Oriskany Museum and USS Oriskany Reunion Association
USS Oriskany CV-34
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USS Oriskany CV/CVA-34
1944-1952

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The following history of the ship was written and edited from several histories found in the Oriskany Museum. 

 

     On July 17, 1777, General Nicholas Herkimer issued a call to the Tryon County Militia of the Mohawk Valley NY, asking them to "march to oppose the enemy with vigor, as true patriots, for the defense of their country".  The call was answered, and on August 6, 1777, the strategic Battle of Oriskany was fought, which turned the tide of the Revolutionary War.  166 years later on August 7, 1943, Congress authorized the construction of the attack aricraft carrier USS Oriskany CV-34.  The keel of this essex-class carrier was laid in the Brooklyn Naval Shipyard on May 1, 1944.  The vessel was launched on Oct. 13, 1945.  However, WW II was over and Oriskany wasn't completed until the Korean War was in progress.   On Sept.25, 1950, Oriskany was commissioned at the Brooklyn Naval Shipyard and--in keeping with her heritage--was sent out "to oppose the enemy with vigor, as a true patriot, for the defense of (her) country".  The Korean conflict was at hand.  With Capt. Percy H. Lyon at the helm, Oriskany steamed to Guantanamo Bay for her shakedown cruise. 

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     Oriskany men got the ship off to an impressive beginning by setting an all-time record in gunnery marksmanship.  Oriskany returned to her home port of Quonset Point RI before deploying on a five-month Meditteranean cruise in May 1951.  Upon completion of the cruise, Oriskany entered the Brooklyn Naval Shipyard in Nov. 1951 and was placed in inactive status for a flight deck renovation.  On her recommissioning in May 1952, Oriskany returned to active duty with a new bridge, flight deck and automatic steering system.  Oriskany became the first aircraft carrier to round Cape Horn, June 29, 1952, while enroute to San Diego CA, the ship's new home port.

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