About this Unit
USS Bennington (CV-20) was an Essex-class aircraft carrier commissioned by the United States Navy in August 1944. She played a significant role in the Pacific Theater during World War II, participating in major operations such as the Battle of Okinawa and air strikes against the Japanese home islands. After the war, Bennington was decommissioned, but later modernized and recommissioned for service during the Korean War and the Cold War, including anti-submarine warfare duties. The ship was finally decommissioned in 1970, earning numerous battle stars for her distinguished service.
Historical Facts
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Namesake: USS Bennington (CV-20) was named after the Battle of Bennington, a pivotal American victory during the Revolutionary War in 1777.
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Essex-class carrier: As an Essex-class aircraft carrier, Bennington was among the most significant and numerous carrier classes of World War II, contributing greatly to US naval air power.
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Launched during WWII: The ship was launched on February 26, 1944, and commissioned on August 6, 1944, joining the Pacific Fleet for the final major campaigns of the war.
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Combat operations: USS Bennington participated in the Philippines campaign, attacks on Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and the Japanese home islands, earning three battle stars for her World War II service.
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Kamikaze attacks: During WWII, Bennington was attacked by Japanese kamikaze pilots, but survived and continued operations, demonstrating the resilience of American carriers.
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Postwar Service & Modernization: After WWII, Bennington was decommissioned but later modernized and recommissioned as an attack carrier (CVA-20) and then as an anti-submarine carrier (CVS-20) during the Cold War.
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1954 Catastrophic Explosion: A tragic explosion in the ship’s fireroom on May 26, 1954, killed 103 crewmen and injured over 200, leading to major improvements in Navy safety protocols and firefighting equipment.
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Space Program Role: Bennington served as the primary recovery ship for both the Gemini 3 and Gemini 4 space missions in 1965, retrieving astronauts and their capsules from the Pacific Ocean.
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Vietnam War Service: The carrier supported operations during the Vietnam War, performing anti-submarine patrols and training exercises until her decommissioning.
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Decommissioning and Legacy: USS Bennington was decommissioned in 1970 and sold for scrap in 1994, but her legacy is preserved through veterans’ associations, memorials, and museum collections honoring her service and crew.
