In mid-January 1948, Valley Forge, flagship of Task Force 38, got underway for Australia, where she participated in exercises with local naval forces. She then proceeded to Hong Kong and Tsingtao where orders arrived to return home the "long way". During the next part of the emerging round-the-World cruise, she visited Manila, Singapore, Ceylon, Saudi Arabia and operated in the Persian Gulf. Valley Forge and her escorts transited the Suez Canal to made port calls in the Mediterranean and the Eastern Atlantic before steaming back to San Diego by way of the Panama Canal.
This page features images of USS Valley Forge's 1948 World cruise.
For additional images of Valley Forge's late 1940s
activities, and links to other views taken during this time, see:
For additional views related to USS Valley Forge,
see:
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 96950 USS Valley Forge (CV-45) The Sydney Harbor Bridge comes into view as the carrier approaches Sydney, Australia, first port of call on a training and good will cruise in Pacific waters, circa January-March 1948. Valley Forge was flagship of Rear Admiral H.M. Martin, Commander, Task Force 38. Planes on deck include F8F "Bearcat" fighters and TBM "Avenger" bombers. In the left background are two Royal Australian Navy cruisers. HMAS Australia is at the far left. HMAS Shropshire is beyond and somewhat further to the right. Photo was released for publication on 27 March 1948. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 91KB; 740 x 610 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 96932 USS Valley Forge (CV-45) Gets up steam as she prepares to leave Trincomalee, Ceylon, after a two-day visit by U.S. Task Force 38, circa April 1948. The British heavy cruiser Norfolk is in the right background, and a Royal Navy light cruiser is partially visible at left. Photograph was released for publication on 24 April 1948. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 86KB; 740 x 620 pixels |
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Photo #: 80-G-705546 USS Rendova (CVE-114) Entering Gibraltar harbor in April 1948, with a deckload of aircraft, including AT-6 training planes to be delivered to the Turkish Air Force. Photographed from USS Valley Forge (CV-45), which was then on her 'round the World cruise. Note Grumman F8F "Bearcat" fighters in the foreground. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 97KB; 740 x 600 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-705399 USS Valley Forge (CV-45) Four F8F "Bearcat" fighters fly past the ship, 28 April 1948. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 115KB; 740 x 605 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: NH 95363 USS Valley Forge (CV-45) Steams past Gibraltar in May 1948. Courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute, James C. Fahey Collection, 1984. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 102KB; 740 x 590 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 96933 USS Valley Forge (CV-45) At Gibraltar during her cruise around the World, circa May 1948. Photograph was released for publication on 19 May 1948. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 134KB; 740 x 600 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 96934 USS Valley Forge (CV-45) Steams out of Gibraltar harbor, en route to Bergen, Norway, during her cruise around the World, circa May 1948. Photograph was taken from one of the carrier's aircraft, which had been based ashore during her visit to Gibraltar. It was released for publication on 19 May 1948. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 138KB; 740 x 615 pixels |
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For additional images of Valley Forge's late 1940s
activities, and links to other views taken during this time, see:
For additional views related to USS Valley Forge,
see:
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Page made 13 September 1999
Coding updated 7 October 2001