Kearsarge (CV-33) slides down the ways from the New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, NY, on Saturday, 5 May 1945, after being christened by the ship's sponsor, Mrs. Aubrey W. Fitch, wife of Vice Admiral Aubrey W. Fitch, USN, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Air).

Kearsarge (CV-33) launching ticket, obverse and reverse.

USS Kearsarge (CV-33) at the New York Naval Shipyard, Naval Base Station, Brooklyn, N.Y., 27 March 1946. The CVE in the background is USS Wake Island (CVE-65).

Photos NS023341 and NS023342 appear to have been taken on or about the same date.

A photo of USS Kearsarge (CV-33) taken 13 April 1946. No location data. USN Official Photo from NAS NYNY, photo number 11211-4-46.

Looks like USS Montauk (LSV-6) and USS Lyon (AP-71) are in the background.

Sikorski HO3S-1 helicopter in flight over the carrier's flight deck, during Operation "Frigid", November 1948.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-K-9495).

USS Kearsarge (CV-33) at anchor with boat booms swung outboard and liberty boats alongside, while operating in the Mediterranean in 1948, location unknown. The aircraft ranged on deck include Bearcats, Avengers and Helldivers. U.S. National Archives photo, from "Jets at Sea," by Leo Marriott.

USS Kearsarge (CV-33) in a harbor during the later 1940s, with her crew paraded on the flight deck for inspection.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center (# NH 97402).

USS Kearsarge (CV-33),mid- to late-1940s.

At anchor, probably in the late 1940s.

Have you ever wondered why this structure is called "island"? Photo probably taken in the late 1940s.

A Martin AM-1 Mauler of Attack Squadron (VA) 174 "Battering Rams" taking off from the aircraft carrier USS Kearsarge (CV-33) during carrier qualifications, 27 December 1948. The tests took place in the Atlantic Ocean off Naval Air Station Quonset Point, Rhode Island. USN photo from Naval Aviation News, February 1949; also National Museum of Naval Aviation photo #1996.253.1857.

Aerial view of USS Kearsarge, after SCB-27A modernization.

USS Kearsarge underway during her WestPac/Korean War deployment, 11 August 1952–17 March 1953. Parked aft on deck are F2H-2 Banshees from Fighting Squadron (VF) 11 "Red Rippers," tail code "T," and at least one F2H-2P Banshee from Composite Squadron (VC) 61 Det. F "Eyes of the Fleet," tail code "PP."

Photo by LT(JG) Philip Nelson, USS McNair (DD-679).

"F2H-2 Banshee jet fighters—members of Fighting Squadron Eleven—return to carrier USS Kearsarge (CVA-33) after flying mission over North Korea."

All Hands magazine, June 1953 issue (photo taken in 1952).

Aerial view of USS Kearsarge (CVA-33) with Task Force 77, circa 1953 (photo # NAH-001131).

Dry-docking, Long Beach Naval Shipyard, 1953.

USS Kearsarge (CVA-33) after SCB-27A modernization, sometime in 1952–1954. From Our Navy magazine, First of May 1954.

USS Kearsarge (CVA-33) with two AJ Savage heavy attack aircraft on her flight deck, following her SCB-27A modernization, circa 1952-55.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center (# NH 97403).

This photo was taken in Hong Kong harbor, circa 1952-55, and presents the contrast between a Chinese junk and one of our carriers

Aerial view of USS Kearsarge underway, possibly in 1953–1954.

USS Kearsarge (CVS-33) after addition of angled deck (photo # NAH-003841).

USS Kearsarge underway with an unidentified replenishment ship alongside, date and location unknown.

USS Kearsarge (CVS-33) approaching the Golden Gate, 1957.

(Digitally enhanced by Tom Kermen.)

Standing out of San Diego, circa 1957.

A Douglas AD-5W Skyraider (BuNo 132751) of Airborne Early Warning squadron (VAW) 11 Det. J, "Early Eleven," on the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Kearsarge (CVA-33) in the Western Pacific. VAW-11 Det. J was assigned to Air Task Group (ATG) 3 aboard Kearsarge for a deployment to WestPac from 9 August 1957 to 2 April 1958. National Museum of Naval Aviation photo (# 1996.253.2225).

Long Beach Naval Shipyard, circa 1960.

A series of nine photos taken aboard USS Kearsarge (CVS-33) in May 1960.

Grumman S2F Tracker, apparently attached to Anti-Submarine Squadron (VS) 21 "Lightning Bolts," part of Antisubmarine Carrier Air Group (CVSG) 53, about to launch from the starboard catapult.

Piasecki HUP-2 Retriever, BuNo 128585, modex UP32, Helicopter Utility Squadron (HU) 1 "Pacific Fleet Angels."

This plane, recovering aboard Kearsarge, appears to be a McDonnell F3H Demon attached to VF-121 "Pacemakers," the West Coast training unit for pilots and support personnel. VF-121 Demons had a red nose, tail, and tail plane outer tips.

Grumman F9F-8T Cougar (a two-seat trainer aka "Twogar") recovering aboard Kearsarge.

October 3, 1960, with the aircraft used by the "Blue Angels" since their organization, lined up forward of the island.

USS Kearsarge (CVS-33) underway with Antisubmarine Carrier Air Group 53 (CVSG-53) aboard, first half of the 1960s.

"ENEMY SUB KILLERS — Nestled alongside the U.S.S. Kearsarge (CVS-33) at San Diego, are three modern destroyer escorts and three destroyers of the COMCRUDESPAC force. The carrier and her group of 'greyhound' make up a Navy Hunter-Killer Group now operating in the Pacific. Included are the (outboard in) USS Bridget (DE-1024), USS Evans (DE-1023), USS Hooper (DE-1026) all of CORTRON THREE; USS Lofberg (DD-759), USS Taussig (DD-746) and the USS John A. Bole (DD-755), all of DESDIV 72." Official U.S. Navy photograph dated 4 March 1961.

Three Navy SH-3A Sea King helicopters, #60, 62 and 55, from Squadron HS-6 "Indians," flying over USS Kearsarge (CVS-33). Location unknown. Time frame is probably 1962–1964.

Photo from the Adriani-Evans Collection.

Sigma 7 Project Mercury Space Capsule is towed toward USS Kearsarge (CVS-33) for pickup, after its orbital flight with astronaut (Commander, USN) Walter Schirra on board, 3 October 1962. Note rescue swimmer on the capsule's flotation collar, and a Kearsarge 26-foot motor whaleboat standing by.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center (# NH 97404).

USS Kearsarge (CVS-33) near Honolulu, 3 October 1962. Astronaut Walter M. Schirra emerges from Sigma 7 spacecraft after being hoisted aboard carrier.

USS Kearsarge (CVS-33) returns to Pearl Harbor with astronaut "Wally" Schirra and his space capsule, October 1962.

(From "Warship Boneyards," by Kit Bonner and Carolyn Bonner. Author's collection.)

Pacific Ocean, 15 May 1963, crew members of the aircraft carrier USS Kearsarge (CVS-33) spell out "Mercury 9" on the ship's flight deck while accompanied by USS Fletcher (DD-445). The ships were steaming toward the recovery area, where astronaut Gordon Cooper was expected to splash down in his Faith 7, Mercury space capsule. US Navy photo cataloged by NASA.

Two A-4C "Skyhawk" aircraft, of Attack Squadron 146 (VA-146), fly past USS Kearsarge (CVS-33), 12 August 1964. These planes, from USS Constellation (CVA-64), are Bureau #s 149551 and 149570.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph (photo # USN 1107965).

USS Kearsarge (CVS-33) at sea, 12 December 1965. She has nine A-4 attack jets on her flight deck, as well as one S-2 anti-submarine plane. Photographed by PH3 Michael D. Stearns.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph (# USN 1117602).

USS Kearsarge (CVS-33) underway in Hawaiian waters, 5 July 1966, with S-2 and E-1B airplanes and SH-3 helicopters on her flight deck. Photographed by Ph1(AC) R. Sheffield.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph (photo # KN-13416).

March 1967, steaming off the coast of Southern California.

Sikorski SH-3A Sea King helicopters, of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Six (HS-6) lift off from the flight deck of USS Kearsarge (CVS-33) as she enters Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, 27 June 1967. The USS Arizona Memorial is in the distance. Helicopter at left is Bureau # 152124. Photographed by PH3 B.L. Kleckner.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph (# USN 1124878).

Overhead look at Aircraft Carriers and Amphibious Assault Ships (Helicopter) at Long Beach Naval Shipyard, July 1967. Left to right: USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63), USS Bennington (CVS-20), USS Kearsarge (CVS-33), USS Princeton (LPH-5), USS Valley Forge (LPH-8), USS Yorktown (CVS-10, top right corner).

USS Kearsarge (CVS-33) underway with Antisubmarine Carrier Air Group 53 (CVSG-53) aboard, circa 1967-1968.

USS Kearsarge (CVS-33) underway in the Pacific Ocean, 5 December 1968.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph (photo # KN-18336).

Yokosuka, Japan, circa 1969. Bow of USS Oklahoma City (CLG-5) in the left foreground.

USS Kearsarge (CVS-33) underway near the Philippine Islands, 3 June 1969, with HMAS Melbourne in the foreground. Note damage to the bow of the Australian carrier, as a result of her collision with USS Frank E. Evans (DD-754).

Decommissioning party salutes the colors, as Kearsarge goes out of commission for the last time, at Long Beach, California, 13 February 1970. Those present are (from left to right): Captain Frederick W. Zigler, USN, Commanding Officer, Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility; Rear Admiral Norman C. Gillette, USN, Commander Anti-Submarine Warfare Group Three; Rear Admiral William T. Rassieur, USN(Retired), former Commanding Officer of the ship; Captain Leonard M. Nearman, USN, ship's Commanding Officer; and Mr. C.E. (Gene) Gallman, representing the Mayor of Long Beach.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center (# NH 69774).

USS Kearsarge (CVA-33).

USS Kearsarge (CVA-33), Task Force 77.

USS Kearsarge (CVS-33).