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Photo # USN 1043094:  USS Valley Forge steaming in formation with other ships of Task Group ALPHA, while the group's aircraft fly overhead, 1959

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

USS Valley Forge (CVS-45), 1946-1971 --
Operations with Task Group Alpha, 1958-1959

In April 1958, Valley Forge became flagship of antisubmarine warfare Task Group "Alpha", commanded by Rear Admiral John S. Thach. The carrier, her air group and her consorts -- several destroyers, two submarines and land-based P2V patrol planes -- worked over the next two years developing tactics to counter the rapidly approaching threat of fast, deep-diving nuclear-powered submarines.

This page features images of USS Valley Forge's operations with Task Group Alpha in 1958-59.


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 #: USN 1039147

    USS Valley Forge (CVS-45)


    Steaming in formation with Destroyer Squadron 36, during anti-submarine exercises of the Atlantic Fleet's Task Group ALFA, 6 November 1958. The destroyers are (from top):
    USS Basilone (DDE-824);
    USS Damato (DDE-871);
    USS Robert L. Wilson (DDE-847);
    USS Harold J. Ellison (DD-864);
    USS Holder (DDE-819) and
    USS New (DDE-818).

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

    Online Image: 124KB; 740 x 615 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-N-1039147.

     
    Photo #: USN 1039321

    USS Valley Forge (CVS-45)


    Steaming in formation with Destroyer Squadron 36, during anti-submarine exercises of the Atlantic Fleet's Task Group ALFA, 6 November 1958. The destroyers are (from top):
    USS Basilone (DDE-824);
    USS Damato (DDE-871);
    USS Robert L. Wilson (DDE-847);
    USS Harold J. Ellison (DD-864);
    USS Holder (DDE-819) and
    USS New (DDE-818).

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

    Online Image: 92KB; 740 x 610 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-N-1039321.

     
    Photo #: USN 1043094

    Task Group ALFA


    Formation portrait of the Atlantic Fleet anti-submarine group's ships and aircraft, taken during exercises in 1959 with Secretary of the Navy William B. Franke embarked.
    Ships include the group flagship, USS Valley Forge (CVS-45) in center, two submarines, and seven destroyers. Identifiable among the latter are USS Eaton (DDE-510) at left front, USS Beale (DDE-471) following Eaton, USS Waller (DDE-466) in the center foreground, and USS Conway (DDE-507) at right front. Aircraft overhead include two four-plane formations of S2F "Trackers" and three HSS-1 "Seabat" helicopters from the Valley Forge air group, plus one shore-based P2V "Neptune".

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

    Online Image: 87KB; 740 x 565 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-N-1043094.

     
    Photo #: USN 1043095

    Task Group ALFA


    Formation portrait of the anti-submarine group's ships and aircraft, taken during 1959 exercises in the Atlantic, while Secretary of the Navy William B. Franke was embarked.
    Ships include the group flagship, USS Valley Forge (CVS-45) in center, two submarines, and seven destroyers. Identifiable among the latter are USS Eaton (DDE-510) at left front, USS Beale (DDE-471) following Eaton, USS Waller (DDE-466) in the center foreground, and USS Conway (DDE-507) at right front.
    Aircraft overhead include two formations of S2F "Trackers" from the Valley Forge air group, plus one shore-based P2V "Neptune" from Norfolk Naval Air Station, Virginia. Two HSS-1 helicopters are flying low, directly over the submarines.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

    Online Image: 102KB; 740 x 615 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-N-1043095.

     
    Photo #: NH 96944

    USS Valley Forge (CVS-45)


    Steams in formation with other units of Task Force ALFA, during anti-submarine exercises in the Atlantic, 1959.
    The other ships present are (from left): USS Murray (DDE-576), USS Beale (DDE-471), USS Bache (DDE-470), USS Eaton (DDE-510), USS Conway (DDE-507), USS Cony (DDE-508) and USS Waller (DDE-466). Photograph was released for publication on 3 August 1959.

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

    Online Image: 110KB; 740 x 615 pixels

     
    Photo #: USN 1043955

    USS Valley Forge (CVS-45)


    Refueling from USS Pawcatuck (AO-108), 18 June 1959, during operations as flagship of the anti-submarine Task Group ALFA.
    USS Eaton (DDE-510) is also refueling, from the oiler's starboard side.
    Fourteen S2F anti-submarine planes and two HSS-1 helicopters are parked on the carrier's flight deck and deck-edge elevator.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

    Online Image: 122KB; 740 x 620 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-N-1043955.

     
    Photo #: NH 96939

    USS Valley Forge (CVS-45)


    Arrives at Halifax, Nova Scotia, with crewmen in formation spelling out "HELLO HALIFAX" on her flight deck, 10 July 1959.
    Valley Forge, flying the flag of Rear Admiral John S. Thach and commanded by Captain William M. McCormick, was accompanied by the rest of Task Force ALFA, including seven destroyers and two submarines. Altogether, about 4000 U.S. Navy sailors were in Halifax for the six-day visit.

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

    Online Image: 92KB; 740 x 610 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
    Captions corrected and coding updated 23 December 2005