Boxer (CV-21) slides down the building ways, during launching ceremonies at the Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company, Newport News, Virginia, 14 December 1944. Note banner spread across the front of Boxer's flight deck, proclaiming: "Here We Go to Tokyo! Newport News Shipyard Workers' War Bonds Help to Sink the Rising Sun".

Courtesy of William H. Davis.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph (# NH 56560).

A rare view of USS Boxer (CV-21) with the starboard 40-mm gun sponsons added amidships. This photo appears to have been taken shortly after WW2.

Taken in 1948 while entering SF Bay, from a JRF-5 (Grumman Goose) borrowed from NAS Alameda for the occasion.

An excellent aerial view, circa 1948.

View from the island of USS Boxer (CV-21) underway off the Korean Peninsula in company with another Essex-class carrier, possibly in the first half of 1950.

USS Boxer (CV-21) cruising off the Korean coast in the 1950s.

USS Boxer (CV-21) with her crew spelling out her name on the flight deck, steams past the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco Bay as she returns from her first Korean War deployment, November 1950.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center (photo # NH 97282).

Four F9F-2 Panther jet fighters roar past USS Boxer (CV-21), with dive brakes, landing gear and arresting hooks down, preparing to land on board after returning from a mission over North Korea, 23 June 1951. The planes and their pilots are from Fighter Squadron 721 (VF-721), a Naval Reserve squadron formerly based at Naval Air Station, Glenview, Illinois.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center (# NH 97281).

Vought F4U-4 Corsair (Bureau No. 81712), of Fighter Squadron 791 (VF-791) makes vapor rings with its propeller as it takes off from USS Boxer (CV-21) for a Korean War air strike. Photo is dated 6 July 1951. Note small bombs under the plane's wings and flight deck distance markings. The Corsair is just passing the 500-foot point.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-431289).

"Deck Launch — Visible rings of vapor encircle a Corsair fighter as it turns up prior to being launched from the USS Boxer for a strike against communist targets in Korea. Hovering to the stern of the aircraft carrier, the every-present helicopter plane guard stands by to assist if any emergency arises." Photograph and caption were released in Washington, D.C., on 20 July 1951.

Planes are Vought F4U-4s. Helicopter is a Sikorski HO3S.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center (# NH 97286).

Two F4U-5N Corsair fighters of squadron VC-3 fly past the carrier, during combat operations off Korea. Photo is dated 4 September 1951. These planes are Bureau #s 124537 (left) and 124539. Their pilots are Lt. John D. Ely, USNR, and Lt(JG) J.G. Stranlund, USNR.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-433005).

Two more official US Navy photographs dated September 4, 1951. Carrier Air Group 101 (CVG-101), tail code "A," was aboard USS Boxer (CV-21) for her second deployment to Korea and WestPac, March 2 – October 24, 1951. Four reserve squadrons were called to active duty on July 20, 1950 and joined CVG-101 for this cruise, namely: VF-721 (with F9F-2B Panthers), VF-791 and VF-884 (F4U-4 Corsairs), and VA-702 (AD-2 and AD-4Q Skyraiders.)

If the photos were really taken on September 4, the coast in the background would probably be Korea — Boxer, however, had also been patroling the Formosa Straits, April 8–15.

(Photo NS022126a is US Navy photograph #USN-435061.)

Ship's HO3S-1 helicopter (Bureau # 123134) landing after an air-sea rescue mission, during operations off Korea. Photo is dated 13 September 1951.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-430680).

USS Boxer (CV-21) Hangar Deck Fire, 5 August 1952. Ordnancemen strip live 20mm ammunition from a damaged F9F Panther fighter, while firefighters bring the blaze under control. Boxer was then operating off Korea.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-445593).

Task Force 77 replenishing during operations off Korea. The carrier in the foreground is USS Boxer (CVA-21), taking on fuel from an oiler, which is also fueling a destroyer. Two other carriers, several destroyers and another replenishment ship are following. Photo is dated 2 June 1953.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-639487).

USS Boxer (CVA-21) operating off North Korea in July 1953. Her flight deck crew is respotting aircraft in preparation for recovery of her last strike. Another aircraft carrier and the battleship USS New Jersey (BB-62) are steaming ahead of Boxer.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-625876).

"Boxer Tribute — While Panther jets rest on the catapults in readiness, officers and men of the carrier USS Boxer (CVA-21) uncover to pay tribute to pilots and crewmembers of the ship who gave their lives during the Korean War." Photograph and caption were released by Commander Naval Forces Far East under date of 9 August 1953.

Plane on the port catapult is a Grumman F9F of Fighter Squadron 151 (VF-151).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center (# NH 97287).

Official US Navy photograph taken from the Golden Gate Bridge as USS Boxer (CVA-21) arrives home after her fourth and final Korean deployment, March 30 – November 28, 1953. Air Task Group 1 (ATG-1) was embarked — Air Task Groups were non-commissioned units formed with squadrons transferred from regular Carrier Air Groups.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph (# NH 67430).

Official caption reads: "USS Boxer (CVA-21) in port, 18 November 1953. Probably taken in San Francisco Bay, California, upon her return from the Far East."

Note: Official date for this photograph cannot be correct. There is a group of F9F-6 Cougars parked forward on the flight deck, but there were no Cougars aboard Boxer during her 1953 deployment, as former crewmembers recall and is documented on "United States Naval Aviation 1910-1995" (published by the Naval Aviation History Office), Appendix 25, page 699. On the other hand, the large "dish" of an SK-2 air search radar, clearly visible on the island, shows the photo was taken no later than 1954, since by early 1955 it had been replaced by an SPS-6B. Therefore, this picture was most likely taken during Boxer's 1954 deployment (March 3-October 11), with the Cougars of VF-121, part of CVG-12, aboard.

Special thanks go to the following people who helped in the research: Bob Brozovich, VF-151 (who pointed out the error in the first place); LCDR Alan Bedford, USNR (Ret.); and Mr. Hill Goodspeed, Historian, National Museum of Naval Aviation.

USS Boxer steams past the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco Bay as she returns from a WestPac deployment, October 1954.

Crewmembers spell out "Boxer 75,000 Landings" on the flight deck to commemorate reaching that milestone in the ship's career. The landing was made on November 19, 1955 by Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Charles R. Smith, and his crewman, Roland W. Parker, flying an AD Skyraider of Composite Squadron 35. The original photograph was released by Commander Naval Forces Far East on November 28, 1955.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center (photo # NH 97283).

Two official US Navy photographs taken in 1956–1957, during Boxer's only deployment as an Antisubmarine Warfare Support Carrier (CVS). S2F-1 Trackers of VS-23 are parked aft, and HSS-1 Sea Bats of HS-4 are forward and amidships. It's obvious that this was a period of change-over between the old (glossy sea blue) and the new (light gull gray and glossy insignia white) paint schemes.

USS Boxer (CV-21) Christmas Card, 1946(?).

Thanksgiving Menu, 1951.

Welcome Aboard Booklet for Scout Day, 12 February 1955. Held at the U.S. Naval Shipyard San Francisco, CA.

This is not an ordinary Welcome Aboard Booklet. This one was for a specific day only.

USS Boxer (CVA-21) is seen for about 20" at the end of the film "Kiss Them for Me" (1957. Starring Cary Grant and Jayne Mansfield; directed by Stanley Donen). (Thanks to LTC Bob Koester).

Three Skyraiders assigned to Attack Squadron 125 (VA-125), "Rough Raiders," are seen taking off from the ship. VA-125 was part of Carrier Air Group 12 (CVG-12) and deployed aboard Boxer in 1954 — this footage must have been shot at that time.