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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- EVENTS -- The Korean War, 1950-1953 --

Aircraft Carrier Operations, 15 September - 25 November 1950 --
Overview and Selected Images

By mid-September 1950, three U.S. Navy Essex-class aircraft carriers were available for Korean War operations: Valley Forge (CV-45), which had been on station from the beginning of the conflict; Philippine Sea (CV-47), present since the end of the War's first month; and Boxer (CV-21), which had just arrived. Valley Forge and Philippine Sea each carried two squadrons of F9F "Panther" jet fighters and two of propeller-driven F4U "Corsair" fighter bombers, plus a squadron of the heavier AD "Skyraider" attack planes. Boxer had an all-propeller air group: four squadrons of F4Us and one of ADs.

Also present was one British carrier, HMS Triumph, with two squadrons of propeller-driven planes, plus the U.S. escort carriers Badoeng Strait (CVE-116) and Sicily (CVE-118), each providing a base for Marine Corps' F4Us, specialists in close-air support for ground forces.

During September, the carriers generally operated off western Korea, supporting the Inchon operation and the liberation of Seoul. Next month, they went to the Sea of Japan as the focus shifted to Wonsan and points north. Thereafter, the Essex class carriers of Task Force 77 tended to stay off eastern Korea, where there was more sea room.

In October, USS Leyte (CV-32) arrived from the Atlantic Fleet, briefly giving the U.N. command four large carriers, but Boxer, which badly needed an overhaul, left a few weeks later. HMS Theseus came out to relieve Triumph. With the ground situation in Korea seemingly well in hand by mid-November, USS Sicily reverted to her normal anti-submarine support role and "old-timer" Valley Forge departed for the U.S., leaving Task Force 77 with just Philippine Sea and Leyte.

At the time, the reduced force seemed adequate. The North Korean army's near-demise greatly reduced close-air support requirements and, with U.N. forces controlling much of North Korea, there were fewer infrastructure and transportation targets available. However, the threat of Chinese intervention, though not taken seriously enough, provoked a major air attack effort against bridges over the western Yalu River. Ominously, swept-wing MiG-15 jet fighters (nominally Chinese, but actually flown by Soviet pilots) were appearing over the Korean-Manchurian border region, planes whose performance outclassed the Navy's F9F and the Air Force's F-80 jets. If handled effectively, the MiGs had the potential to make life very difficult indeed for the much slower propeller-driven planes. Adding to potential difficulties, the weather was turning wintery, bringing heavy seas, snow and ice to interfere with flight operations.

This page features a special image selection on aircraft carrier operations during the U.N. offensive period of the Korean War, from 15 September to 25 November 1950, and provides links to additional pictorial coverage.

For broader coverage of carrier operations during this period, see:

  • Carrier Air Strikes, 15 September - 25 November 1950;
  • Navy Planes in action with MiG-15s, November 1950;
  • Miscellaneous Carrier Flight Deck Activities, 15 September - 25 November 1950;
  • Carrier Planes Ready for Launching, 15 September - 25 November 1950;
  • Launching Carrier Planes, 15 September - 25 November 1950;
  • Carrier Planes in Flight, 15 September - 25 November 1950;
  • Landing Carrier Planes, 15 September - 25 November 1950;
  • Carrier Helicopter Operations, 15 September - 25 November 1950;
  • Snow and Ice on Aircraft Carriers, 15 September - 25 November 1950;

    For visual coverage of other aspects of the September-November United Nations' offensive in Korea, see:

  • The UN Offensive, 15 September -- 25 November 1950

    For a precis of our Korean War images, and links to more comprehensive pictorial coverage of that conflict, see:

  • The Korean War, June 1950 - July 1953 -- Introductory Overview and Special Image Selection.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions.

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

    Photo #: 80-G-420925

    USS Philippine Sea (CV-47)


    A Grumman F9F-2 "Panther" of Fighter Squadron 111 (VF-111) being moved by a flight deck tractor, during operations off Korea, circa 19 October 1950.
    Other planes parked near by are Vought F4U-4B "Corsairs".

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 110KB; 740 x 605 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-420932

    Vought F4U-4B "Corsair",

    of Fighter Squadron 113 (VF-113)

    Taxies forward on the flight deck of USS Philippine Sea (CV-47), just before taking off to attack North Korean targets, circa 19 October 1950.
    Note small bombs on the plane's wings and flight deck crewman signalling to the pilot.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 88KB; 740 x 610 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-419929

    U.S. Marine Corps F4U-4B "Corsair" fighter-bomber


    Receives final checks to its armament of bombs and 5-inch rockets, just prior to being catapulted from USS Sicily (CVE-118) for a strike on enemy forces in Korea.
    The original photograph is dated 16 November 1950, but was probably taken in August-October 1950.
    Note battered paint on this aircraft.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 90KB; 740 x 605 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: NH 97076

    Inchon, Korea


    A Vought F4U-4B "Corsair", of Fighter Squadron 113 (VF-113) from USS Philippine Sea (CV-47), flys combat air patrol over U.S. warships and U.N. shipping in Inchon anchorage, South Korea, 2 October 1950.
    Wolmi-Do island is in the right center distance, with Inchon city beyond to the right. USS Missouri (BB-63) is immediately below the "Corsair". Among the other ships present are troop transports (AP), amphibious ships (AGC, APA, APD and LST), a hospital ship (AH) and many merchant cargo vessels.

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

    Online Image: 55KB; 740 x 375 pixels

     
    Photo #: 80-G-420942

    Vought F4U-4B "Corsair",

    of Fighter Squadron 114 (VF-114)

    Returns to USS Philippine Sea (CV-47) following a strike on North Korean targets, circa 19 October 1950.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 63KB; 740 x 625 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-422341

    USS Philippine Sea (CV-47)


    Crewmen Gerald F. Quay (AMM3c) and Warren E. McKee (PH2c) check braces on a napalm tank, during a snowstorm off North Korea, 17 November 1950. The weapon is mounted on the port wing of a Douglas AD "Skyraider" parked on the carrier's flight deck.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 142KB; 740 x 615 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-439869

    USS Philippine Sea (CV-47)


    Flight deck scene, looking aft from the island, as the carrier is enveloped in a snowstorm off the Korean coast, 15 November 1950.
    Planes on deck include Vought F4U-4B "Corsair" fighters and Douglas AD "Skyraider" attack planes.
    Note men on deck, apparently tossing snowballs, and what may be a toppled snowman just in front of the midships elevator.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 111KB; 740 x 610 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     


    For broader coverage of carrier operations during the September - November U.N. offensive, see:

  • Carrier Air Strikes, 15 September - 25 November 1950;
  • Navy Planes in action with MiG-15s, November 1950;
  • Miscellaneous Carrier Flight Deck Activities, 15 September - 25 November 1950;
  • Carrier Planes Ready for Launching, 15 September - 25 November 1950;
  • Launching Carrier Planes, 15 September - 25 November 1950;
  • Carrier Planes in Flight, 15 September - 25 November 1950;
  • Landing Carrier Planes, 15 September - 25 November 1950;
  • Carrier Helicopter Operations, 15 September - 25 November 1950;
  • Snow and Ice on Aircraft Carriers, 15 September - 25 November 1950;

    For visual coverage of other aspects of the September-November United Nations' offensive in Korea, see:

  • The UN Offensive, 15 September -- 25 November 1950

    For a precis of our Korean War images, and links to more comprehensive pictorial coverage of that conflict, see:

  • The Korean War, June 1950 - July 1953 -- Introductory Overview and Special Image Selection.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions.


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Link added 19 December 1999