CV-19 was named for "two famous old vessels in the Navy bearing th[e] name [Hancock]." (Very special thanks to Robert J. Cressman, Naval History & Heritage Command.)

Continental frigates Hancock and Boston capturing British frigate Fox, 7 June 1777.

Official US Navy Photograph of the launching of USS Hancock (CV-19.) The photo was taken on 24 January 1944 as Hannah was being launched from Bethlehem Steel Company at Quincy, MA. The photo is from the Bureau of Aeronautics, #BuAer-230239.

As completed, USS Hancock (CV-19) was camouflaged in Measure 32, Design 3A.

USS Bainbridge (DD-246) refueling from USS Hancock (CV-19), during the carrier's shakedown cruise in the western Atlantic and Caribbean areas, 14 June 1944. Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-235276).

USS Hancock (CV-19) loading bombs at the Boston Navy Yard, July (?) 1944.

USS Hancock (CV-19) recovers a Grumman F6F Hellcat fighter, circa 1944. The ship is painted in camouflage Measure 32, Design 3A.

Crewmen on USS Hancock (CV-19) move rockets to planes, while preparing for strikes on Formosa, 12 October 1944.

Carrier Raids on the Philippines, November 1944 — Flight Deck Officer on USS Hancock (CV-19) waves the "take-off" flag at a SB2C "Helldiver" bomber, during strikes on Manila Bay, 25 November 1944.

USS Hancock (CV-19) underway on 15 December 1944, during operations in the Philippines area.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. (photo # NH 89281).

Note the flight deck was cut away just aft of the port catapult, to provide an unobstructed view for a third Mark 37 director that would have been mounted on the former hangar-deck catapult sponson. Only Ticonderoga and Hancock actually had the cut, and it was later eliminated as BuAer considered the cut "a serious hazard to aircraft taking off."

USS Hancock (CV-19) refueling from an unidentified oiler, mid-Pacific, late 1944. US Navy photo.

USS Hancock (CV-19) recovering aircraft during operations in the South China Sea, January 1945. Three F6F Hellcat fighters are flying overhead as a TBM Avenger torpedo plane approaches at left. Photographed from USS New Jersey (BB-62) by Lieutenant Commander Charles Fenno Jacobs, USNR.

January 21, 1945.

1328: VT 124, Bu #23539 [a General Motors TBM-3 Avenger], pilot, LT(JG) C.R. Dean, 298954, and crewmen F.J. Blake, ARM3c, and D.E. Zima, AOM2c, made a normal landing and taxied forward. As the plane reached a point abreast the island a violent explosion occurred, believed to have been caused by the detonation of two (2) 500 lb. bombs adrift in the plane's bomb bay. The immediate results of the explosion were: casualties: killed - 62; critically injured - 46; seriously injured - 25; slightly injured - 20. A 10x16 foot hole in the flight deck, gallery deck area in the vicinity demolished, inboard side signal bridge wrecked. Three airplanes demolished. Numerous shrapnel holes throughout the island structure. Fires broke out on the flight, gallery, and hangar decks. Hauled clear of the formation and commenced maneuvering at various courses and speeds in an attempt to control the winds over the deck, and with high speed turns, to wash flooding water out of the hangar deck.

1342: Fire in hangar deck under control.

1405: Fire in gallery deck under control.

1406: Hancock planes in the vicinity commenced landing on other carriers of the Task Group.

1500: Rejoined station in formation.

1510: Emergency repairs to the flight deck completed.

(Text from War History of USS Hancock, courtesy of the USS Hancock Association).

NS021940a–NS021940e: National Archives photos (College Park, MD)

• NS021940a: NARA 80-G-301150.
• NS021940b: NARA 80-G-301151.
• NS021940c: NARA 80-G-301152.
• NS021940d: NARA 80-G-301158.
• NS021940e: NARA 80-G-301159. Taken two days after the accident. Note the bent supports in view. This is the same area shown in NS021940d.

"Suicider hits Halsey Powell alongside the Hancock on 20 March 1945. (San Jacinto [(CVL-30)] photo)"

On 20 March 1945 USS Halsey Powell (DD-686) was alongside USS Hancock (CV-19) when Japanese aircraft attacked. As the destroyer was getting clear the aircraft overshot the carrier and crashed Halsey Powell. Her steering gear jammed but alert action with the engines averted a collision. Fires were put out and although 9 were killed and over 30 wounded in the attack the ship reached Ulithi 25 March. (From DANFS, Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships).

NARA II College Park, Bureau of Ships General Correspondence Files, 1940–45.

Planes on the stern of USS Hancock (CV-19) afire after being hit by a kamikaze off Okinawa, 7 April 1945. Image part of an album of photographs collected by Captain Carlos W. Wieber during his command of the aircraft carrier USS Essex (CV-9) during 1944–1945. Image mounted on a piece of paper on which appears the original typewritten caption.

US Navy and Marine Corps Museum/Naval Aviation Museum, Photo No. 1983.046.010.135.

"U.S.S. Hancock services 'One-Two Punch.' Hit and set aflame by a bomb and the crash of the Jap plane which loosed the bomb, the Navy carrier U.S.S. Hancock was stunned and shaken—but resumed limited operations within 4 hours. Shrouded in flags, the bodies of men killed in the double-blow lie on the hangar deck amidships as shipmates pay their last respects before sea burial."

File Number 328570. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Navy BUMED Library and Archives 09-7938-10.

Casualties are buried at sea on 9 April 1945. They were killed when Hancock was hit by a "Kamikaze" while operating off Okinawa on 7 April.

"'BEFORE AND AFTER'—Model of USS Hancock (CVA-19) (right), with angled flight deck, is shown alongside Essex-class carrier, USS Boxer (CVA-21)."

"Futuristic" view of what Hancock might look like after addition of an angled deck, from All Hands magazine, March 1953 issue, page 38.

USS Hancock (CVA-19), 45 ° off bow portside, 4 March 1954. Puget Sound Naval Shipyard photo NY8-10774.

Seattle Branch of the National Archives, Record Group 181.

USS Hancock (CVA-19), broadside view, 28 April 1954. Puget Sound Naval Shipyard photo NY8-11091.

Seattle Branch of the National Archives, Record Group 181.

USS Porterfield (DD-682) refueling from the recently converted USS Hancock (CVA-19), 1954. From a report and series of photos documenting shortcomings in the refueling system: note hoses dragging in the water.

Seattle Branch of the National Archives, Record Group 181.

USS Hancock (CVA-19) underway, possibly in 1955: she spent that year conducting flight operations off California to test the Sparrow I and Regulus I (note missile on the port elevator) systems and Cutlass jets. Bow-mounted 3"/50 guns are still in place.

USS Hancock (CVA-19) underway, circa 1955–56, with one F9F Cougar, and seven F7U-3 Cutlasses from VF-124 "Stingrays" (Carrier Air Group 12), on deck.

Underway, circa 1957.

USS Hancock (CVA-19) underway, circa 1957.

USS Hancock (CVA-19) underway, apparently fresh out of her SCB-125 angled deck conversion, in a photo dated 1957.

USS Hancock (CVA-19) underway, circa 1957. CAPT Charles Joseph Odend'hal, Jr., Commanding.

AJ-2 Savages from VAH-6 "Fleurs" are amidships, AD Skyraiders aft.

Destroyers USS Samuel N. Moore (DD-747) and USS Maddox (DD-731) are to starboard and port of Hancock, respectively.

USS Hancock (CVA-19) underway, circa 1957. CAPT Charles Joseph Odend'hal, Jr., Commanding.

USS Hancock (CVA-19) underway at sea on 15 July 1957. She was then serving with the Seventh Fleet in the western Pacific. There are seven FJ Fury, ten F2H Banshee (two different models); two F7U Cutlass, fifteen AD Skyraider and three AJ Savage aircraft on her flight deck.

USS Hancock (CVA-19) in San Francisco Bay, California, in September 1957. Her crew is spelling out "Our Town" on her flight deck.

Photo by Russ Meek, date and location unknown.

USS Hancock (CVA-19) underway in the Pacific with Carrier Air Group (CVG) 11, circa 1960–1961.

US Navy and Marine Corps Museum/Naval Aviation Museum, Robert L. Lawson Photograph Collection, photo no. 1996.488.054.056.

Stern view of USS Hancock (CVA-19) in a dry dock at Yokosuka, Japan. Photo is dated 2 January 1961. Planes closest to camera are a couple of AD-7 Skyraiders from VA-115 "Arabs" (BuNos 142012 and 142075), and an F11F-1 Tiger from VF-111 "Sundowners" (side number 109). Air Group was CVG-11.

US Navy and Marine Corps Museum/Naval Aviation Museum, Robert L. Lawson Photograph Collection, photo no. 1996.488.054.060.

This picture was taken by Mr. Leo Barnecut in 1961 as USS Hancock (CVA-19) was headed for Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington.

An F3H-2 Demon, assigned to VF-213 "Black Lions," preparing to launch, August 23, 1962. F3H-2's were redesignated F-3B under the new, September 1962 joint designation system.

USS Hancock (CVA-19) deployed to WestPac with Carrier Air Group 21 (CVG-21, tail code "NP"), February 2–October 7, 1962.

An AD-6 Skyraider, assigned to VA-215 "Barn Owls," launches from USS Hancock (CVA-19), August 23, 1962. AD-6's were redesignated A-1H under the new, September 1962 joint designation system.

A WF-2 Tracer, assigned to VAW-11 "Early Eleven," prepares to launch, August 23, 1962. WF-2's were redesignated E-1B under the new, September 1962 joint designation system.

A WF-2 Tracer, assigned to VAW-11 "Early Eleven," launches from the port catapult, August 23, 1962.

An F8U-1 Crusader, assigned to VF-211 "Fighting Checkmates," awaits its turn on the starboard catapult. F8U-1's were redesignated F-8A under the new, September 1962 joint designation system.

Aerial view of USS Hancock (CVA-19) passing under the Golden Gate Bridge on April 17, 1963.

Catapult crewmen position an A-4C Skyhawk attack plane for launch, 24 March 1965. The carrier was then operating in Southeast Asian waters. Photographed by PH1 Jean Cote and PHC Robert Moeser. This A-4C appears to be Bureau # 149508. Markings below the cockpit indicate that the plane's assigned pilot was Lieutenant Commander Olof M. Carlson.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph (# USN 1110178-B).

Task Force 77 operating in the South China Sea, March 1965. It had recently launched strikes against North Vietnam. Carriers present are (clockwise from bottom): Ranger (CVA-61), Yorktown (CVS-10), Coral Sea (CVA-43) and Hancock (CVA-19). The guided missile cruiser Canberra (CAG-2) is in the center of the formation. The destroyer screen includes: England (DLG-22), Gurke (DD-783), Rogers (DD-876), Walker (DD-517), O'Bannon (DD-450), Somers (DD-947), Jenkins (DD-447), John A. Bole (DD-755), Higbee (DD-806), Buck (DD-761), Joseph Strauss (DDG-16) and Ernest G. Small (DD-838). This photograph was specially posed, and does not represent a normal operating formation.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph (# USN 1109915).

James Shriver, PHCM, USN (Ret), notes: "The photo [...] was taken in an exercise we called 'Operation Candid Camera.' On day one it was tried by a Vigilante photo plane. They missed. So the next day it was tried again and the photos were taken with a hand held camera from a HS-8 helicopter. The photographer was PH1 Elvin C. Conarty (now deceased). I was there... I processed the film and printed the photos."

"Off the coast of Vietnam the USS Sacramento [(AOE-1)] transfers fuel and ammunition to the aircraft carrier USS Hancock [(CVA-19)]. The CH-46 Seaknight helicopters, used for transport, stay in the air during the whole operation. They already accomplished transfer rates of 75 tons every hour." (From International Defense Review, #11, 1966.)

This was Hancock's second Vietnam cruise, 10 November 1965–1 August 1966. Air Wing was CVW-21.

A series of four photos of USS Hancock (CVA-19), taken from USS Allen M. Sumner (DD-692) in Yankee Station, sometime between February and June 1967.

A Grumman C-1A Trader Carrier Onboard Delivery (COD) aircraft, BuNo 146038, being taken up to the flight deck.

A Douglas KA-3B Skywarrior, BuNo 142664, assigned to VAH-4 Det. B "Fourrunners."

USS Hancock (CVA-19), with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, tail code "NF," on Yankee Station, February–June 1967, as seen from USS Allen M. Sumner (DD-692).

A crewman wheels a cart loaded with three Sidewinder air-to-air guided missiles across the flight deck, during operations off Vietnam in April 1967. Hancock was then on her third Vietnam War deployment. Photographed by PHC R.D. Moeser.

Aerial view of the San Francisco Naval Shipyard at Hunters Point, sometime between April and July 1968. USS Coral Sea (CVA-43) and USS Hancock (CVA-19) are easily identifiable. Also visible in this photo are Midway (CVA-41), undergoing her SCB-101.66 modernization in the drydock just aft of Coral Sea, and USS Oriskany (CVA-34), undergoing an 8-month overhaul in the background.

USS Hancock (CVA-19) underway. These photos are believed to have been taken during Hanna's fourth WestPac/Vietnam Cruise, July 18, 1968–March 3, 1969 — the third with Carrier Air Wing 21 (CVW-21).

Front to back: USS Enterprise (CVAN-65), USS Hancock (CVA-19), three auxiliaries (which appear to be USS Markab (AR-23) with USS Pictor (AF-54) outboard, and USS Procyon (AF-61) forward of them), and USS Coral Sea (CVA-43) at NAS Alameda, CA, possibly in the first half of July 1969.

USS Hancock (CVA-19), with Carrier Air Wing 21 (CVW-21), passes under the Golden Gate Bridge, August 2, 1969, bound for WestPac and her fifth Vietnam cruise.

"This was taken on Yankee Station in the Gulf of Tonkin on a Sunday morning. I am not sure offhand if it was late 1970 or early 1971 now though. I know it was Sunday cause it was a 'stand-down' day & we had an UNREP[—in the photo, with USS Passumpsic (AO-107)—]that morning. A Russian trawler cut across our course and 'hell' broke loose on Hanna! They set Battlestations and Condition Zebra. Cut ALL the lines holding the ships together and launched the F-8 sitting on the cat! Best I recall, we were making maybe 12 knots at the time. I had been unaware they could launch while going that slow! I do not have any of the details from the back of the picture handy right now [... but] I would suggest you look at the right side of the picture closely. That has to be a one in a million shot. I was simply lucky to have gotten this picture."

USS Hancock (CVA-19) salutes Sydney, Australia, two days before arriving in the city (thanks to Jim Smith). Hancock was in port, Sydney, 16–20 May 1971.

View looking aft during VERTREP by one of HC-3 (Det 106) helicopters assigned to USS Niagara Falls (AFS-3) of the attack aircraft carrier USS Hancock (CVA-19) off the coast of Vietnam in August–September 1972.

"These three photos show helo in stages of the VERTREP. As you can make out in the photos the VERTREP started before shotlines were sent over to the carrier to commence alongside stream gear unrepping. (You can see the CVA crew manning 3-4 alongside stations, preparing to receive the shotlines.) UNREPs usually were conducted at 12 kts with both ships displaying the 'Romeo' flag. The DD trailing would usually get UNREPed after the carrier."

Aircraft from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 21 can be seen on deck, most notably A-4F Skyahawks from VA-55 "Warhorses" (green tails) and VA-164 "Ghost Raiders" (red tails).

USS Hancock (CVA-19) underway off San Diego, CA, circa 1972–1974.

Overhead showing hurricane bow and angled flight deck, late in her career, in the 1970s.

September 1972. This A-4F Skyhawk (NP-302, BuNo 154990) of VA-212 "Rampant Raiders," part of Carrier Air Wing 21 (CVW-21), and flown by LT Weller, had to make an Emergency Barricade Landing after low oil pressure problems.

Aerial view of Naval Air Station Alameda, summer of 1974. Left to right: USS Coral Sea (CVA-43), USS Hancock (CVA-19), USS Oriskany (CVA-34), and USS Enterprise (CVAN-65).

USS Hancock (CVA-19) off San Diego, California, 11 February 1975, shortly before beginning her final deployment to the western Pacific. There are twelve A-4 Skyhawk attack planes and one SH-3 helicopter on her flight deck.

In April and May 1975, while on her final WestPac tour, Hancock was one of the ships that conducted the evacuation of South Vietnam when that long-suffering country was overrun by North Vietnamese forces.

Art Ritchie recalls: "[These are] some photos of the Hancock during the evacuation of Saigon in April of 1975. All of the fixed wing aircraft had been replaced with Marine Corps helicopters for that operation. [The photos show] some of the people we evacuated from Saigon. In all we took on board about 2,500. The two showing the helicopter going into the water was one of several we had to push overboard. The South Vietnamese military would fly their helicopters, often loaded with friends and family, out to our ship and land on our flight deck. We didn't have room to stow the aircraft plus they were in terrible shape, missing lots of instruments and parts. So we pushed them overboard."