About this Unit
USS Oriskany (CVA-34) was an Essex-class aircraft carrier commissioned by the United States Navy in 1950. Named after the Revolutionary War Battle of Oriskany, she served prominently during the Korean War and later in the Vietnam War, where her air wing conducted significant combat operations. The Oriskany earned multiple battle stars for her service in Vietnam, notably surviving a devastating fire in 1966 that resulted in the loss of 44 crew members. Decommissioned in 1976, she was ultimately sunk as an artificial reef off the coast of Florida in 2006.
Historical Facts
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Namesake: USS Oriskany (CVA-34) was named after the Battle of Oriskany, a pivotal engagement during the American Revolutionary War in 1777.
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Construction: Ordered as a Ticonderoga-class aircraft carrier during World War II, her construction was significantly delayed and redesigned, making her the first postwar Essex-class carrier completed.
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Commissioning: She was commissioned on 25 September 1950, several years after World War II ended, due to her extensive redesign.
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Korean and Vietnam Wars: Oriskany saw extensive action in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars, serving as a vital platform for carrier-based air operations.
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The "O-Boat": Sailors affectionately referred to the ship as the "Mighty O" or "O-Boat."
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1966 Fire Tragedy: On October 26, 1966, a devastating fire broke out on board, killing 44 crew members. It was one of the deadliest shipboard fires in US Navy history.
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Medal of Honor Recipients: Two naval aviators who flew from Oriskany during the Vietnam War were awarded the Medal of Honor: Captain Michael J. Estocin and Commander James Stockdale, the latter of whom later became a Vice Admiral and a vice-presidential candidate.
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Famous Aviators: The renowned test pilot and astronaut John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth, also flew from Oriskany.
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Decommissioning and Fate: Oriskany was decommissioned in 1976 and, after years in mothballs, was intentionally sunk in 2006 off the coast of Florida to create an artificial reef, making her the largest vessel ever sunk for this purpose at the time.
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Hollywood Appearance: Oriskany’s legacy lives on in popular culture; she appeared as the fictional carrier in the movie The Bridges at Toko-Ri and inspired scenes in the film Top Gun.
