USS YORKTOWN

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Branch

U.S. Navy

Members

About USS YORKTOWN

The USS Yorktown is the name borne by several distinguished ships in the United States Navy, most notably the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV-5) and its successor, USS Yorktown (CV-10). The first, CV-5, was commissioned in 1937 and played a pivotal role in the early Pacific battles of World War II before being sunk at the Battle of Midway in June 1942. Her successor, CV-10, was commissioned in 1943 and participated in numerous major operations in the Pacific Theater, including the Battle of the Philippine Sea and Okinawa. After World War II, CV-10 served in the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and as a recovery ship for the Apollo 8 mission before being decommissioned and preserved as a museum ship in Charleston, South Carolina.

Unit Members

Tommy Thompson

U.S. Navy

USS YORKTOWNView Profile

David Obryan

U.S. Navy

USS YORKTOWNView Profile

Photos

U.S. Marine Corps • 1966

50 Cal.

U.S. Marine Corps • 1969

Me and Mr. Smith

U.S. Marine Corps • 1968

U.S. Navy

About USS YORKTOWN

About this Unit

Historical Facts

• Namesake Legacy: Three notable US Navy ships have borne the name USS Yorktown, honoring the 1781 Revolutionary War victory at Yorktown, Virginia. • USS Yorktown (CV-5) at Midway: The aircraft carrier CV-5 played a pivotal role in the Battle of Midway (June 1942), helping turn the tide of war in the Pacific before being sunk by Japanese forces. • Rapid Repairs for Battle: After being damaged at the Battle of the Coral Sea, CV-5 underwent emergency repairs at Pearl Harbor in just 72 hours to sail in time for the Battle of Midway. • USS Yorktown (CV-10) "The Fighting Lady": Commissioned in 1943, CV-10 was an Essex-class carrier named in honor of her predecessor, CV-5, and earned the nickname "The Fighting Lady." • Decorated Service: CV-10 earned 11 battle stars for World War II service, participating in major campaigns such as the Marianas, Leyte Gulf, and Iwo Jima. • Apollo 8 Recovery: In December 1968, USS Yorktown (CV-10) recovered the Apollo 8 astronauts and their command module after the historic first manned orbit of the Moon. • Ghost Stories: The museum ship Yorktown in Charleston, South Carolina, is reputed to be haunted, with numerous reports of ghostly sightings and unexplained phenomena. • Submarine Killer: During her service, CV-10's aircraft were credited with sinking multiple Japanese submarines, underscoring her anti-submarine warfare prowess. • Hollywood Star: Yorktown (CV-10) appeared in the 1944 wartime documentary "The Fighting Lady," which won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. • A National Historic Landmark: Today, USS Yorktown (CV-10) is preserved as a museum at Patriots Point, Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, and serves as a memorial and educational center.