uss coral sea CVA43

• Namesake: USS Coral Sea (CVA-43) was named in honor of the Battle of the Coral Sea, the first carrier-vs-carrier naval battle in history, fought in May 1942 during World War II. • Midway-Class Carrier: She was the third and final ship of the Midway-class aircraft carriers, which were among the largest and most advanced carriers built during World War II. • Commissioned in 1947: USS Coral Sea was commissioned on October 1, 1947, too late to participate in World War II, but she would go on to serve for over 40 years. • Cold War Workhorse: The carrier played a vital role during the Cold War, operating in both the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets and projecting U.S. naval power across the globe. • Korean and Vietnam Wars: She saw action during the Korean and Vietnam Wars, launching airstrikes, supporting ground troops, and providing air cover for operations. • Operation Frequent Wind: In April 1975, Coral Sea participated in Operation Frequent Wind, the evacuation of American and at-risk Vietnamese from Saigon as North Vietnamese forces closed in. • Libyan Confrontations: In 1981 and 1986, the Coral Sea was involved in confrontations with Libya, including the Gulf of Sidra incident and Operation El Dorado Canyon, where her aircraft participated in airstrikes against Libyan targets. • Plane Guard for Space Missions: The carrier served as a recovery ship for several NASA space missions, standing by in the Pacific to recover astronauts after splashdowns. • Nickname - 'Ageless Warrior': Sailors affectionately called her the "Ageless Warrior" due to her long and distinguished service life. • Decommissioning: USS Coral Sea was decommissioned on April 26, 1990, after over 43 years of service, and was scrapped by 2000, marking the end of the Midway-class era.