The versatile carrier that supported the Apollo 7 space mission

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: From the intense carrier battles of the Pacific to the secretive skies of the Bay of Pigs, the USS Essex lived many lives. This Essex-class lead ship was not just a wartime workhorse, but a modernized platform that bridged the gap between WWII combat and the dawn of the space age.

Commissioned in December 1942, the USS Essex (CV-9) served as the lead ship of the 24-ship Essex class. During World War II, she was a central figure in the Pacific Theater, earning 13 battle stars and a Presidential Unit Citation. Her combat history included significant operations such as the Battle of Tarawa, the Battle of Leyte Gulf, and the final raids against the Japanese home islands in 1945.

The ship's career was defined by its adaptability. Following her post-war decommissioning, she underwent modernisation before returning to service during the early 1950s. During this second career, she transitioned from an attack carrier (CVA) to an antisubmarine aircraft carrier (CVS). While operating in the Atlantic and during the Korean War, she became the inaugural carrier to deploy F2H Banshees for combat.

In addition to conventional combat, the Essex assisted during the Cuban Missile Crisis and acted as the main recovery vessel for Apollo 7. Her versatility was even demonstrated during the Bay of Pigs Invasion, where she provided air support for CIA-sponsored bombers—a mission that was kept secret from her own crew at the time. She was finally sold for scrap on 1 June 1973.

The ship's long service included extreme conditions, from weathering typhoons in the Pacific to navigating the Elbe River, where she nearly ran aground during a visit to Hamburg. Her longevity allowed her to witness the evolution of naval aviation from the propeller era to the jet age.

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