On 6 December 1950, six days after arriving in San Diego at the conclusion of her seven-month-long initial Korean War deployment, USS Valley Forge returned to sea. The new and very intense Chinese Communist offensive had put the United Nations' forces in crisis. Every available carrier was badly needed to help counter the onslaught. Even before she arrived at San Diego, Valley Forge's overhaul was deferred. Once in port, provisions were embarked, a fresh air group placed aboard and back across the Pacific she went. Her planes were back in action two days before Christmas.
During this second combat tour, Valley Forge, whose new air group consisted entirely of propeller-driven F4U "Corsair" fighters and AD "Skyraider" attack planes, launched nearly 2600 aircraft sorties and deposited about 1500 tons of ordnance on the North Korean and Chinese forces. By the end of January, in the face of harsh Korean winter weather, the enemy offensive was stopped. UN forces again pressed northward. With the emergency under control, Valley Forge could be released to enjoy an overdue refit. She left for the U.S. on 29 March and was soon in shipyard hands for several months' work.
This page features images taken during USS Valley Forge's second Korean War deployment, December 1950 - March 1951.
For links to further pictures of Valley Forge's activities
and operations in 1950-53, see:
USS Valley Forge -- Korean War Era
Actions and Activities -- Selected Views.
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 #: NH 96940 USS Valley Forge (CV-45) Leaves San Diego, California, 6 December 1950, to return to the Korean War zone for her second tour of combat duty, following a quick replenishment visit to the U.S. west coast. Acoma (YTB-701) is assisting, from off the carrier's port quarter. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 132KB; 740 x 610 pixels |
![]() |
Photo #: 80-G-428267 USS Valley Forge (CV-45) Crewmen use flight deck tractors with power brooms to sweep 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. Plane parked in the foreground is a F4U-4 "Corsair" fighter. Those on the forward flight deck are an AD "Skyraider" attack plane and a HO3S helicopter. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 128KB; 740 x 615 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
![]() |
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. |
![]() |
For links to further pictures of Valley Forge's activities
and operations in 1950-53, see:
USS Valley Forge -- Korean War
Era Actions and Activities -- Selected Views.
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