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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)



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

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
The Early Years — World War II
CV-31 Bon Homme Richard
NS023108
146k

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
CV-31 Bon Homme Richard
NS023101
106k Undated, as completed. USN
CV-31 Bon Homme Richard
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.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center (# NH 97341).

NHC
CV-31 Bon Homme Richard
NS091904301
86k Tappahannock (AO-43) refueling to port Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) and to starboard Missouri (BB-63), July 1945. US Navy photo. -
CV-31 Bon Homme Richard
NS023118
75k

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 Historical Center (# NH 97340).

NHC
Korea
CV-31 Bon Homme Richard
NS023120
175k

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

The Family of
C.E. Shelby
CV-31 Bon Homme Richard
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
CV-31 Bon Homme Richard
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
CV-31 Bon Homme Richard
NS023111
32k

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

NHC
CVA-31 Bon Homme Richard
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
After SCB-27C/SCB-125 Modernization — Vietnam
CV-31 Bon Homme Richard
NS023102
41k Undated, Post SCB-125 Overhaul which added her angled flight deck. USN
CVA-31 Bon Homme Richard
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
CVA-31 Bon Homme Richard
NS023116
318k

A great view of USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31) as she departs San Francisco for WestPac, November 1, 1958 with Carrier Air Group 19 (CVG-19) aboard.

Courtesy of
William T. Larkins
CVA-31 Bon Homme Richard
NS023113
102k

At North Island, San Diego, Calif., late 1950s-early 1960s.

Richard Miller, BMCS, USNR (Ret.)
CVA-31 Bon Homme Richard
NS0583812
161k

USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31) steams with an "honor guard" of four destroyers, as a Change of Command ceremony takes place on her fight deck, 28 November 1962. Captain E.P. Kline relieved Captain G.C. Bullard as the carrier's Commanding Officer during the ceremony, which took place while she was operating in the Western Pacific with the Seventh Fleet. The destroyers, all units of Destroyer Squadron Nineteen, are (at left): USS Ernest G. Small (DDR-838) and USS Turner Joy (DD-951); (alongside the carrier): USS Black (DD-666) and USS Dennis J. Buckley (DDR-808).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center (# NH 97346).

Fred Weiss
CVA-31 Bon Homme Richard
NS023115
81k

USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31) operating in the Gulf of Tonkin, November 2, 1964.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center (# NH 97344).

NHC
CVA-31 Bon Homme Richard
NS023114
117k

Underway, mid-to-late 1960s.

Richard Miller, BMCS, USNR (Ret.)
CVA-31 Bon Homme Richard
NS023124
184k

Official US Navy Photograph of the attack aircraft carrier USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31,) making a hard turn as she steams in the Gulf of Tonkin. From the USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31) Photo Lab.

Although this photo is dated November 2, 1964 during Bonnie Dick's first Vietnam cruise, air wing composition and communications equipment hint that the ship's third Vietnam deployment (January 26 – August 25, 1967) is a more likely time frame.

Robert M. Cieri

NS023103
165k

USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31) catapults an A-4E Skyhawk attack plane assigned to VA-212 "Rampant Raiders," during operations off Vietnam, March 1967. Photographed by JOC R.D. Moeser, USN.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph (# USN 1142110).

NHC

NS023110
77k Kills and awards boards in the 1969-70 era. Photographed from USS Niagara Falls (AFS-3) during an UNREP operation. © William P. Jones, former medical officer, USS Niagara Falls

NS023104
556k This is an aft view of the "Bonny Dick" leaving the Niagara Falls (AFS-3) after a Vert/Un Rep. © William P. Jones

NS023105
825k A-4 Skyhawks on the deck of the USS Bon Homme Richard. 1970 on Yankee Station. © William P. Jones

NS023106
542k This photo was taken while the Bonnie Dick was coming along side for underway replenishment from the USS Niagara Falls (AFS-3) in 1970 at Yankee Station in the Gulf of Tonkin. © William P. Jones

NS023119
245k

USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31) and USS Parsons (DDG-33), foreground, steam in company with an amphibious squadron, background, as they make their way from the Gulf of Tonkin to Yokosuka, Japan, following the end of one of their on-line periods off Vietnam. Believed to have been taken in late July 1970.

This was Bon Homme Richard's last deployment, April 20–November 12, 1970 and included five combat periods: May 2–25, June 2–13, July 2–28, August 18–September 1, and September 28–October 20.

(Thanks to Robert Hurst, who provided part of the information.)

Anonymous
CVA-31 Bon Homme Richard
NS023125
169k

Two views of USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31), as seen from USS Bausell (DD-845) during WestPac 1970 (possibly in October, during Bonnie Dick's last on-line period.)

Lee Noland STGC USN Ret.
CVA-31 Bon Homme Richard
NS023126
111k
Ex-USS Bon Homme Richard
Ex-CVA-31 Bon Homme Richard
NS023127
78k

This photo of ex-USS Bon Homme Richard was taken in mid-1992 in San Pedro, California, at the location where she would be scrapped. The picture shows her still intact just before the scrapping process began.

Photo by David Buell

For more photos and information about this ship, see:

USS BON HOMME RICHARD CV-31 History
View This Vessels DANFS History Entry
(Located On The Hazegray & Underway Web Site, This Is The Main Archive For The DANFS Online Project.)
Crew Contact Information
Contact: Mr. Ralph W Pound
Address: PO Box 1531 Tupelo, MS, 38802-1531
Phone: 662-842-0572(O) - 662-842-8247(H)
E-mail:  
Web site:  
Remarks:  
Reunion Information
Date:  
Place:  
Contact: Mr. Don Deycous
Address: 14467 Dodson Rd.
Ephrata, Washington 98823
Phone: (509) 754-2946
E-mail: arladon@nwi.net
Web site: USS BonHomme Richard CV/CVA-31/LHD-6
Remarks:  

Related Links
Hazegray & Underway World Aircraft Carrier Pages By Andrew Toppan.
Official U.S. Navy Carrier Website
Korean Combat Action Reports located on the Naval Historical Center Web Site
USS Bon Homme Richard CV-31/CVA-31/LHD-6

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Last update: 6 December 2007