k | USS Randolph (CV-15) alongside repair ship USS Jason (ARH-1) at Ulithi Atoll, Caroline Islands, 13 March 1945, showing damage to her after flight deck resulting from a kamikaze hit on 11 March. Photographed from a USS Miami (CL-89) floatplane. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-344531). |
Scott Dyben | |
![]() NS021526 |
64k | John Maxwell Walker (center) playing the "fiddle" with some buddies. There is an interesting story related to John and the kamikaze attack; you can read it at David Walker's web site. |
David Walker, son of John M. Walker | |
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![]() NS021519 |
73k | Seaman 1st Class Leonard A. Cassidy spots model aircraft on the ship's "ouija board" hangar and flight deck planning boards, in response to the telephoned orders of air officers. The nearer board represents the flight deck, with the hangar deck board behind it. Aircraft types represented include F6F, TBM and SB2C. The original color transparency was received by the Naval Photographic Science Laboratory on 15 June 1945. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-K-5395). |
NHC | |
![]() NS021520 |
79k | USS Randolph (CV-15) at anchor in the western Pacific, June 1945. Photographed by Lieutenant Barrett Gallagher. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center (photo # NH 97489). |
NHC | |
![]() NS021521 |
78k | A musical trio plays for crewmen in the carrier's sickbay, 11 August 1945. The players are Musician 3rd Class Joseph Calicari (Violin), Musician 2nd Class Wilfred Batchelder (Base) and Musician 3rd Class Charles Apellonia (Accordion). Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-K-6355). |
NHC | |
NS021506 |
129k | Still on alert in case the Japanese surrender was a deception, the Randolph and the other fleet carriers of TF-38 remained at sea while the battleships and some light carriers entered Sagami Bay and then Tokyo Bay for the official surrender. The Randolph and the British carrier HMS Indefatigable are on alert as seen from the USS Wasp (CV-18) on August 30, 1945 off the coast of Japan. | USN | |
| After SCB-27A Modernization |
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NS021510 |
100k | Post 1953 photo after initial modernization. 5" gun mounts around island have been removed, but she hasn't been equipped with an angled flight deck yet. That will come in a later, more complete modernization. | USN | |
![]() NS021525 |
224k | USS Randolph (CVA-15) at Gibraltar, mid-February 1954. She was relieving the Bennington (CVA-20) from a Med cruise. | Photo by Louis Hodgson | |
![]() NS021511 |
70k | This is the Randolph seen off the coast of Cannes, France in 1954. | © Larry Bohn | |
| After SCB-125 Modernization |
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![]() NS021529 |
177k | It appears that USS Randolph (CVA-15) had just completed conversion to angled deck and hurricane bow (SCB-125 modernization) when this photo was taken, so this might well be 1956 during her post-conversion trials in the Atlantic. The conversion was done at the Norfolk Navy Yard, June 1955 – January 1956. Note the lack of deck markings. | David Buell | |
![]() NS021503 |
202k | Randolph, 1956-57. Underway, starboard bow, with aircraft on deck. | Don Smith (USN-RET) | |
![]() NS021522 |
89k | USS Randolph (CVA-15) stands at her assigned anchorage in Hampton Roads, Virginia, during the International Naval Review, 12 June 1957. Note her deckload of aircraft, with two AJ Savage attack planes and 14 FJ Fury fighters parked on the flight deck, forward. Photographed by PH2 Hughes. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center (photo # NH 97490). |
NHC | |
![]() NS021523 |
76k | Sir Winston Churchill salutes as he receives honors during a visit to USS Randolph (CVA-15), 26 October 1958. Photographed by J.C. Ricks. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center (photo # NH 97491). |
NHC | |
![]() NS021524 |
121k | Official caption reads: "USS Randolph (CVS-15) underway at sea on 27 February 1962, with two S2F airplanes on her catapults. Official U.S. Navy Photograph (photo # USN 1059601)." However, the ship's photo lab had this picture cataloged as "CVS-15-2478-L-10-59," dated October 25, 1959: "USS Randolph, CVS-15, making high speed turn." (Thanks to Robert M. Cieri). |
NHC | |
![]() NS0546608 |
159k | USS Randolph (CVS-15) refueling at sea from USS Pawcatuck (AO-108), circa 1960. USS Waller (DDE-466) is refueling from the oiler's starboard side, while USS Eaton is steaming astern, waiting her turn for a "drink". Photograph received from USS Waller, 1969. |
Roger Rieman | |
![]() NS021502 |
91k | This picture came out of a cruise book (that accounts for the poor quality) and was taken during the summer of 1962 during a Med cruise. | Don Smith STC
(USN-RET) |
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![]() NS021530 |
143k | Port quarter view of USS Randolph (CVS-15) with units of the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea. Official US Navy photo (# USN 1061643), dated June 29, 1962. |
David Buell | |
![]() NS021507 |
69k | In July 1962, I was an AG-2 stationed aboard the USS Randolph, (CVS-15). We were homeport out of Norfolk and operated as Task Group Alpha. In the Summer of 1962, Task Group Alpha went on a Med Cruise to give the USNA Middies a little at-sea time. While in the Med, we joined up with the USS Shangri La (CVA-38) and USS Independence (CVA-62). With the three Carrier Task Forces combined, we had the largest gathering of US Naval Warships in the Med since the latter days of WWII. | © Frank K. Roshto | |
![]() NS021508 |
84k | See above. | © Frank K. Roshto | |
| Memorabilia |
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![]() NS021528 |
12k | USS Randolph plaque, WW2. | Jack Treutle | |
| Ex-USS Randolph |
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![]() NS021509 |
51k | In Reserve Navy Pier, Bayonne N.J. 1975. | © Walter Bengtson | |
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