Carrier Aviation in the late 1950s- Talk About a Time Machine!
Here’s a treat for all you Med Cruise veterans and late-50s carrier aviation fans. The video features the Essex-class aircraft carrier USS Randolph (CVA-15) and Carrier Air Group FOUR (CVG-4). The film, titled “A Force for Peace,” was shot during the 1957-1958 timeframe. The film features everything from Spads, Banshees, Cougars, and Furies to Whales, Fords, and Regulus missiles. The video was uploaded to YouTube by Periscope Film. Enjoy, and stick around for the lineups after the video.
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Trading a Big Deck for a Small Deck
The Randolph relieved the Forrestal-class aircraft carrier USS Forrestal (CVA-59) during July 0f 1957. Aboard the Forrestal during her 1957 Med Cruise was CVG-1 consisting of VF-14 Tophatters flying the McDonnell F3H-2N Demon, VF-84 Vagabonds flying the North American FJ-3M Fury, VA-76 Spirits flying the Grumman F9F-8B Cougar, VA-15 Valions flying the Douglas AD-6 Skyraider, and VAH-1 Smokin’ Tigers flying the Douglas A3D-1 Skywarrior.
The Rest of Forrestal’s Air Wing
Also aboard Forrestal were Detachment 42 of VAW-12 Bats flying the Douglas AD-5W Skyraider, Detachment 42 of VA(AW)-33 Night Hawks flying the Douglas AD-5N Skyraider, Detachment 42 of VFP-62 Fighting Photos flying the McDonnell F2H-2P Banshee and the Douglas F3D-2T2 Skyknight, and Detachment 42 of HU-2 Fleet Angels flying the Piasecki HUP-2 Retriever.
Randolph Circa 1957
The Randolph’s 1957-1958 deployment with CVG-4 embarked began on 1 July 1957 and ended on 24 February 1958. With CVG-4 for this deployment were VF-22 Cavaliers flying the McDonnell F2H-4 Banshee (tail code AD), VF-173 Jesters flying the North American FJ-3M Fury (tail code AD), VA-45 Black Knights flying the Douglas AD-6 Skyraider (tail code AD), and Detachment 36 of VAH-7 Go Devils flying the massive North American AJ-2 Savage (tail code GL).
Detachments
Also aboard the Randolph for this Med Cruise were Detachment 36 of VAW-12 Bats flying the Douglas AD-5W Skyraider (tail code GD), Detachment 36 of VA(AW)- 33 Night Hawks flying the Douglas AD-5N Skyraider (tail code GE), Detachment 36 of VFP-62 Fighting Photos flying the Grumman F9F-8P Cougar (tail code GA), Detachment 36 of GMGRU-2 Redtails flying the North American FJ-3D Fury, and Detachment 36 of HU-2 Fleet Angels flying the Piasecki HUP-2 Retriever. After the conclusion of this deployment VF-22 and VF-173 were disestablished. VA(AW)-33 was redesignated VAW-33 in 1959. CVG-4 was redesignated Reserve Carrier air Group FOUR (RCVW-4) after this deployment.
The Roosevelt Makes an Appearance
A VR-24 DET Lifting Eagles Grumman TF-1 Trader (tail code RD) makes a brief appearance in the film. Intermingled with the footage shot aboard the Randolph is some footage shot aboard the Midway-class carrier USS Franklin D Roosevelt (CV-42). In that footage are shots of CVG-17 aircraft (tail code AL). During the Roosevelt’s 1957-1958 Med Cruise CVG-17 consisted of VF-171 Aces flying the McDonnell F2H-3 Banshee, VF-74 Be-Devilers flying the Douglas F4D-1 Skyray, VAH-3 Sea Dragons flying the Douglas A3D Skywarrior, and VA-175 Devil’s Diplomats flying the Douglas AD-6 Skyraider.
More Roosevelt Air Wing Squadrons
Also aboard the Roosevelt in the Med at the time were Detachment 37 of VFP-62 Fighting Photos Flying the F2H-2P Banshee, Detachment 37 of VA(AW)-33 Knight Hawks flying the AD-5N Skyraider, Detachment 37 of VAW-12 Bats flying the AD-5W Skyraider, and Detachment 37 of HU-2 Fleet Angels flying the Piasecki HUP-2 Retriever. This was VAH-3’s last deployment before becoming a Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) for the A3D Skywarrior. VF-171 and VA-175 were disestablished after this deployment.
Flagships and Escorts
Also appearing in the film are the Des Moines-class heavy cruiser USS Salem (CA-139)- Sixth Fleet flagship, the Gearing-class destroyers USS Gearing (DD-710), USS Vogelgesang (DD-862), USS Harold J Ellison (DD-864), USS Dyess (DD-880), USS Bordelon (DD-881), and USS Furse (DD-882), along with the Fletcher-class destroyers USS Eaton (DD-510) and USS William D Porter (DD-579).
Randolph the Sub Hunter-Killer
After her 1957-1958 Med Cruise the Randolph went back to the Med as a CVA one more time with CVG-7 embarked. She was then redesignated an antisubmarine carrier (CVS-15) and deployed (again to the Med) several times with antisubmarine air groups CVSG-58 or CVSG-60 consisting primarily of Grumman S2F/S-2 Trackers, Grumman WF-2/E-1B Tracers, and Sikorsky HSS-2/SH-3 Sea King helicopters until her last deployment, which concluded on 1 September 1966.
