1958-1959 Navy Military USS  Randolph CVA-15 Cruise Book Yearbook

 Yearbooks commemorating the crew of the USS  Randolph CVA-15. The books contain group portraits of military personnel, in addition to snapshots of activities on board and on land during the cruises  in 1958-1959.

Cruise books were souvenirs created by Navy crews documenting their deployments, and some were produced for ships during Mediterranean cruises. These books often feature photographs, ship organization charts, and lists of crew members.

Pages 136

The USS Randolph (CV/CVA/CVS-15) was an Essex-class aircraft carrier in the U.S. Navy. Commissioned in 1944, it served in World War II and beyond, with roles including attack carrier (CVA) and anti-submarine warfare carrier (CVS). It was named after Peyton Randolph, a Founding Father. 



Here's a more detailed look:
Key Characteristics:
  • Construction:
    Built by Newport News Shipbuilding, it was the 15th carrier ordered in the Essex class. 
  • Size:
    Over 888 feet long, weighing over 27,000 tons, with a flight deck spanning three football fields. 
  • Power:
    Equipped with four steam turbines producing 150,000 horsepower, enabling speeds exceeding 33 knots (38 mph). 
  • Aircraft Capacity:
    Designed to carry up to 90 aircraft. 
Service Highlights:
  • World War II: Participated in campaigns in the Pacific Theater, earning three battle stars. 
  • Post-WWII: Decommissioned, modernized, and recommissioned as an attack carrier (CVA) and later as an anti-submarine warfare carrier (CVS). 
  • NASA Recovery: Served as the primary recovery ship for astronaut Virgil Grissom during America's second manned space flight and for John Glenn's first orbital flight. 
  • Mediterranean Cruises: Deployed for six-month tours with the U.S. Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean. 
  • Cuban Missile Crisis: Operated in the Caribbean during the Cuban missile crisis. 
  • Deactivation: Deactivated in 1969 as part of a reduction in fiscal expenditures. 
Interesting Facts:
  • The USS Randolph was involved in an unusual accident in 1964 when the Number Three deck elevator tore loose during night operations, falling into the Atlantic with a plane and several crew members. 
  • It was one of the first US capital ships to enter combat after shakedown without returning to the yard for refitting.