Cruise of the Randolph (1954)

The 1954 Mediterranean cruise of the aircraft carrier USS Randolph (CV-15) with the Sixth Fleet is the subject of this Navy documentary. In addition to extensive footage of flight operations, the film covers gunnery exercises, underway replenishment, mess, emergency surgery, inspections, and liberty. Source: Naval History and Heritage Command, Photographic Section, UMO-18.

[@firstnamelastname3558]

My Uncle did eight years aboard the USS Valley Forge (CV-45) working down in the engine rooms as a machinist mate. All total, he served 24 years in the Navy a long time ago in a different Navy than what it is today.

[@radtek2]

I was on a Med Cruise in 1967 aboard the USS Hammerberg DE1015 same time the Randolph was there. I believe we refueled off the Randolph during that time. I was a Machinist Mate 3rd class so I was down in the hole and not on deck pulling line so not sure. But, when I was just a Fireman I was on deck pulling line and on a small DE that is a rough, wet experience! My ship was scraped in1973.

[@Jacobs-im2jz]

My step dad's cousin was stationed on the Randolf as a parachute rigger, and sometimes he crewed on helicoptors doing ASW. He was on her when John Glenn did his space trip. Randolf was the ship used for pick up. Not sure what year Randolf docked in NYC harbor, but because my dad's cousin was on board, we got a tour. So damn long ago.

[@danielrousseau4842]

They called her "Can-do Rando," and I was serving in the MARDET aboard LAKE CHAMPLAIN, CV39, when we relieved RANDOLPH in the Med in January 1957 for our six-month cruise.

[@Methadone4Life]

My father, Denny Phillips was aboard the Randolph from 59-63...was in V-2 Division. The stories he told me will live in my memory forever. The Cuban Missile Crisis was one of those stories and another was when the Randolph was being filmed for a Connie Francis film, remember he said it was so hot and they had to stand at attention for hours while they tried to get the correct shot. He told of shoe polish melting. I miss my father and want to say thank you to all the men who served aboard the Randolph!!

[@user-kp8nd1xz5j]

Made 2 cruises on Randolph, once to Bermuda, the othe to northern Europe. Both in 1966. I was in HS-9 great time was had

[@pjhoward2443]

My Dad, Roger H Howard served as a Dental Officer aboard the Randolph for several years including the shakedown at Guantanamo Bay, installation of one of the first angled decks, and again later when Gus Grissom was recovered. All in all my dad served on 7 ships from before ‘41 through ‘62, finally serving out 36.6 years. Thanks for the movie a wonderful job, I wish I had come across it so that my dad could have watched it!

[@papablista627]

My Father Milton Malo Sears was aboard her 52 - 54 Korean conflict .. Bless them all...

[@rickmalkerson8539]

My Dad, Don Malkerson, was aboard the Randolph with VF 144. He also served on the Boxer.

[@eisenjeisen6262]

I was on the USS Adirondack in 1952 off Naples, Italy, and brings back many memories ,and thank you for the memories !

[@peterdownes1967]

My story has many connections to the USS Randolph. My father, Capt. Robert (Bob) S. Downes Ret. USNR was on the 1954 cruise and I was born April 14, 1954 while he was probably in Cannes, or Naples. At the time of the film he was a LT. Commander and the Communications Officer. The crew presented him with a engraved Silver cup with my initials and the USS Randolph. I was able to give the cup to my son who as a Lieutenant on the USS Mount Whitney (flag ship of the sixth fleet) had a son born in Gaeta Italy, while he was off the coast of Turkey .I would show my son the USS Randolph year book which began his love of the US Navy that carries until this day.Another connection to the USS Randolph was my oldest sister married the son of one of my fathers oldest and closest friends, William Amen a pilot on the USS Randolph.

[@harryschaefer8563]

That's quite a dose of fresh air for those pilots taking off with open canopies.

[@kevinballenger1211]

I Was An ABH3 Aboard The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69), In Air Dept/V-1 Div, From 1980 - 1984.

[@Dov_ben-Maccabee]

I had a great LPO - never had to mess crank a single second. Aboard USS St. Louis LKA 116.

[@redspinifex3088]

Great window on the U.S. Navy in the mid-1950s. Thanks for uploading this.

[@samuelmanus8510]

I served on the USS Randolph CVS-15 from 1966-1969 when we pulled into Boston to start the process of decommissioning for the last time.. I was a RM2

[@captrodgers4273]

during refuling that destroyer was bouncing around all over the place but the carrier seemed to sail a whole lot smoother. this is a great documentery on life aboard an essex class carrier

[@erniesilva1356]

I was on the Randolph from 1958 to 1959. V1 Division.

[@jimmcgowan608]

I was on the USS Randolph with a VFP62 detachment in October 1956 during the Suez Crisis. Because of Nato rules the ship was not allowed into the Mediterranian. We spent our time doing OPs on the Atlantic. Before returning to Norfolk the Captain arranged a week of liberty in Lisbon. A couple months later we were deployed on the USS Lake Champlain where we completed a 6 month cruise in the Med.

[@mcd236]

My Dad was a Petty Officer First Class, Electricians Mate aboard the Randolph. From around 55 to 58.