History of Ship Page 3

Oriskany Museum and USS Oriskany Reunion Association

USS Oriskany CV/CVA-34

1967-1974

After 3 days of combat flying, Oriskany's embarked Attack Carrier Air Wing 16 launched a major strike against the heavily defended CoTrai railroad/highway bridge. Thus the pace was set and never slackened. Oriskany's 1967 WestPac cruise was to be one of the most spectacular yet in her 17 years of commissioned service. Her pilots flew 9,552 combat/combat-supported missions, expending

some 7,500 tons of ordnance on enemy targets. Probably

most significant was the fact that Oriskany's aircraft flew

an unprecedented 181 air strikes in the high-threat

northeast section of

North Vietnam

which includes the

cities of Hanoi and Haiphong.

During the 7 months of combat operations, Oriskany pilots made over 11,000 catapult launchings, burned over 11 million gallons of jet fuel and 974,000 gallons of aviation gasoline. The list of achievements was notable. Oriskany pilots participated in the first air raids of the

Vietnam

was against such key targets as Haiphong's Lach Tray Shipyard, the Cam Pha port facilities and the Phuc Yen MIG Base north of Hanoi. Oriskany's jets were also the first to drop a major bridge in the center of Haiphong, the Highway Bridge (SSE), a 3-span concrete and steel structure. One of Oriskany's F8 jet interceptors, piloted by Lt. Dick Wyman of Kittery ME, made headlines in Dec. by downing an enemy MIG 17 in a furious dogfight that took place over 70 miles of North Vitenam. The 15-minute chase, termed one of the longest serial engagements in the history of the Vietnam war by many pilots, ended when Wyman fired an air-to-air missile that sent the MIG cartwheeling into a rice paddy where it exploded and burned. When the aircraft carrier Forrestal (CVA-59) had a major shipboard fire in the Tonkin Gulf on July 29, 1967, Oriskany was one of the first on the scene with assistance. Her experienced medical personnel were "heloed" aboard the stricken ship even as the fire raged out of control. Meanwhile, aboard Oriskany, men swiftly broke out their fire-fighting gear and loaded it onto helicopters waiting to be sent to the Forrestal. Dead and injured were brought aboard and cared for in Oriskany's sickbay prior to transfer to other hospital facilities including the hospital ship Repose.

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Oriskany pilots were well-rewarded for their efforts during their latest combat deployment. Among the rewards won by Mighty O pilots: 4 Navy Crosses, 6 Silver Stars, 2 Legions of Merit, 96 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 6 Bronze Stars, 146 Air Medals, 192 Navy Commendation Medals, 127 Navy Achievement Medals, 10 Purple Hearts, 65 CINCPACFLT Letters of Commendation and 77 COMSEVENTHFLT Letters of Commendation. In addition, 832 Air Medals were recommended and approved under the Strike/Flight system. The ship was also twice awarded the Navy Unit Commendation. On Jan. 12, 1968, Oriskany left Yankee Station and headed out of the Tonkin Gulf toward the Philippines for one last stop before proceeding east toward CA. She entered her home port of Alameda on the morning of Jan. 31 and thus finished her ninth WestPac deployment. On Feb. 8, 1968, Oriskany again entered the San Francisco Bay Naval Shipyard, Hunters Point, to commence a nine-month period of maintenance and overhaul. She emerged in Nov. after extensive repairs which enabled her to operate off Vietnam for 4 more combat cruises. While the Oriskany was completing the final phase of overhaul she was adopted by the City of Oakland City Council, Oct. 24, 1968. The Mighty O began her 11th cruise April 16, 1969. On board was Carrier Air Wing 19 with VF-191 and VF-194 in F-8J Crusaders, VA-23 and VA-195 in A-4E Skyhawks, VA-192 in A-4F Skyhawks, VAW-111 in E-18 Tracers, VAQ-130 in EKA-3B Skywarriors and VFP-63 in RF-8G photo Crusaders. In Nov. the ship returned after 7 months.

On May 14, 1970, Oriskany left Alameda for Yankee Station. She began her 12th cruise and 5th combat tour. Air Wing 19 took on a new look for this trip with the 3 Skyhawk squadrons being replaced by two A-7A Corsair II squadrons: VA-153 and VA-155. The air wing expended 5,850 tons of ordnance, landed 7,838 aircraft, and the ship turned 20 years old on this 7-month cruise that ended Dec. 10, 1970. After a bare 5 months in the States at the San Francisco Naval Shipyard, Oriskany began her 13th cruise on May 14, 1971. Aboard again was Air Wing 19 but this time with a third A-7 squadron: VA-215. The ship returned to Alameda Dec. 18, 1971, and was awarded the Commander Naval Air Pacific Battle Efficiency "E" for this combat deployment. The ship's 14th deployment began June 5, 1972. The ship departed Alameda once again after a 5-month turnaround at the San Francisco Naval Shipyard. This was her 7th and final Vietnam combat cruise. During this 10-month deployment the ship was on Yankee Station for the heavy air raids of Dec. and for the end of the war. The last USS Oriskany mission was flown Jan. 27, 1973, by Commander Denis R. Weichman of VA-153. It was his 612th mission of the war--more than any other US Naval aviator. The cruise was marked by several unfortunate accidents beginning with a night collision with the USS Nitro (AE-23). Although no one was injured there was minor damage to both ships. Later, in 2 uncommon accidents, giant screws broke from their shafts and sunk to watery resting places. Both times the ship went into drydock at Yokosuka, Japan, for repairs. Oriskany finished the cruise without further mishap and returned to Alameda in late March of 1973. With the Vietnam War over, the ship spent almost 6 months at home before deploying again Oct. 18, 1973. With Air Wing 19 embarked, the ship transited Subic Bay, Philippines, and in late Nov. 1973 began a 2-month trip into the Indian Ocean where she relieved her sister ship the USS Hancock (CVA-19). After spending Christmas 1973 in Membasa, Kenya, the Mighty O returned to Subic Bay. This cruise was Oriskany's first peacetime deployment in 10 years. She returned to Alameda June 5, 1974.

July found the Oriskany in the Long Beach Naval Shipyard for an extended Selected Repair Availability period. The ship was converted to burn Navy Distillate fuel, the four shafts and screws were removed and repaired, and numerous other repairs were made while Oriskany was in drydock for five months.

The ship departed Long Beach in April 1975 and returned to Alameda where she started refresher training in May. In July the ship sailed to Hawaii for three weeks of exercises during the "pineapple cruise".

Oriskany began her last cruise on September 16, 1975. It was her 16th deployment, the 15th to Westpac. Significantly she celebrated her silver anniversary during the second week of the cruise, marking 25 years of service. She also recorded her 200,000th arrested landing during the deployment.

The ship stopped in Hawaii for five days on the transit to Subic Bay. The "Mighty O" arrived in Subic on October 14, 1975. She participated in many exercises and operations but found time to visit Hong Kong in November and be in Subic for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years.

January brought rumors of a shortened cruise and an unsuccessful attempt to revisit Hong Kong when heavy weather caused minor damage to the ship.

Spending the last two inport periods in Subic Bay, Oriskany departed for Alameda on February 12, 1976. As if she knew what was awaiting her upon arrival in the States, the "Mighty O" was slowed time and time again by heavy weather. She almost seemed to want to stay at sea and avoid decommissioning.

The last cruise of an Essex class carrier ended on March 3, 1976, with the Oriskany's arrival in Alameda. She was born in the fury of war in 1944 and retired to peace in 1976.

When the Oriskany relieved her sister ship Hancock on her last cruise, there was left only one operational Essex class attack aircraft carrier.

In September 1976, Oriskany headed to Bremerton, Washington, to be decommissioned. She was stricken from the Naval Vessel Registrar in 1989. In 1994 she was sold for scrapping, and in May 1996 was towed to Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, California. After a prolonged effort, the contractor defaulted and Oriskany was repossessed by the Navy in 1997.

Oriskany was later transferred to the Beaumont Reserve Fleet, Beaumont Texas from Mare Island. It was determined that the journey would take the ship around Cape Horn, being towed by Crowley Marine Service. In August 1999, the Oriskany arrived in Beaumont, Texas where it was harbored in Port Neches River.

In 2003 the Navy decided to use Oriskany to construct an artificial reef, and she was moved from Beaumont to Corpus Christi, Texas for final preparation. As of this writing, she is on her way to Pensacola, Florida, awaiting her sinking in June 2005. She will be scuttled as a haven for plant and marine life, and will continue to serve her country forever!