In May 1950, after a period of training and aircraft ferry duties, Valley Forge left the U.S. for her second Far Eastern deployment. On 25 June, when North Korea began the Korean War, she was the only U.S. carrier in the Western Pacific. Eight days later, she launched the first U.S. Navy air strikes on enemy troops, facilities and positions. These combat activities went on through the Summer and into mid-November, when the ship was detached for return to the U.S.
Valley Forge had no sooner arrived in San Diego than she was given a fresh air group and sent back to Korean waters, where she conducted air attacks into the Spring of 1951. In the next two years, Valley Forge made two more combat tours, one from late 1951 to mid-1952 and the last during the first half of 1953. She was then overhauled, transferred to the Atlantic and converted to an anti-submarine warfare support carrier.
This page features selected views of Valley Forge's actions and activities during the Korean War era, 1950-53, and provides links to other photographs taken during this time.
For more complete pictorial coverage of Valley Forge's
actions and activities during 1950 through 1953, see:
For links to additional views related to USS Valley Forge,
see:
USS Valley Forge (CV/CVA/CVS-45 and
LPH-8) -- Selected Views.
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 #: 80-G-428152 Grumman F9F-3 "Panther", of Fighter Squadron 52 (VF-52) Taxies forward on USS Valley Forge (CV-45) to be catapulted for strikes on targets along the east coast of Korea, 19 July 1950. Note details of the ship's island, including scoreboard at left. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 139KB; 740 x 620 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: NH 96982 Lieutenant (Junior Grade) W. Boyd Muncie Disembarks from a H03S helicopter, upon his return to USS Valley Forge (CV-45) on 19 July 1950, following his rescue from the Sea of Japan by an amphibian "Sea Otter" from HMS Triumph. The first Naval Aviator to be shot down by North Korean anti-aircraft fire, he spent two and a half hours in the water. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the "All Hands" collection at the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 103KB; 600 x 765 pixels |
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Photo #: 80-G-707876 Wonsan Oil Refinery, Wonsan, North Korea Under attack by aircraft from Valley Forge (CV-45) on 18 July 1950. Smoke from this attack, which reportedly destroyed some 12,000 tons of refined petroleum products and much of the plant, could be seen sixty miles out at sea. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 129KB; 740 x 615 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: NH 96977 Korean War Carrier Air Strikes, July 1950 A fuel or ammunition train burns near Kumchon, North Korea, after being hit by planes from USS Valley Forge (CV-45). Photographed on the morning of 22 July 1950. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the "All Hands" collection at the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 128KB; 605 x 765 pixels |
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Photo #: 80-G-428270 USS Valley Forge (CV-45) Crewmen participate in a snowball fight, while clearing snow from the carrier's flight deck during operations off Korea, circa early 1951. Photo is dated 8 May 1951, but Valley Forge ended her second Korean War deployment in late March of that year. Planes parked on deck are F4U-4 "Corsair" fighters. That at left, with rockets on its wing, is Bureau # 81150. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 140KB; 740 x 620 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-440889 USS Valley Forge (CV-45) Taking water over the bow and onto her fight deck, while operating in heavy seas off Korea, 21 March 1952. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 92KB; 740 x 615 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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For more complete pictorial coverage of Valley Forge's
actions and activities during 1950 through 1953, see:
For links to additional views related to USS Valley Forge,
see:
USS Valley Forge (CV/CVA/CVS-45
and LPH-8) -- Selected Views.
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."
Page made 15 September 1999
Coding updated 7 October 2001