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NavSource Online: Aircraft Carrier Photo Archive


Contributed by Mike Smolinski

USS ORISKANY   (CV-34)
(later CVA-34 and CV-34)



Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign: November - Tango - Bravo - India
Tactical Voice Radio Call: "CHILD PLAY"


Specifications
Displacement 30,800 Tons, Dimensions, 904' (oa) x 129' x 30' 6" (Max)
Armament 8 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 3460.

Essex Class (*) Aircraft Carrier
Ordered (**) Laid down Launched Commissioned Decommissioned Stricken
7 Aug 1942 1 May 1944 13 Oct 1945 25 Sep 1950
7 Mar 1959
2 Jan 1957
30 Sep 1976

25 Jul 1989
Builder: New York Naval Shipyard, Brooklyn, N.Y.
(*) "Long Hull" group, aka Ticonderoga Class
(**) see below
Click On Image
For Full Size Image
Size Image Description Contributed
By And/Or Copyright
Namesake
CV-34 Oriskany
NS023455
86k

The Battle of Oriskany was one of the bloodiest battles in the American Revolutionary War and a significant engagement of the Saratoga campaign. It also has the distinction of being one of the few battles of the war where almost all of the participants were North American: Loyalists and Native Americans fought against Patriots (the name the colonists who rebelled against British control called themselves) and Oneidas (Native American people, one of the five founding nations of the Iroquois Confederacy.)

On August 6, 1777 some 700–800 Tryon County militiamen and Oneida warriors under Brigadier General Nicholas Herkimer and Chief Skenandoah were ambushed by an equal force of Tories and Mohawks under Sir John Johnson, Col. John Butler and Joseph Brant. In the 6-hour battle the American force was prevented from relieving Fort Stanwix; but, in turn, prevented the British force from reaching General John Burgoyne, thus contributing to that gentleman's losses at Bemis Heights and his defeat at Saratoga. Losses at Oriskany were severe on both sides. American losses amounted to half the original force, including General Herkimer who, severely wounded, died a week later.

"Herkimer at the Battle of Oriskany," by F. C. Yohn. This painting hung in the Officer's Mess of USS Oriskany while the ship was in commission. It is now in the Utica Public Library.

Partial text and image courtesy of Wikipedia.
Partial text courtesy of DANFS.
The Early Years — Korea
CV-34 Oriskany
NS023401
35k Undated, early 1950's image (pre SCB-125A). USN
CV-34 Oriskany
NS023453
68k

USS Oriskany at anchor, date and place unknown.

David Buell
CV-34 Oriskany
NS023419
100k

USS Oriskany (CV-34) off New York City, 6 December 1950, while en route to conduct carrier qualifications off Jacksonville, Florida.

Oriskany is fitted with SPS-6 and SX radar, plus a YE homing beacon on the masthead. Forward, on the port side, are some 20-mm/70-cal Oerlikon AA guns. Also of note is the helicopter parked on the forward end of the flight deck. (Thanks to Robert Hurst, who provided additional info).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center (# NH 97408).

NHC
CV-34 Oriskany
NS023420
28k Another view, as above (photo # USN 427341).

NHC
CV-34 Oriskany
NS023414
100k

USS Oriskany (CV-34) with a North American AJ-1 "Savage" attack plane on her flight deck. Photographed by W.M. Cox. The image is dated 29 August 1952, when Oriskany was operating off the U.S. west coast, preparing for her first Korean War deployment.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-K-13048).

Scott Dyben
CVA-34 Oriskany
NS023421
62k

Oriskany moored at Yokosuka, Japan, circa 1952-53, with a Commencement Bay-class CVE alongside and US-built Tacoma-class frigates in the background. Note the dusting of snow on the flight deck, loaded with Skyraiders and Panthers of CVG-102/CVG-12. The emergency conn is barely discernible under the overhang of the flight deck, just abaft the Mk-63 director controlling her two foremost twin 3"/50s. US Navy photo # USN-1171842.

NHC
CVA-34 Oriskany
NS023446
141k

USS Oriskany (CVA-34) off Point Loma, at the entrance to San Diego Bay, California, in the mid-1950s (note her foremost twin 3"/50 gun mounts had been removed.)

David Buell
CVA-34 Oriskany
NS023422
99k

USS Oriskany (CVA-34) underway off the coast of Southern California, 27 January 1955, with four F2H Banshee jet fighters on her flight deck.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center (# NH 97409).

NHC
CVA-34 Oriskany
NS023423
92k

One of a series of photographs "taken by a Navy F2H-2P Banshee as it followed another Banshee in for a carrier landing on the USS Oriskany (CVA-34), somewhere off the coast of San Francisco, California. The photo plane was equipped with a forward firing aerial mapping and reconnaissance camera installed in its nose. The camera was a type K-48 aerial camera with a 24-inch lens, a red A-25 filter, 1/200 second exposure, an exposure interval of two (2) seconds, and film size of 9x18 inches. The speed of the aircraft during approach is approximately 110 knots." (quoted from the original caption released with this image). Photograph was taken on 8 February 1955.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center (# NH 97412).

NHC
SCB-125A Modernization — Vietnam
CVA-34 Oriskany
NS023456
185k

Oriskany received SCB-125A modernization in 1957–1959. Article and photo are from the July 1957 Buships Journal.

Larry Blumenthal, PH3, 1957-61.
"US Navy Photos"
CVA-34 Oriskany
NS023456a
93k
CVA-34 Oriskany
NS023424
90k

USS Oriskany (CVA-34) off the San Francisco Naval Shipyard, California, on 27 April 1959, following installation of her new angled flight deck and hurricane bow.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center (# NH 97410).

NHC
CVA-34 Oriskany
NS023433
158k

"Aircraft Carrier Oriskany, modernization along program SCB-27A."   (From a Russian publication).

This drawing actually shows Oriskany after SCB-125A modernization.

Alex Tatchin
CVA-34 Oriskany
NS0587719
122k USS Perkins (DDR-877), USS Pollux (AKS-4) and USS Oriskany (CVA-34) during a replenishment at sea off Okinawa in 1960. Doug Smith, RD3, USS Perkins (DDR-877), 1959-1962
CVA-34 Oriskany
NS023403
114k Undated, post SCB-125A. At speed. USN
CVA-34 Oriskany
NS023404
49k Bashi Channel, June 23, 1966. ©Richard Leonhardt
CVA-34 Oriskany
NS023405
65k Bashi Channel, June 1966. ©Richard Leonhardt
CVA-34 Oriskany
NS023406
95k Bashi Channel, June 1966. ©Richard Leonhardt
CVA-34 Oriskany
NS023408
111k Bashi Channel, June 1966. ©Richard Leonhardt
CVA-34 Oriskany
NS023409
125k Pacific, June 1966. Taken from Fred T. Berry (DD-858) fueling alongside. ©Richard Leonhardt
CVA-34 Oriskany
NS023410
72k Pacific, June 1966. Richard E. Krause (DD-849) making approach to come alongside to fuel. Taken from Fred T. Berry (DD-858) ©Richard Leonhardt
CVA-34 Oriskany
NS023411
120k Bashi Channel, June 1966. ©Richard Leonhardt
CVA-34 Oriskany
NS023407
35k Dixie Station, South China Sea, June 30, 1966. ©Richard Leonhardt
CVA-34 Oriskany
NS023425
98k

M-117, 500-pound and 1000-pound bombs line the carrier's flight deck during Vietnam War combat operations in the South China Sea, 21 August 1966. Photographed by PHAA C.B. Vesper. Planes parked nearby include A-4, F-8 and A-1 types.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph (# USN 1118303).

NHC
CVA-34 Oriskany
NS023426
71k

USS Oriskany (CVA-34) catapulting an A-4 Skyhawk during operations off Vietnam, 30 August 1966.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph (# USN 1117395).

NHC
Fire aboard Oriskany, October 26, 1966
CVA-34 Oriskany
NS023427
81k

Smoke pours from Oriskany's Hangar Bay #1, during the fire which killed 44 of her officers and men, 26 October 1966.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph (# USN 1121718).

NHC
CVA-34 Oriskany
NS023428
131k

"Right Hand Salute! — As the body of Lieutenant Commander Omar R. Ford, USN, one of 44 officers and men who lost their lives in USS Oriskany October 26 fire tragedy, is committed to the deep from Oriskany's flight deck during memorial services at sea in the Western Pacific, November 6, en route to San Diego, California. Fire-scarred Oriskany departed Subic Bay, Philippine Islands, for San Diego November 3." (quoted from the original caption released with this image). Note Oriskany's insignia on the light-colored flag, at right, and three destroyers steaming alongside. Nearest destroyer is USS Chevalier (DD-805). Next outboard is USS Gurke (DD-783). Photographed by JOC Dick Wood.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center (# NH 97411).

Note: the Oriskany fire actually occurred in 1966, not 1967 as is incorrectly printed on the photo.

NHC
 
CVA-34 Oriskany
NS023412
114k Collage of typical activities that go on routinely day in and day out during operations off the coast of Vietnam aboard a CV. Gary Priolo
CVA-34 Oriskany
NS023415
101k

En route to the Western Pacific for operations off Vietnam, 23 June 1967. Photographed by PH1 F.L. Blair.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph (photo # KN-15081).

Scott Dyben
CVA-34 Oriskany
NS023447
85k

USS Oriskany (CVA-34) in the South China Sea during her June 16, 1967 – January 31, 1968 Vietnam cruise. Photo taken from USS Bausell (DD-845).

Photo by Lee Noland STGC Ret.
CVA-34 Oriskany
NS023402
233k

Good overhead view of USS Oriskany (CVA-34) underway with Carrier Air Wing 16 (CVW-16) during her June 16, 1967 – January 31, 1968 Vietnam cruise. Photo by PH1 F. L. Blair.

USN
CVA-34 Oriskany
NS023448
193k

Official US Navy Photograph #CVA-4147-9-67 of USS Oriskany (CVA-34), from the Mighty O's own Photo Lab, dated 18 September 1967 (original caption states Oriskany is shown operating in the Gulf of Tonkin, but she was en route to Sasebo on that date — the pic might have been actually taken a few days earlier.) Oriskany and Carrier Air Wing 16 (CVW-16, tail code "AH") were on her third combat cruise to Vietnam (June 16, 1967 – January 31, 1968) and spent 122 days on the line.

Photo by PHC Neal Crowe.

Robert M. Cieri
CVA-34 Oriskany
NS023416
95k

Navy pilot Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Denny Earl, with both legs shattered by North Vietnamese anti-aircraft fire, successfully lands his A-4E Skyhawk attack plane aboard the Oriskany in the Gulf of Tonkin, 21 November 1967. The nylon emergency barrier assures the wounded pilot that he will not have to make more than one attempt to land his plane. Photographed by PHC Neal Crowe.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph (photo # K-42269).

Scott Dyben
CVA-34 Oriskany
NS023429
44k

USS Oriskany (CVA-34) underway on 3 January 1968. US Navy photo by PHC Neal Crowe [K-43387].

USN
CVA-34 Oriskany
NS023430
48k

Taken by RD3 Steve Karolyi from the deck of the USS Mahan (DLG-11) around 1968 in the Gulf of Tonkin.

Richard Hallowell
RD1 DLG-11  69-71
CVA-34 Oriskany
NS023431
45k

Taken by RD3 Steve Karolyi from the deck of the USS Mahan (DLG-11) around 1968 in the Gulf of Tonkin.

Richard Hallowell
RD1 DLG-11  69-71
CVA-34 Oriskany
NS023432
133k

Seventh Fleet ships replenishing in the South China Sea, May 1969. Photographed by PH1 Long. Ships present are (from front to back): USS Wiltsie (DD-716), USS Tappahannock (AO-43), USS Oriskany (CVA-34), USS Mars (AFS-1), and USS Perkins (DD-877).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph (# USN 1139357).

NHC
CVA-34 Oriskany
NS023454
166k

Aerial 3/4 starboard bow view of USS Oriskany (CVA-34) conducting air operations in the South China Sea, May 6, 1969. Official US Navy Photograph from the ship's photo lab (# CVA-34-3398-5-6-1969), taken from an HC-1 Seasprite by PH1 R. A. Long.

The carrier was on her 12th overseas deployment, and 4th Vietnam Cruise, April 16–November 17, 1969. On board was Carrier Air Wing NINETEEN, tailcode "NM", consisting of the following squadrons: VF-191 "Satan's Kittens" and VF-194 "Red Lightnings" (F-8J Crusaders); VA-23 "Black Knights" and VA-192 "Golden Dragons" (A-4F Skyhawks); VA-195 "Dambusters" (A-4E Skyhawks); VFP-63 Det. 34 "Eyes of the Fleet" (RF-8G Crusaders); VAQ-130 Det. 34 "Zappers" (EKA-3B Skywarriors); VAW-111 Det. 34 "Hunters" (E-1B Tracers); and HC-1 Det. 6 "Fleet Angels" (UH-2C Seasprites).

Robert M. Cieri
CVA-34 Oriskany
NS023449
165k

USS Oriskany (CVA-34), with Point Loma and San Diego Bay in the background. This photo, from Marine Photos and Publishing of Spring Valley, CA, appears to have been taken sometime after Mighty O's 1968 overhaul.

David Buell

NS023443
112k USS Oriskany (CVA-34) makes a port approach to USS Niagara Falls (AFS-3) at Yankee Station, summer-fall 1969. © William P. Jones, former medical officer, USS Niagara Falls
CVA-43 Coral Sea
NS024346
146k

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).

Robert M. Cieri
CVN-65, CV-43, CV-34
NS026523
157k

Left to right: USS Enterprise (CVN-65), USS Coral Sea (CV-43), USS Kansas City (AOR-3), USS Wabash (AOR-5), and USS Oriskany (CV-34) at NAS Alameda, CA, July-August 1975.

Official US Navy photo from the Naval Photographic Center, Washington, D.C.

Robert M. Cieri
Miscellany
CVA-34 Oriskany
NS023442
26k

Oriskany and the F9F-5 Panthers of VF-192 "Golden Dragons"  (thereafter nicknamed "World Famous Golden Dragons") were featured in the movies Men of the Fighting Lady (starring Van Johnson and Walter Pidgeon) and The Bridges at Toko-Ri (starring William Holden and Grace Kelly), filmed just a few months after the end of the Korean War.

-
Ex-USS Oriskany
ex-CV-34 Oriskany
NS023450
39k

Ex-Oriskany at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA in 1994.

Stephen Renouard
ex-CVA-34 Oriskany
NS023434
415k

"Former Navy warship the USS Oriskany (CV-34) sits in the waters off Pensacola on Monday afternoon after its trip from Corpus Christi, Texas. The carrier will be tied up at the Port of Pensacola until it is sunk in the Gulf under the artificial reefs program."

Photo from the 21 December 2004 edition of the Pensacola News Journal newspaper.

Joe Radigan
ex-CVA-34 Oriskany
NS023435
82k

The 888-foot decommissioned aircraft carrier Oriskany arrived in Pensacola, Fla, on Dec. 20, 2004 from Corpus Christi, Texas. Oriskany will be the Navy’s first ship to be sunk under the authority provided under the fiscal year 2004 National Defense Authorization Act (Public Law 108-136) and will be the largest ship sunk as an artificial reef. The Oriskany artificial reef will benefit marine life, commercial and sport fishing and recreational diving off the coast of Florida. The sink date has not been established. U.S. Navy photo by Gary Nichols (050111-N 5328N-010).

Chester Morris
ex-CVA-34 Oriskany
NS023436
89k

Pictures of the ex-Oriskany at the port of Pensacola, January 2005, being prepared for her ultimate fate as an artificial reef. Note a large rectangular hole cut in the hull (to allow for quicker and more even flooding?) below the forward port gun sponson and not far above where the waterline used to be.

W. Eric Zink
ex-CVA-34 Oriskany
NS023437
88k
ex-CVA-34 Oriskany
NS023438
66k
ex-CVA-34 Oriskany
NS023439
76k
ex-CVA-34 Oriskany
NS023440
56k
ex-CVA-34 Oriskany
NS023441
55k

Pensacola, June 2005.

Photo by Keely Shea Finnegan (11 years old)
ex-CV-34 Oriskany
NS023444
87k

Pensacola, Fla., March 22, 2006 — Tugboats turn the decommissioned aircraft carrier ex-USS Oriskany (CV-34) prior to mooring at Allegheny Pier onboard Naval Air Station Pensacola. Known as the "Big O," the 32,000-ton, 888-foot Oriskany was being delivered to the air station while she was being prepared for her final journey. The ship was scheduled to be sunk 22 miles south of Pensacola in approximately 212 feet of water in the Gulf of Mexico May 17, 2006, where she would become the largest ship ever intentionally sunk as an artificial reef. After the Oriskany reached the bottom, ownership of the vessel would transfer from the Navy to the State of Florida. U.S. Navy photo by Megan Kohr (# 060322-7750K-N-319).

Tony Cowart
ex-CV-34 Oriskany
NS023445
105k

Gulf of Mexico, May 17, 2006 — Ex-Oriskany was sunk 24 miles off the coast of Pensacola, Fla., to form an artificial reef. The 888-foot ship took about 37 minutes to sink below the surface. After 25 years of service to the Navy in operations in Korea, Vietnam and the Mediterranean, ex-Oriskany now benefits marine life, sport fishing and recreation diving off the coast of the Florida panhandle. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Jeffrey P. Kraus (# 060517-N-7992K-001).


For more information about this ship, see:


View the Oriskany (CV-34 / CVA-34 /CV-34)
DANFS History entry located on the Naval Historical Center Web Site.

Crew Contact And Reunion Information

Contact Name: Mr. Lito Puglia
Address:1160 Hooksett Rd Hooksett, NH, 03106-10200
Phone: 603-626-4823
E-mail: b-bop2@juno.com

Additional Resources
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
Oriskany as an Artificial Reef, at the MBT Divers site (pics and video)

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Last update: 23 March 2008