USS Hancock (CV-19)

• Namesake Heritage: USS Hancock (CV-19) was named after John Hancock, a prominent patriot of the American Revolution and the first signer of the Declaration of Independence. • Essex-Class Carrier: Hancock was one of the famed Essex-class aircraft carriers, the backbone of the U.S. Navy’s carrier force during World War II. • Commissioned in 1944: She was commissioned on April 15, 1944, and promptly joined the Pacific Theater, participating in key operations against Japan. • Kamikaze Strikes: Hancock survived several kamikaze attacks, including a particularly severe one on April 7, 1945, that killed 62 crew members but didn’t sink her. • Innovative Catapult: She was the first carrier to launch aircraft using a steam catapult, paving the way for future carrier technology. • Presidential Visit: In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson visited the Hancock off the coast of Vietnam, highlighting her role in the Vietnam War. • Vietnam War Service: Hancock was a key carrier during the Vietnam War, launching thousands of sorties and providing crucial air support for ground operations. • Recovery Missions: Hancock participated in recovery operations for Apollo space missions, including Apollo 11 and Apollo 12, retrieving astronauts and their capsules after splashdown. • Rebuilds and Modernization: The ship underwent extensive modernization in the 1950s, including the addition of an angled flight deck and new radar systems, allowing her to operate modern jet aircraft. • Decommissioning and Fate: USS Hancock was decommissioned in 1976 after over 30 years of service and was sold for scrap in 1977, closing the chapter on a storied naval career.