CV-15 was named for "a famous old vessel in the Navy bearing th[e] name [Randolph]." (Very special thanks to Robert J. Cressman, Naval History & Heritage Command.)

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 10 July 1776, by Wharton and Humphreys at Philadelphia. Captain Nicholas Biddle was appointed commander of the Randolph on 11 July, and he took charge of the frigate in mid-October.

(Read the DANFS entry for the first Randolph at the Naval History & Heritage Website.)

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).

Official U.S. Navy photo of USS Randolph (CV-15) at anchor, probably taken during her shakedown cruise, November 1944. Camouflage is Measure 32 Design 17A (I). Photo by H.G. Nelson, 311 Grandby St. Norfolk 10, VA.

A series of seven photos taken at Hunters Point, San Francisco, Calif., on 18 January 1945, showing alterations.

This SB2C-4E Helldiver assigned to Bombing Squadron (VB) 12 crashed while trying to recover on the flight deck of USS Randolph (CV-15), 17 February 1945. Planes from Randolph and other carriers had attacked Japanese factories near Tokyo, withdrawing shortly before noon.

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).

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).

Struck by a long range kamikaze on 11 March 1945, the hole in her flight deck is seen here.

Damage sustained by USS Randolph (CV-15) from a kamikaze attack while at anchor at Ulithi Atoll, 11 March 1945. The attack killed 25 of her crew.

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).

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.

Robert Franklin Climes served aboard USS Randolph (CV-15) in World War II.

His son, Tom, explains: "[My father] had a piece of metal that he said was shrapnel from the kamikaze attack on March 11th, 1945. [...] He had hand inscribed the attack date and ship name on one side of the piece. He insisted that this was an actual piece of the kamikaze plane itself. The reverse side of the inscription has what he believed were blood stains."

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).

Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher, USN, (left), Commander Task Force 58, with his Chief of Staff, Commodore Arleigh A. Burke, on board USS Randolph (CV-15) during operations off Okinawa. Photograph is dated June 1945, but was probably taken in May.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-468931).

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).

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).

Air Department, V-1-A Division.

Communications Department, K-1 Division.

Donna's father, Daniel Rosamonda, is in the third row.

Two views of USS Randolph (CV-15), possibly taken in late August–September 1945. They were enclosed with the 5 October 1945 Commander Air Force, Pacific Fleet letter FF39/S1, FF12-5/(15-on), serial 06820, on carrier markings, to illustrate how the ship's hull number should be painted on the structure of an Essex-class carrier. Numbers should be 8' (2.44 meters) high and should be applied to the port side of stack (top after portion) and to the starboard side of structure housing the aerological balloon room.

Source: Seattle NARA, Record Group 181, "Ship's Files ca 1940–1950."

Roster of Officers, USS Randolph (CV-15) and Air Group Sixteen, 1 September 1945.

Chance Vought F4U-4 Corsairs of CVG-82 ready for launch from USS Randolph (CV-15), circa [1946]. Seen behind the Corsairs are Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldivers and Eastern TBM-3E Avengers. Photo Chuck McCandliss.

Photo and text taken from Carrier Air War In Original Color by Robert Lawson and Barrett Tillman

"Electronic Manufacturers Cruise
20 – 22 May 1947
USS Randolph
D. Ward Harrigan
Captain, U.S. Navy
[Signature]"

Photo was taken in the British West Indies during the Second Fleet Tactical Maneuvers, 2 February–19 March 1947.

Official U.S. Navy photos of USS Randolph (CVA-15) after her SCB-27A modernization, with an interesting mix of F9F Cougars, AD Skyraiders and F4U Corsairs on deck. These photos were probably taken during her post-modernization shakedown cruise to Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, August–November 1953, with Carrier Air Group 10 (CAG-10) aboard.

Official U.S. Navy photo of USS Randolph (CVA-15) underway on 2 October 1953, during her post-modernization shakedown cruise to Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, with Carrier Air Group 10 (CAG-10) aboard.

F2H-4 Banshee of Fighter Squadron (VF) 102 "Diamondbacks" in flight over USS Randolph (CVA-15) in the Mediterranean Sea in October 1956, during the Suez Canal crisis.

That month, Israel, Britain, and France invaded the United Arab Republic, precipitating the Suez Crisis. Randolph, joined by other elements of the Sixth Fleet, stood ready. Operating near the Suez Canal, her aircraft provided air cover and surface and air reconnaissance for the evacuation of U.S. nationals from Alexandria.

U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Museum/Naval Aviation Museum, Photo No. 1996.253.7245.029. Robert L. Lawson Photograph Collection.

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).

A4D-2 Skyhawk aircraft of VA-86 "Sidewinders" conducting in-flight refueling in the Eastern Mediterranean. Ship is USS Randolph (CVA-15).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph (#1039207), dated 24 September 1958.

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).

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).

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.

Official U.S. Navy photo of USS Randolph (CVS-15) during an UNREP (UNderway REPlenishment) in the Atlantic, somewhere along the East coast, while conducting ASW (anti-submarine) operations, September 1960. She is replenishing from USS Marias (AO-57) along with USS Cony (DDE-508).

Astronaut Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom, pilot of the Mercury spacecraft, Liberty Bell 7, arrives aboard the recovery ship, USS Randolph (CVS-15), 21 July 1961, following his 15-minute 37-second suborbital space mission. He is flanked by military medical officers. Grissom's capsule sank soon after splashdown and was not recovered until nearly forty years later.

Reference Numbers:
Center: Johnson Space Center (JSC)
Center Number: S61-02894
Great Images In NASA (GRIN) DataBase Number: GPN-2000-001332.

Randolph hams operating radios in ham shack. This was the first ham station on a USN combat ship and was set up by CDR Thomas B. Ray (seated), a pilot in HS-7 "Big Dippers" Helo Squadron, on board at the time. Photo is dated 22 February 1962 (Randolph was the primary recovery ship for spacecraft Mercury-Atlas 6 Friendship 7, with astronaut John Glenn, on 20 February).

As above. Looking forward, from the island.

"Willie Fudd" (Grumman E-1B Tracer, VAW-12 "Bats" squadron) launch from starboard catapult, July 1963, off the coast of Virginia. Five-inch gun in the foreground.

Port side sponson, 5" gun mount. July 1963, off the coast of Virginia.

SH-3A Sea King helicopters, HS-7 "Big Dippers" squadron, on flight deck, July 1963, off the coast of Virginia.

"The crew of the USS Randolph (CVS-15) proudly form their two 'E's, the Battle Efficiency 'E', awarded to the best Anti-submarine carrier, and the sixth consecutive Efficiency Award presented to the Engineering Dept. The USS Randolph is the first ship in the Atlantic Fleet to win the Engineering Award six consecutive years." Official U.S. Navy photograph, dated 25 July 1963.

Official U.S. Navy photograph of USS Randolph (CVS-15), serial number K-57262, received by DAVA Still Media Depository, Bldg. 168, N.D.W., Washington D.C. 20374, during September 1968.

This photo was possibly taken in the summer of 1967, since it shows Antisubmarine Carrier Air Group 56 (tail code "AU") aboard Randolph.

Welcome Aboard Card for USS Randolph (CV-15) celebrating Navy Day, 27 October 1945, at NOB Norfolk, Va.