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Photo # NH 97281:  Four F9F-2 jet fighters prepare to land aboard USS Boxer, after completing a mission over North Korea, June 1951

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Boxer (CV-21, later CVA-21, CVS-21 and LPH-4), 1945-1971

USS Boxer, a 27,100-ton Ticonderoga class aircraft carrier, was built at Newport News, Virginia. Commissioned in April 1945, she did not complete initial training in time to participate in World War II operations, but was actively employed in the Pacific during the Post-War years, making ten deployments to the Western Pacific from September 1945 into 1957. Boxer had just returned to the U.S. from her third deployment when the Korean War broke out in late June 1950. She carried badly-needed Air Force and Navy planes and personnel to the war zone in a record Pacific transit during July, then was quickly outfitted for combat service and spent September and October 1950 providing air support for United Nations' forces fighting ashore.

Boxer made three more Korean War cruises, in March-October 1951, March-September 1952 and May-November 1953. Her planes, along with those from other Task Force 77 carriers, hit transportation and infrastructure targets in North Korea and gave close air support to troops fighting on the front lines. On 5 August 1952, while engaged in combat operations, she suffered damage and casualties when a fire broke out in her hangar deck, but was able to return to duty off Korea after two weeks of repairs. Following her last Korean War deployment, which extended into the post-Armistice period, Boxer served as a Seventh Fleet attack carrier (CVA) on two more cruises, in 1954 and in 1955-56. Converted to an anti-submarine warfare aircraft carrier (CVS) in early 1956, she made a final Western Pacific tour in that role during 1956-57.

Later in 1957, Boxer operated briefly as an experimental assault helicopter aircraft carrier, an indication of things to come for her, the Navy and the Marine Corps. In 1958, she was flagship for Operation "Hardtack", a nuclear weapons test program in the Central Pacific. Late in that year, she was transferred to the Atlantic Fleet as an "interim amphibious assault ship"and was formally redesignated LPH-4 on 30 January 1959.

For the next decade, Boxer and her "main battery"of Marines and transport helicopters were vital components of the United States' amphibious warfare capabilities. She mainly operated in the Caribbean area, including participation in the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis and the 1965 Dominican Republic intervention. She deployed to European waters in late 1964 to participate in Operation "Steel Pike". In mid-1965, Boxer served as an aircraft transport, carrying more than two-hundred Army helicopters and airplanes to Vietnam as part of the deployment of the First Cavalry Division (Air Mobile). After serving as a spacecraft recovery vessel in early 1966, she made a second trip to Vietnam, this time carrying Marine Corps aircraft. Boxer decommissioned in December 1969 and was sold for scrapping in February 1971.

This page features selected views of USS Boxer (CV/CVA/CVS-21, LPH-4).

If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: NH 97282

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 returned from her first Korean War deployment, November 1950.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 83KB; 740 x 570 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 97281

USS Boxer (CV-21)


Four F9F-2 "Panther" jet fighters roar past the carrier, 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.

Online Image: 99KB; 740 x 610 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 67430

USS Boxer (CVA-21)


In port, 18 November 1953. Probably taken in San Francisco Bay, California, upon her return from the Far East.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 86KB; 740 x 625 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 97283

USS Boxer (CVA-21)


Crewmembers spell out "Boxer 75,000 Landings" on the flight deck to commemorate reaching that milestone in her career. The landing was made on 19 November 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 28 November 1955.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 98KB; 740 x 610 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 97285

USS Boxer (LPH-4)


At Mayport, Florida, in August 1965, just prior to departing for Vietnam with elements of the Army's First Cavalry Division on board. She carried 1200 personnel, 205 helicopters and 6 OV-1 airplanes to the combat zone.
Aircraft on her flight deck include 6 OV-1 (dark colored-forward); 4 CH-54 (white-just forward of island); 56 CH-47 (dark colored-amidships and aft) and 36 UH-1 (white-amidships and forward). The remaining 109 helicopters are presumably stowed on Boxer's hangar deck.

Official U.S. Army Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 146KB; 740 x 615 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 97284

"Carib 1-68 Patrol"


"Caribbean Ready Group steams in formation as it patrols the Caribbean Sea. Commanded by Capt. J.B. Drachnik, USN, Commander Amphibious Squadron Four, its mission is the promotion of peace and goodwill and the protection of U.S. citizens and property ashore in time of crisis. Homeported in Norfolk, Va., the Group has been deployed since March. Ships of the Ready Group are: (l-r) Attack Cargo Ship, USS Rankin (AKA-103); Dock Landing Ship, USS Fort Snelling (LSD-30); Amphibious Assault Ship, USS Boxer (LPH-4); Tank Landing Ship, USS Graham County (LST-1176); and High Speed Transport, USS Kirwin (APD-90)."
Photographed by PH2 A.P. Gonthier, Jr.
The original photograph and caption was released by USS Boxer in 1968.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 122KB; 740 x 605 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 97286

USS Boxer (CV-21)


"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.

Online Image: 97KB; 605 x 765 pixels

 
Photo #: 80-G-445593

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.

Online Image: 113KB; 740 x 615 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: NH 97287

USS Boxer (CVA-21)


"Boxer Tribute -- While Pantherjets 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.

Online Image: 174KB; 740 x 615 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 97288

USS Boxer (LPH-4)


U.S. Marine Corps HUS-1 helicopters lift off Boxer's flight deck, during operations off Vieques Island with the Tenth Provisional Marine Brigade, 8 March 1959.
Photograph by Grantham.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 122KB; 740 x 610 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 56560

USS 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.

Online Image: 167KB; 605 x 765 pixels

 


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


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Page made 6 June 2000
Link added 7 October 2001