YORKTOWN DIVISION
U.S. NAVAL SEA CADETS
USS YORKTOWN
Our USNSCC division, is the only division lucky enough to proudly call the USS Yorktown home.
With the help of Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum the Yorktown Division is able to conduct our monthly drill and training aboard one of the most famous aircraft carriers in the history of the United States Navy.
AN AMERICAN HEROINE – FROM WWII TO VIETNAM
The USS YORKTOWN (CV-10) was the tenth aircraft carrier to serve in the United States Navy. Under construction as BON HOMME RICHARD, this new Essex-class carrier was renamed in honor of YORKTOWN (CV-5) sunk at the epic Battle of Midway (June 1942). Built in an amazing 16 ½ months at Newport News, Virginia, YORKTOWN was commissioned on April 15, 1943. World War II’s famous “Fighting Lady” would participate significantly in the Pacific offensive that began in late 1943 and ended with the defeat of Japan in 1945. YORKTOWN received the Presidential Unit Citation and earned 11 battle stars for service in World War II.
In the 1950s, YORKTOWN was modernized to operate jet aircraft as an attack carrier (CVA). In 1957, she was re-designated an anti-submarine aircraft carrier (CVS), and would later earn 5 battle stars for service off Vietnam (1965-68). The ship also recovered the Apollo 8 astronauts and capsule (December 1968). YORKTOWN was decommissioned in 1970 and placed in reserve.
In 1975, this historic ship was towed from Bayonne, NJ to Charleston to become the centerpiece of Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum
The Yorktown Division is honored to support both Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum and the USS Yorktown Foundation in their efforts to preserve a priceless piece of American Naval history.
