USS Ranger History

The history of the USS RANGER is a story of a proud lineage of vessels that have served this nation for more than 200 years. A legacy built and established by eight different ships, all of which proudly bore the name RANGER.

The first RANGER was built at Portsmouth, N.H. in 1777. The 18-gun Continental frigate harassed the British from the day of her commissioning, under the heroic hand of Captain John Paul Jones.

On her maiden voyage, RANGER sailed for France with a 140-man crew, displacing 308 tons. On Valentine's Day, 1778, RANGER and the ensign of a newly formed Unites States of America received a formal salute at-sea from the French flotilla. This was the first official act of international recognition for our new flag and government.

RANGER successfully encountered the formidable British men-of-war HMS DRAKE, carrying 20 guns, and HMS HOLDERNESS with 22 guns. In head-to-head confrontations RANGER sank both vessels. RANGER's second through sixth generations participated in campaigns from the War of 1812 through World War I.

The seventh RANGER, CV-4, introduced a new era in naval aviation in 1934, as the first United States ship to be designed and constructed as an aircraft carrier. She boasted an aircraft complement of 75, a crew of 2,300 and a 770-foot flight deck. CV-4 served in World War II as a deterrent against German shipping and resupply.

The current RANGER, CV-61, was commissioned August 10, 1957 at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry-dock Company in Newport News, Va. She displaces a hefty 81,000 tons and measures 1,071 feet in length.

In 1975, RANGER returned to the United States and a new homeport -- San Diego. In her peacetime role, RANGER deployed to the Western Pacific to maintain the balance of power and freedom of the seas.

On her WESTPAC '83-'84, RANGER assumed a station in the North Arabian Sea, and set a conventional carrier at-sea record of 121 consecutive days.

WESTPAC '87 commenced for RANGER as she set sail two months early in July following four months at-sea since January. The mission behind this deployment again brought RANGER and her crew to the troubled waters of the North Arabian Sea. The deployment gained worldwide attention as RANGER's air wing flew air support for the escort of reflagged Kuwaiti oil tankers through the Persian Gulf.

RANGER returned to San Diego on December 30, 1987, after spending nine out of 12 months in 1987 underway.

As RANGER prepared for her March 1988 Ship's Restricted Availability (SRA), her crew was informed that RANGER had won the 1987 Battle Efficiency Award. (Battle "E") This award earned RANGER top marks as the most battle ready carrier in the Pacific Fleet.

In August 1990, Iraq invaded and dismantled the country of Kuwait. On January 16, 1991, Captain Ernest E. Christensen, JR. addressed the crew of RANGER and told them that the President had ordered the U.S. Central Command to engage Iraq in hostilities. By the end of the war, RANGER's air wing's had flown more sorties than any other aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf War (10,542 flight hours). RANGER's air wing's dropped over 4,000,000 pounds of ordnance, destroyed over 100 Iraqi boats, shot down 1 helicopter and destroyed numerous tanks, armored personnel carriers, bridges and numerous soldiers of the Iraqi elite Republican Guard

Sadly, the USS RANGER was decommissioned in 1993 and is now in Bremerton Washington.

USS Ranger
An Operational History - 1954 to 1998
by Rudolf J. Friederich, Aircraft Carrier Study Group

With up dates thereafter by the WebChief

Spring 2003, Aircraft Carrier Study Group was disbanded. I wish to thank Rudy for his assistance and valued contribution, not only to us, but many others who love carriers as he does. We will miss you Rudy!

Date     Key                             Data
540802 A1 CVA-61, USS RANGER, Forrestal class (3 of 4)
540802 AA Built at Newport News SB & DD. Cost $181,600,000. Keel laid date
560929 AB Christened by Mrs. Arthur W. Radford, wife of Chrm., JCS
560929 CJ Named: 1777 sloop and CV-4 ,1st designed aircraft carrier
570810 AC Commissioned : Norfolk Naval Shipyard
570810 AI Ship's patch insignia in color, THE GOLD BOOK 1985
570810 BR NHKG, Ship signal flag and radio call sign issued by Navy
570810 CO New CO: Booth, Charles T. III. "Tommy". 1st CO. VADM
570810 DA Pawlowski, Garth L. FLAT-TOPS AND FLEDGLINGS, book, p363
570810 DN Nickname : TOP GUN
570810 PO Homeport : Norfolk to 20 June 58
571004 BO 571206 : Shakedown cruise, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba area
571014 GA 1st landing, TF-1 piloted by CAPT Charles T. Booth II. 1st cat same plane
571206 DO Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 1st foreign port call
580305 CO New CO: Buie, Paul E.
580620 FH 580820 : 1st cruise. Cape Horn. Norfolk to Alameda
580620 GC CVW-14 aboard. Tail code NK. CAG J.J. Davidson
580820 DB USS RANGER 1957 - 1958 CRUISE BOOK, (1st cruise book)
580820 DO Ports: Port of Spain, Rio., Callao, Valparaiso, Acapulco
580820 PO Homeport : Alameda to 1975
581110 CG Careless magazine explosion kills 2, off San Francisco
590103 FF 590727 : 1st WestPac cruise. Formosa straits, Japan visit
590103 GC CVG-14 embarked, Tail code NK
590502 DD Pres. Garcia of Philippines visits ship at Subic Bay
590523 CO New CO: Gaylor, Noel A.
590619 DD Imperial Japanese Family visit ship at Yokosuka
590705 EE China Extended Service Medal for Formosa Strait operation
590705 ND 590709 : Deploys off Formosa to thwart Chinese attack
590707 DA Hamilton,John. USS RANGER, 7 JULY 1959, PRO December 59
590727 DO Port calls: Hong Kong, Taipeh, Sasebo,Tokyo,Y'hama, Y'skska
600206 FF 600830 : 2nd WestPac cruise. 17,000 air wing flying hours
600206 GC CVG-9 embarked, Tail code NG
600600 DO 600700 : Port call: Hong Kong in June and July
600604 CO New CO: Gay, Jr. Donald
600624 EE Quemoy & Matsu, Armed Forces Expeditionary, June 24-25
610505 CO New CO: Leonard, William N. USNA ' 38
610811 FF 620308 : 3rd WestPac cruise
610811 GC CVG-9 embarked, Tail code NG
620507 CO New CO: Duncan, George C. USNA ' 39
621000 DM STORY OF A CARRIER PILOT sequences filmed. See Oct 19 62
621019 GA Late catapult sends F4-B flying under Golden Gate Bridge. HK Fa 90 p31
621109 FF 630614 : 4th WestPac. Okinawa, Hong Kong, Laos, Vietnam
621109 GC CVG-9 embarked, Tail code NG
630305 DF Yokosuka, Japan. Photo of F4, Phantom II catapulted while docked
630405 CG Boiler uptake explosion while going between Japanese ports
630501 ND 630504 :Deploys from Japan to South China Sea for Laos unrest ops
630504 EA Armed Forces Expeditionary Service for Laos (S. China Sea
630516 CF Japanese American Society enjoys 1 day Yokosuka cruise
630520 CO New CO: Lemos, William E.
630807 AJ 640210 : Larger flight deck during San Francisco NSY overhaul
640528 CO New CO: Grimes, Alton B. USNA ' 42
640805 FN 650506 : 1st Vietnam war cruise. Record 59-day line duty
640805 GC CVW-9 embarked, Tail code NG
640900 DE Boiler explosion on Yankee Station. 51 days repair
640919 EV Armed Forces Expeditionary Service for Vietnam operations.
650200 BF 4 CVs mass in Operation Candid Camera off Vietnam; CVs 10, 19, 43, 61
650300 MF Record 59 days continuous days on Vietnam line station
650309 DD General William Westmoreland holds conference on ship
650413 CE One man dies in main machinery room fire off Vietnam station
650506 DL 103 line days on 4 line periods with 3 planes lost in combat
650506 ES Vietnam Service Medal awarded for combat ops off coast
650510 CO New CO: McCuddin, Leo B.
650513 AJ 650930 : Major overhaul at San Francisco NSY
651210 FN 660825 : 2nd Vietnam cruise. 1st Haiphong raid, 90,000 miles
651210 GC CVW-14 embarked, Tail code NK
651221 DD Bob Hope Christmas Show performed while in Gulf of Tonkin
660607 CO New CO: Harnish, William M. USNA ' 39
660806 BD Navy Unit Commendation for Vietnam duty from 10 Jan 66
660825 DL 137 line days on 5 line periods with 15 planes lost in combat
660825 ES Vietnam Service Medal awarded for combat ops off coast
660930 AJ 670531 : Comprehensive overhaul on Puget Sound NSY
661020 CO New CO: Donnelly, Jr., William T.
671100 GD CVW-02 , Carrier air wing assigned, Tail code NE
671104 FN 680525 : 3rd Vietnam cruise. Korea coast patrol over PUEBLO
671104 GC CVW-2 embarked, Tail code NE
671104 GG Corsair II A-7A first major deployment by VA-147
671203 BY 680509 : Meritorious Unit Commendation for Vietnam operations
671221 DD Bob Hope's Christmas show entertains ship off Vietnam
680123 EK Armed Forces Expeditionary Service for North Korea ops
680123 ND Deploys to North Korea area after USS PUEBLO capture
680327 CO New CO: Livingston, William H.
680505 DO Port call : Hong Kong prior to sailing home
680525 DL 88 line days on 4 line periods with 4 planes lost in combat
680525 ES Vietnam Service Medal awarded for combat ops off coast
681026 CF Fiberglass horse used to "gallop" on deck at departure
681026 FN 690517 : 4th Vietnam cruise. EC-121 crisis near Korea, Yellow Sea
681026 GC CVW-2 embarked, Tail code NE
690400 EK Korea AF Expeditionary Service with Task Force 71
690420 EK 690427 : Korea Expeditionary Force service dates
690420 ND Deploys Sea of Japan after Koreans down Navy EC-121 plane
690500 BD Navy Unit Commendation for Vietnam duty from Nov 68
690517 DL 91 line days on 5 line periods with no planes lost in combat
690517 ES Vietnam Service Medal awarded for combat ops off coast
690628 CO New CO: Moorer, John P.
691014 FN 700601 : 5th Vietnam war cruise, 103 line days, Korea
691014 GC CVW-2 embarked, Tail code NE
700100 EK Korea AF Expeditionary Service with Task Force 71
700406 EK 700413 : Korea Expeditionary Service with Task Force 71
700500 BY 680509 : Meritorious Unit Commendation for Vietnam ops from Oct 69
700601 DL 103 line days on 5 line periods with 4 planes lost in combat
700601 ES Vietnam Service Medal awarded for combat ops off coast
700620 CO New CO: Coleman, Joseph L.
701027 FN 710617 : 6th Vietnam war cruise. 123 line days
701027 GC CVW-2 embarked, Tail code NE
710600 BY 680509 : Meritorious Unit Commendation for Vietnam ops from Nov 70
710617 DL 123 line days on 5 line periods with 3 planes lost in combat
710617 ES Vietnam Service Medal awarded for combat ops off coast
710800 AJ 720500 : Special overhaul Hunter's Point Naval Shipyard San Francisco. Estimated dates.
710903 CO New CO: Glindeman, Henry P. Jr. "Hank" USNA '46 (early grad in '45)
720718 CK Sabotage of engine during routine sea duty, $250,000
721116 FN 730623 : 7th Vietnam war cruise. 120 line days
721116 GC CVW-2 embarked, Tail code NE
730129 ND Begins air ops at request of Laotian government
730521 CO New CO: Hill, Allen E. "Boot"
730622 DL 120 line days on 6 line periods with 1 plane lost in combat
730623 ES Vietnam Service Medal awarded for combat ops off coast
740507 FF 741018 : 12th WestPac cruise. Gulf of Tonkin, Hong Kong
740507 GC CVW-2 embarked, Tail code NE
740722 CG F-4 accident downs helicopter near Philippines, 6 die
741122 CO New CO: Nicholson, Jr., John L.
750000 PP Final homeport : North Island, CA
750301 PO Homeport to decommissioning: San Diego. FPO AP 96633-2750
750630 AH Designated CV-61, All-purpose carrier
760130 FF 760907 : 13th WestPac cruise. Kenya coast ops, Indian Ocean
760130 GC CVW-2 embarked, Tail code NE
760130 NA Portion of WestPac cruise spent in Indian Ocean ops, exits Aug 04
760500 EH Humanitarian Service Medal for Kenya assistance ops to Jun 76
760712 NG Deploys to Kenya coast to counter Uganda invasion threat
760917 CO New CO: McCrimmon, Douglas R. USNA ' 55
770209 AJ 780300 : Comprehensive overhaul at Puget Sound NSY
780617 CO New CO: Moore, Thomas G.
790115 GA 200,000 tailhook, Hawkeye E-2B, VAW-117 off California
790221 FF 790922 : 14th WestPac cruise. South China Sea collision
790221 GC CVW-2 embarked, Tail code NE, CAG CDR Ray. C. Schroeder
790405 CG Bow collision with tanker Liberian FORTUNE near Singapore
790522 BF CO: Moore, Thomas G. relieved after collision on April 5
790528 CO New CO: Box, Roger E.
800603 DD High ranking Chinese delegation observe flight operations
800709 DA Ed. CHINESE VISIT U.S. AIRCRAFT CARRIER,   Aviation Week
800910 FF 810505 : 15th WestPac cruise. Arabian Sea, hostage help
800910 GC CVW-2 embarked, Tail code NE
801000 EI Humanitarian Service Medal during Iran Hostage crisis to Mar 81
801020 CO New CO: Pedersen, Daniel A.
801031 NA 810312 : 139 days of WestPac spent in Indian Ocean ops
801100 NG Gives support to Iran hostage crisis in No. Arabian Sea
810505 DO Port calls: Thailand, Colombo, Hong Kong
81Unk   EI Meritorious Unit of Commendation, the Humanitarian
810806 CG Fire in Pri-Fly area while at San Diego dock
811030 CF 811104 : Port call to Vancouver, British Columbia
820407 FF 821019 : 16th WestPac cruise. Indian Ocean operations
820407 GC CVW-2 embarked, Tail code NE
820407 NA Portion of WestPac cruise spent in Indian Ocean ops
820526 DO Port calls: Singapore (5/26; Perth, Australia (Sep 4-10)
820611 CO New CO: Less, Anthony A. Heidelberg College ' 60. Blue Angels CO 74/75
830305 DD Queen Elizabeth visits ship in San Diego
830708 CO New CO: Fredrickson, Arthur H.
830715 FF 840229 : 17th WestPac. Nicaragua crisis, Arabian Sea
830715 GC CVW-9 embarked, Tail code NG
830715 NA Portion of WestPac cruise spent in Indian Ocean ops
830718 CG Collision with oiler WICHITA nr Nicaragua costs $671,854
830801 NC Aug 83: Newsweek cover photo tells of Nicaragua deployment
830818 CG Crewman blown overboard by jet exhaust off Nicaragua
831000 NG 840100 : No. Arabian Sea. Counters Iran halting oil tankers in Persian Gulf
831101 CE 6 die, 35 injured in engine room blaze in Arabian Gulf
840101 CF Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader entertain for New Years Eve
840200 BF CO Arthur Fredrickson reprimanded for July 1983 collision
840229 MF Record conventional 121-days at sea tour while in Indy 0.
840415 AJ 850601 : Complex overhaul at Puget Sound NSY
850601 CH Combat systems and catapult specifications to date.WI-185
850626 CO New CO: Davis, Jr. Walter J. Ohio State ' 59
860100 BK Scheduled to train CVWR-30 off California coast Jan. '86
860818 FF 861018 : 18th WestPac cruise. Japan Sea, Bering Sea ops. 51,000 miles
860818 GC CVW-2 embarked, Tail code NE
860818 YZ 861020 : RimPac 86 ops in NorPac ops
861020 DO Port calls: Pusan, Korea; Vancouver, BC
870000 DS Spellout : WE THE PEOPLE , constitution bicentennial. Photo in file
870302 MP 870429 : NorPac Ops. Team Spirit `87 . Takes place of `unsafe' MIDWAY
870308 CO New CO: Baird, Donald W.
870714 FF 871230 : 19th WestPac cruise . North Arabian Sea ops
870714 GC CVW-2 embarked, Tail code NE
870714 NA Portion of WestPac cruise in Indian Ocean ops
871230 EI Iran Navy Expeditionary Medal during reflagged tanker ops
871230 ND Supports reflagged Kuwaiti tankers in Persian Gulf, Opn Nimble Archer
871231 DI Earns Navy Battle "E" Pacific for CY 1987
880100 BY 680509 : Meritorious Unit Commendation for May 86
880700 BK Refresher Training off CA coast. Ops defend against USAF
880708 CO New CO: Hickey, Robert P. Holy Cross College ' 64
890224 FF 890824 : 20th WestPac cruise. Indian Ocean, Australia
890224 GC CVW-2 embarked, Tail code NE. CAG Christoper Wilson. HOOK Fa 89
890224 NA Portion of WestPac cruise spent in Indian Ocean
890629 DO Port call : Fremantle, Australia
890800 BY 680509 : Meritorious Unit Commendation for Jan 88
890803 ND Rescues 39 Vietnam refugees off barge off Philippines
890824 DO Port calls: Hong Kong, Singapore, Phattaya, Australia, Diego Garcia, Phil.
890900 CF San Francisco for Fleet Week ' 89, Date estimate
900213 CO New CO: Christensen, Jr. Ernest E. At North Island. USNA ' 64
901208 FQ 910608 : Iraq war cruise. Persian Gulf operations
901208 GC CVW-2 embarked, Tail code NE, CAG Jay A. Campbell, "Rabbit"
901208 NA Persian Gulf, Indian Ocean ops during Iraq war cruise
901220 DO Port call : Subic Bay for 5 days reroute to Persian Gulf. Date estimate
910113 EQ 3 Southwest Asia Service awards, Shield/Storm/Cease-Fire
910117 EZ 910207 : Southwest Asia Service Medal for combat ops against Iraq
910200 BD Navy Unit Commendation for Iraq duty from Jan 91
910300 BB Used 4,229,200 lbs of ordnance during Iraqi War flying 4, 253 sorties
910300 CF 4-CV formation in Persian Gulf; MIDWAY, AMERICA, Theodore .ROOSEVELT.
910327 DE Charge 2 crew of pro-Iraqi sabotage, mutiny try. Trial set
910726 GE CAG CVW-2, CAPT Donald C. Brown relieved Jay A. Campbell. At North Island.
910821 CM ACSG has list and photos of Commanding Officers.
910821 CO New CO: McGinn, Dennis V. Last CO. USNA ' 67. Former XO of CV 43
910904 DB Haslev, Ole AVIATION, OPERATIONAL, CONSTRUCTION HISTORY
911231 DI Earns Navy Battle "E" Pacific for 1991
920317 DD VP Daniel Quayle visits ship at North Island NAS
920421 CF 2 vintage B-25 bombers launched to fete 1942 Doolittle Tokyo raid. Off CA
920605 DO Port call : Vancouver, BC
920711 BF Decommissioning brochure has all cruises, air wings, award dates
920801 FF 930131 : 22nd WestPac. Persian Gulf Opn Southern Watch. Somalia ops
920801 GC CVW-2 embarked, Tail code NE. CAG Donald C. Brown. HK Sp 93
920915 EQ Southwest Asia Service Medal, Iraq truce surveillance to Dec 92
920915 NG Relieves INDEPENDENCE in Persian Gulf, Operation Southern Watch
921006 RP Port call : Abu Dhabi, U.A. E.
921207 EQ 921219 : Somalia ops. Armed Forces Expeditionary Service
921207 NI 921219 : Supports Somalia USMC landing, Operation Restore Hope
921229 DO Port calls: Fremantle, Australia, leaves. Other port: Sydney
921229 DO Port calls: Yokosuka, Pusan, Hong Kong, Pearl Harbor
921231 DI p Earns Navy Battle "E" Pacific for 1992, 3rd award
930131 DG Spellout: "RANGER'S LAST RIDE"
930311 BF Last arrested trap, F14-A, career total 330,683. HK Su 93 37
930710 DA RANGER DECOMMISSIONING BOOKLET, Jul 10 93
930710 DA Steven Hill TOP GUN OF THE PACIFIC FLEET. NavAvNews 09-93 p10
930710 IB Final decommissioning at North Island NAS. Speaker, ADM Robert J. Kelly
930720 BF Towed to Long Beach NSY for deactivation period.
940925 BF Left by tug to Puget Sound, Washington
941009 BF Laid up with care, in the reserve fleet
941117 AD Stored at Pier E, West, bow in at Puget Sound. Considered a Navy Asset.
960212 DC Reunion Assn Contact John Muzio, POB 291, Claverack, NY 12513
990420 DQ Chuck Vore built and established this website!
010101 AD Web site donated to USS RANGER MUSEUM FOUNDATION who begin work to save Ranger as a Museum, Educational Center and Navy Memorial.
010101 DQ Change of webmaster: webmaster Ken Estes
020101 AD RANGER maintained very good condition, Navy Asset NAVSEA
020720 AD Corrections to History by M. Marich CAPT, USNR, Ret.

040101 AD NAVSEA removes Ranger from Mobile Asset (first step to Ships Donation status)

040322 AD Dept of Navy announces Notice of Availability for Donation (Donation Hold Status)

041114 AD Corrections to History by Rangerman Robert E. Boyes 1980/81 Cruise

050215 AD Foundation formed Portland Steering Committee to bring Ranger to Portland OR.