Marine USS Hancock (CV:CVA-19)

• Namesake and Launch: USS Hancock (CV-19) was named after John Hancock, a prominent patriot of the American Revolution. She was launched on January 24, 1944, by the Bethlehem Steel Company in Quincy, Massachusetts. • Essex-class Carrier: Hancock was an Essex-class aircraft carrier, one of the most successful and numerous classes of aircraft carriers built during WWII. • Pacific Theater Service: She joined the Pacific Fleet in late 1944 and participated in major operations including the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the largest naval battle of WWII. • Kamikaze Attack: On April 7, 1945, Hancock was hit by a kamikaze aircraft, causing significant damage and casualties, but her crew managed to save the ship and return her to action within hours. • Presidential Visit: In 1945, President Franklin D. Roosevelt visited the ship, underscoring her importance in the Pacific war effort. • Post-War Service: After WWII, Hancock was decommissioned but later modernized (SCB-27C and SCB-125 programs) and recommissioned during the Korean War era as an attack carrier (CVA-19). • Jet Aircraft Capable: Hancock was the first US carrier to launch an aircraft with an angled flight deck and steam catapults, making her jet-capable. • Vietnam War Operations: She saw extensive service during the Vietnam War, conducting air strikes and providing close air support for ground forces. • Apollo Recovery Ship: USS Hancock served as the primary recovery ship for the Apollo 11 and Apollo 12 lunar missions, picking up returning astronauts and their capsules from the Pacific. • Decommissioning and Fate: Hancock was decommissioned for the final time in 1976 and sold for scrap in 1977, ending over three decades of distinguished service.