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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

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

USS Valley Forge (CVA-45), 1946-1971 --
Fourth Korean War Deployment, December 1952 - June 1953

Valley Forge, now reclassifieded an attack carrier (CVA), began her fourth Korean deployment in December 1952. The war situation was much the same as the previous tour's "talk and fight", except the talking was in recess until some sign was received that the Communists might be interested in talking toward some useful purpose. The fighting continued, at times with great intensity as both sides pushed for advantage. Valley Forge operated off the eastern Korean coast, as her airmen and those from the other Seventh Fleet carriers experimented with new tactics to maximize the value of air power in making the enemy's situation both miserable and unproductive. After expending another 3700 tons of ordnance, Valley Forge finished her last war cruise and returned to San Diego in late June 1953. A month later, negotiations, which had been restarted in April, brought an uneasy peace to Korea.

This page features images taken during USS Valley Forge's fourth Korean War deployment, December 1952 - June 1953.

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 #: 80-G-642507

USS Valley Forge (CVA-45)


Operating in stormy weather off the Korean coast, January 1953.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 111KB; 740 x 610 pixels

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

 
Photo #: NH 96952

USS Valley Forge (CV-45)


The first of a flight of eight Bell HTL-3 helicopters rise from the carrier's flight deck, off the Japanese coast, circa early January 1953. Valley Forge transported these aircraft to the Far East for use in evacuating Korean War battle casualties.
The original photo is dated 3 January 1953. Its caption stated that this "was the largest mass take-off of helicopters in the history of Naval aviation".

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

Online Image: 83KB; 740 x 620 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 96954

USS Valley Forge (CVA-45)


Commander C.V. Johnson taxies forward after making the carrier's 50,000th landing, during operations off Korea on 10 May 1953.
His plane is a Douglas AD "Skyraider". Another AD is flying in the upper right.
Note the ship's arresting gear wires, after elevator and flight deck crewmen.

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

Online Image: 137KB; 740 x 615 pixels

 

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."


Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

Page made 16 September 1999
Coding updated 7 October 2001