In God We Trust
On January 22, 1953, an aviation boatswain's mate on this ship was mortally wounded when an F0F aircraft discharged one round of 20mm ammunition upon making a normal landing on the ship. The boatswain's mate was a plane director on the flight deck when he was hit by that round.
On January 29, 1953, this carrier lost an AD-4N Skyraider night bomber with Detachment F, Composite Squadron 35 during a night heckler mission after the pilot reported that he was lost. He was listed as Missing in Action and was presumed dead on June 14, 1954. His remains were not recovered.
On February 06, 1953, this ship's whaleboat was damaged after being hit by a shore battery at Hwa-do, North Korea. There were two wounded.
On February 08, 1953, an AD-4 Skyraider dive bomber with Attack Squadron 145 (702) aboard this carrier, while on a "Cherokee" mission, was hit by anti-aircraft fire and crashed approximately 20 miles north of Hwachon Reservoir, North Korea. The pilot was presumed dead June 14, 1954.
On February 16, 1953, an F9F-2 Pantherjet fighter with Fighter Squadron 93, aboard this aircraft carrier, while attacking bridges and interdicting railways, was struck by anti-aircraft fire and crashed into the water. The pilot was listed as Missing in Action.
On March 04, 1953, Lieutenant Junior Grade Howard Davenport Jr. was the pilot of an AD-4 Skyraider dive bomber with Fighter Squadron 54, aboard the aircraft carrier USS Valley Forge (CVA-45). While on a combat mission northwest of Wonsan, North Korea that day, his aircraft was struck by anti-aircraft fire and set on fire. He tried to land on an air strip but lost control and crashed into the sea at high speed two miles southwest of Yo-do, North Korea. His remains were not recovered.
On March 07, 1953, this ship was involved in enemy action when a seaman was declared missing.
On March 09, 1953, an F9F-5 Pantherjet fighter with Fighter Squadron 51, aboard this aircraft carrier, while on a combat mission of bombing enemy targets south of Wonsan, North Korea, was struck by anti-aircraft fire and crashed. The pilot's remains were not recovered.
On March 16, 1953, this ship had minor damage from one hit after receiving 60 rounds at a range of 5,400-10,000 yards while at Pkg 2, There were two casualties.
On March 17, 1953, this ship had slight damage from one hit after receiving 45 rounds at a range of 6,400-10,000 yards, There was one casualty.
On March 22, 1953, an F9F-5 Pantherjet fighter with Fighter Squadron 122 (783) aboard this carrier dove into the ocean, exploding upon contact after catapulting from the carrier on a combat mission. The pilot was listed as Missing in Action. His remains were not recovered.
On March 27, 1953, this ship received slight damage from one hit after receiving 40 rounds of 105 mm at Wonsan, North Korea. There were no casualties.
On April 02, 1953, this ship had minor damage after one hit from a shore battery at Wonsan, North Korea, 13 casualtie.
On April 13, 1953, an F9F-5 Pantherjet fighter with Fighter Squadron 122 (783) aboard this carrier, experienced a flame out while returning from a photographic escort mission and crashed into the sea.
On April 16, 1953, this ship received slight damage from 1-76 mm hit after receiving 209 rounds of heavy fire from a shore battery at Wonsan, North Korea. There were three casualties. The KWE has found the names of two of them. Wounded in action was Ernest W. "Wally" Erickson, seriously wounded in the leg and stomach but returned to duty on the Maddox after treatment. Wally died in April 1959, with his death attributed to the fact that not all the shrapnel from this accident was removed from his body.
On April 19, 1953, this ship received slight damage from one hit after receiving 60 rounds of 155 mm at a range of 8,000-12,000 yards from a shore battery near Wonsan, North Korea. There were nine casualties.
On April 23, 1953, while on a reconnaissance mission south of Tanchon, North Korea, an F9F-5 Pantherjet fighter with Fighter Squadron 154 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Princeton (CVA-37) was struck by anti-aircraft fire an crashed into the side of a mountain.
On April 27, 1953, this ship suffered an explosion in the boiler room. The explosion was caused by a failure of the boiler tubing while the 27,000-ton carrier was on a shakedown cruise off the southeastern part of Cuba. There were eleven killed and seven wounded.
Harold E. Latimer, Seaman - LeClair, Iowa
Jerry G. Caldwell, Boilerman 3Rd Class - Seattle, Washington
Donald A. Becker, Boilerman/Fireman - Lesueue, Minnesota
Arthur Van Teymbroeck, Seaman Apprentice - Milpon, Florida
James L. Craig, Commissaryman 3rd Class - Waukegan, Illinois
Edward Leroy Miller, Aviation Storekeeper - Syracuse, New York
Wallace MacGreer, Seaman - East Gadsden, Alabama
On April 28, 1953, an F9F-5 Pantherjet fighter aircraft with Fighter Squadron 154 aboard this carrier was struck by anti-aircraft fire while on a combat mission over Hodo Pan-do, Korea. The aircraft exploded, crashed and burst into flames. The pilot's remains were not recovered.
On May 02, 1953, this ship had moderate damage from a hit from a shore battery at Hodo Pando, North Korea. The ship received 186 rounds of 105 mm and several near misses from four guns. There were no casualties.
On May 02, 1953, this ship had minor damage from a hit from a shore battery at Hodo Pando, North Korea. The ship received 100 rounds of 105 mm with one near miss and several straddles from four guns. There were no casualties.
On May 05, 1953, this ship had superficial damage after 1 near miss from a shore battery at Wonsan, North Korea. The ship received 18 rounds of 76 mm - 135 mm. There were two minor casualties.
On May 08, 1953, this ship had superficial damage from one hit from a shore battery at Wonsan, North Korea. The ship received 60 rounds of 90 mm. There were no casualties.
On May 12, 1953, In the vicinity of Soho-ri, this ship was fired upon by four rounds of estimated 105 mm. No damage or casualties were experienced.
On May 12, 1953, a target drone hit the USS Wright while it was on a training cruise off Key West, Florida. The Wright was en route to the Gulf of Mexico at the time. Three were killed and four were injured. The drone plane had been hit by anti-aircraft fire at 1500 feet and again at 600 feet, causing it to go out of control.
On May 13, 1953, a Boatswain's Mate Third Class was the lookout supervisor aboard the carrier when, as he was proceeding forward to Flight Deck to inspect the starboard lookout station, he slipped and fell over the ship's bow.
On May 13, 1953, an F9F-5 Pantherjet fighter with Fighter Squadron 153 aboard this aircraft carrier, while on a reconnaissance mission south of Wonsan, North Korea, was struck by anti-aircraft fire. The pilot successfully ejected but became entangled in the parachute shrouds and drowned in Wonsan Harbor.
On May 15, 1953, this ship received minor damage after one hit from a shore battery at Wonsan, North Korea. The ship received 20 rounds of 76 mm. There were four serious and five minor casualties.
On May 20, 1953, a chief commissaryman onboard this ship was killed in action while engaged with the enemy.
On May 29, 1953, this ship received superficial damage from one hit from a shore battery at Yang-do, North Korea. The ship received 30 rounds of 76 mm. One direct hit on Swift's acoustic boom resulted in minor damage and one minor personnel casualty.
On June 04, 1953, this ship received minor damage after two hits from a shore battery at Walsa-ri, North Korea. The ship received 30 rounds of 76 mm. There were five casualties.
On June 11, 1953, this ship received superficial damage after one hit from a shore battery at Wonsan, North Korea. The ship received 35 rounds of 76 mm with several air bursts. There were no casualties.
On June 17, 1953, this ship received superficial damage after being hit by a shore battery at Wonsan, North Korea.
On June 18, 1953, this ship received minor damage (a three-foot hole in the main deck) from one hit after receiving 90 rounds near Wonsan, North Korea. There were five casualties.
On June 18, 1953, this ship received moderate damage from five hits after receiving 45 rounds of 76-155 mm, at 7,500 yards, near Wonsan, North Korea. There were nine casualties.
On June 25, 1953, this ship received slight damage from two hits and shrapnel from five near misses after receiving 150 rounds of 76-90 mm, at 6,000 to 11,000 yards, near Songjin, North Korea. Damage included a hole four by three feet in the radio room after bulkhead and many shrapnel holes in the superstructure. Three minor personnel casualties occurred.
On June 30, 1953, this ship received superficial damage after near misses during a 30 minute gun duel with a shore battery at Wonsan, North Korea. There were no casualties.
On July 02, 1953, the pilot of a Douglas F3D-2 Skynight fighter aboard this ship was on patrol 12 miles north of Cho-do Island when he and his plane were lost.
On July 07, 1953, this ship received minor shrapnel damage after near misses from 150 rounds of 107 mm from a shore battery at Hodo Pando, North Korea.
On July 08, 1953, this ship received minor damage after 80 rounds of 76 mm air bursts close aboard from a shore battery at Pkg 2. USS Irwin (DD 794) received a shrapnel explosion in the vicinity of her mainmast rupturing all electrical and electronic cables on the mast, and seriously wounding the DesRon 24 squadron commander. Four other personnel suffered minor wounds. Enemy fired 80 rounds of estimated 76mm in scoring the one hit.
On July 09, 1953, an F4U-4 Corsair fighter with the Marine Fighter Squadron 332, Marine Air Group 12 aboard this aircraft carrier was strafing enemy troops in a village northwest of Changyon, North Korea, when the aircraft was hit by small arms fire and crashed. The pilot's remains were not recovered.
On July 11, 1953, this ship received severe underwater damage after one 76-90 mm hit from a shore battery at Wonsan, North Korea. There were no casualties, but a three-inch antiaircraft mount was damaged.
On July 14, 1953, radio contact was lost with an AD-4N Skyraider night dive bomber with Composite Squadron 35 aboard this aircraft. The pilot was presumed dead on September 1, 1954.
On July 20, 1953, an F9F-5 Pantherjet fighter with Fighter Squadron 153 aboard this aircraft carrier, while on a combat mission, was struck by anti-aircraft fire and crashed into a hillside. The pilot's remains were not recovered.
On July 26, 1953, while on a combat mission, an F9F-2 Pantherjet fighter with Fighter Squadron 151 aboard this carrier crashed forward of the ship. The pilot's remains were not recovered.
On July 26, 1953, the pilot of an F2H-2 Banshee fighter with Fighter Squadron 22 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Lake Champlain (CV-39), after striking Hoeryong Air Field, North Korea, failed to rendezvous with his flight. He was presumed dead on August 20, 1954.
On July 26, 1953, an F4U-4 Corsair fighter with Fighter Squadron 152 aboard the USS Princeton (CV-37), while on a reconnaissance mission over enemy territory, was shot down by anti-aircraft fire.
On September 02, 1953, 40 trainees with the 406th Engineer Training Brigade at Fort Bragg, North Carolina were given a demonstration ride aboard an engineer pontoon raft on nearby Smith Lake. The raft was actually two pontoons tied together. The raft overturned when the men moved to one side of the raft as it took on water after hitting a large wave. Twenty trainees, many of whom could not swim, drowned. For greater detail about this training accident, click here.
On 16 October 1953, at 1515, while still under conversion to an antisubmarine carrier, Leyte suffered an explosion in her port catapult machinery room. Within minutes naval base and city fire trucks were on the scene. After a hard and gallant fight, the fire was extinguished at 19:57. As a result of the fire, 37 men died and 28 were injured. For further information and the list of fatalities, click here.