USS Shangri-La, a 27,100-ton Ticonderoga class aircraft carrier, was built at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia. Commissioned in September 1944, she went to the Pacific early in 1945 to join the war against Japan. Her combat operations began in late April, with an attack on Okino Daito Jima, followed by strikes on Okinawa and the Japanese home islands over the next four months. During much of that time, she served as flagship of Task Forces 38 and 58. After Japan's surrender, Shangri-La remained in the western Pacific until October 1945. The carrier was active in 1946 and into 1947, participating in the Operation "Crossroads" atomic bomb tests and making a cruise to Australia. She was decommissioned in November 1947 and entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet.
Recommissioned in May 1951, Shangri-La served with the Atlantic Fleet until November 1952, when she decommissioned to receive a combined SCB-27C and SCB-125 modernization. She had been reclassified CVA-38 in October 1952, and, when the upgrade work was completed and she recommissioned in January 1955, the carrier featured a greatly changed appearance, with angled flight deck, enclosed bow, new island, steam catapults and many other improvements. Shangri-La spent the next five years with the Pacific Fleet, making several cruises with the Seventh Fleet in the Far East.
Shangri-La transferred to the Atlantic in March 1960, and began a series of deployments to the Mediterranean Sea early in the next year, alternating with Second Fleet service nearer to the U.S. She was reclassified CVS-38 in June 1969, in preparation a new anti-submarine warfare support role, but continued to carry an attack air group for her final overseas cruise. This voyage, beginning in March 1970, took Shangri-La through the south Atlantic and Indian Ocean to take part in Vietnam combat operations. Upon return to the U.S. east coast in December 1970, she began inactivation preparations, leading to a final decommissioning in July 1971 and lay up at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. USS Shangri-La was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register in July 1982 and sold for scrapping in August 1988.
This page features selected views of USS Shangri-La.
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 96051 USS Shangri-La (CV-38) Comes alongside USS Attu (CVE-102) to transfer personnel and supplies, 3 September 1945. Attu's cruise book claims that this was the first side-by-side underway replenishment by two aircraft carriers. Collection of Captain Hays R. Browning, USNR. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 87KB; 740 x 605 pixels |
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Photo #: 80-G-278827 USS Shangri-La (CV-38) Underway in the Pacific, with her crew paraded on the flight deck, 17 August 1946. Note use of the letter "Z" on the flight deck instead of her hull number ("38"). Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 117KB; 740 x 610 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: NH 75661 USS Shangri-La (CVA-38) At sea, launching F9F "Cougar" fighters, 10 January 1956. Note steam rising from her port catapult. Photographed by B.W. Kortge. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 111KB; 740 x 590 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 97589 USS Shangri-La (CVA-38) Underway at sea off Mayport, Florida, with Carrier Air Group Ten (CAG-10) embarked, August 1960. Aircraft parked on the forward flight deck include F8U and F4D fighters, A4D and AD attack planes. Photographed by PH1 R.A. Moulder. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 116KB; 595 x 765 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 71870 Vought F-8C "Crusader" jet fighter (Bureau # 146956, possibly after conversion to a F-8K) In flight over USS Shangri-La (CVA-38) in December 1968. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 51KB; 740 x 530 pixels |
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Photo #: K-81800 USS Shangri-La (CVS-38) Cruises toward Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, on 11 February 1970. Official U.S. Navy Photograph. Online Image: 87KB; 740 x 610 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-K-81800. Though reproductions of this photo from the Naval Historical Center's collections are available in black & white only, those from the National Archives should be available in color. |
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Photo #: 80-G-343854 Vice Admiral John S. McCain, Sr., Commander, Task Force 38, (left) with John L. Sullivan, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Air On board USS Shangri-La (CV-38), during Sullivan's visit to combat force in the western Pacific, July 1945. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 81KB; 740 x 585 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: NH 97590 USS Shangri-La (CVA-38) A crewman paints one of the carrier's hausepipes, while supporting himself on anchor chain, 4 May 1966. Photographed by PH2 Jack Weir. Note the position of this man's safety line, passing under his chin. This is not healthy! Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 126KB; 590 x 765 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 97591 USS Shangri-La (CVA-38) Friends and relatives crowd the gangways to welcome home their loved ones as the carrier returns to Mayport, Florida, following an eight month deployment with the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean. About 1600 people were waiting on the pier to greet the ship. Photograph dated 20 May (1967?). Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 130KB; 740 x 610 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 90350 USS Shangri-La (CVS-38) Lieutenant (Junior Grade) William Belden ejects from his Douglas A-4E "Skyhawk" attack aircraft (Bureau # 150117) as it rolls into the carrier's port catwalk after suffering a brake failure following recovery, 2 July 1970. LtJG Belden ejected safely and was rescued by Shangri-La's helicopter. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 87KB; 740 x 520 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 75633 USS Shangri-La (CV-38) Is christened by Mrs. James H. Doolittle, during launching ceremonies at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia, 24 February 1944. Rear Admiral Felix X. Gygax, the Navy Yard Commandant, is in the foreground, holding a microphone close to the sponsor's champagne bottle as it smashes into the new carrier's bow. Courtesy of James Russell. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 112KB; 740 x 590 pixels |
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If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Page made 17 April 2001
Link added 8 October 2001