A Brief History of the Yorktown

What if we told you we were going to a museum? What if we said that we were going on a boat this afternoon? Love both of those ideas? Well, then, have we got something to tell you about?

The attack on Pearl Harbor was one of the most horrific military attacks in United States history. Just six days prior on December 1st, 1941, the keel was laid down for the ship originally named the Bonhomme Richard.

During the Battle of Midway, a carrier named the Yorktown (C-5) was the only one lost during this conflict. But it’s legacy would be carried on by another craft.  The USS Bon Homme Richard was renamed on September 26th, 1942 as the Yorktown. Nicknamed “The Fighting Lady” and launched on January 21st, 1943, the USS Yorktown (CV-10) would finally be commissioned on April 15th, 1943.

An Essex-class ship and the tenth aircraft carrier to serve in the United States Navy, The USS Yorktown would be a major player in the Pacific Offensive during World War II in the fight against Japan eventually leading to their surrender in 1945. The Yorktown would accumulate eleven battle stars.

It was to be decommissioned on January 7th of 1947 only to be recommissioned on January 2nd, 1953 to fight in the Korean War. This wasn’t before being upgraded to an attack carrier. Then again, the Yorktown was transitioned into an antisubmarine carrier. Serving in the Pacific again during the Vietnam War from 1965 to 1967, the Yorktown earned five additional battle stars. 

But this ship was famous for other reasons as well. The documentary, “The Fighting Lady,” was titled after its nickname and even sections of Tora, Tora, Tora, which recreated the attack on Pearl Harbor, was filmed aboard-- not to mention the sci-fi film The Philadelphia Experiment (The less said about that movie, the better…).

After a successful and storied history during World War II and Vietnam, the Yorktown went the way of disco just a few years later. In 1970, the ship was decommissioned and placed in reserve. But… that wasn’t the end of the story.

1975 would see the aircraft carrier towed all the way from Bayonne, New Jersey to its new and more permanent home in Charleston, South Carolina to take the first steps towards its new lease on life. That new installation would open in 1976 as Patriot’s Point with the Yorktown being the centerpiece. The ship even became a National Landmark in 1986.

From protecting our great nation an aircraft carrier to educating the youth of America as a naval museum, the USS Yorktown (CV-10) stands – or floats – as a great achievement bridging the gap from the battles of yesteryear to the future we’re building together.

Ready to Lead, Ready to Follow, Never Quit.

~ Brandon L. Joyner