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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
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WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # NH 96956:  Damage to USS Valley Forge's flight deck, caused by heavy seas in the Atlantic, January 1959

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Valley Forge (CVS-45), 1946-1971 --
Storm Damage to Her Flight Deck, 1959

In early January 1959, while operating in the stormy North Atlantic, Valley Forge encountered heavy seas that broke over her forward flight deck, tearing away part of its port side. This was a dramatic example of the vulnerabilities of the "open bow" design typical of World War II aircraft carrier design, a problem solved by the enclosed "hurricane bow" fitted to carriers newly built or modernized during the mid-1950s and later. Valley Forge's damage was quickly repaired, using flight deck structure cannibalized from the decommissioned USS Franklin (CVS-13).

This page features images of storm damage to USS Valley Forge's flight deck in January 1959.

For further views of Valley Forge's activities in 1954-1960, and links to other views taken during this time, see:

  • USS Valley Forge -- Actions and Activities as an ASW carrier, 1954-1960

    For links to additional views related to USS Valley Forge, see:

  • USS Valley Forge (CV/CVA/CVS-45 and LPH-8) -- Selected Views.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: NH 96971

    USS Valley Forge (CVS-45)


    Damage to the ship's port forward flight deck, caused by heavy seas in the Atlantic.
    Photograph was taken 6 January 1959, looking forward. Note ship's hull number ("45") painted on the flight deck, with the left part of the "4" folded by the broken decking.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 113KB; 740 x 600 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 96956

    USS Valley Forge (CVS-45)


    Damage to the ship's port forward flight deck, caused by heavy seas in the Atlantic.
    Photograph was taken 8 January 1959.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 108KB; 740 x 550 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 96972

    USS Valley Forge (CVS-45)


    Forward port portion of the flight deck of USS Franklin (CVS-13) is hoisted into place on the Valley Forge, replacing part of the latter's flight deck that had been wrecked by heavy Atlantic Ocean seas.
    Photograph was taken 24 January 1959.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 110KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     

    For further views of Valley Forge's activities in 1954-1960, and links to other views taken during this time, see:

  • USS Valley Forge -- Actions and Activities as an ASW carrier, 1954-1960

    For links to additional views related to USS Valley Forge, see:

  • USS Valley Forge (CV/CVA/CVS-45 and LPH-8) -- Selected Views.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 14 September 1999
    Coding updated 7 October 2001