Vietnam US Navy Aircraft Carrier USS Oriskany WESTPAC 1969 Cruise Book with (8) Patches. The patches are all in good shape and most look as if they are of period. The book has no writing in it and is in good condition. The book seems slightly loose from the binding, there are no tears on the inside front/or back cover but it feels slightly loose. It reads well and the pages are all tight & good. There is a US Navy Veterans name on the front cover at the bottom. The Oriskany arrived at Yankee Station in May 1969; and began combat operations in a much more restricted environment than the previous deployment. Previously, in April 1968, President Johnson. Had restricted armed attacks. South of the nineteenth parallel, which limited strikes to the southern third of North Vietnam. Domestic political considerations, mainly the upcoming presidential elections, played the critical role in this decision as President Johnson was leaving office. With operations focusing further south, the only pilot loss of the cruise took place on 20 July 1969 when Lt. Smileys Skyhawk crashed and exploded after being hit by small arms fire. The second line period ended on 30 June and, after ten days at Subic, the warships third line period took place between 1330 July. After a fourth line period between 16 August and 12 September, Oriskany steamed north to Korea to fly intermittent reconnaissance escort missions into early October. During that time, on 20 September 1969, Captain John A. Gillcrist took over as the commanding officer. Following a fifth line period off Vietnam between 831 October, the aircraft carrier turned for home, arriving at Alameda via Subic Bay on 17 November Following a dry dock period at San Francisco Naval Shipyard over the winter, where the aircraft carrier was modified to support A-7 Corsair II. Aircraft, Oriskany embarked CVW-19 that spring for refresher operations. In contrast to previous deployments, she carried only four combat squadrons VF-191 and VF-194 equipped with the familiar F8 Crusaders and VA-153. Commencing her fifth Vietnam deployment on 14 May 1970, Oriskany inchopped on 1 June and began combat operations at Yankee Station on 14 June. Like her last deployment, Oriskany launched strikes against North Vietnamese logistics targets in eastern Laos, initially targeting storage areas, bunkers and lines of communication in conjunction with strikes by the Seventh Air Force. Equipped with better electronics gear, the A-7 proved especially useful during night raids on the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The missions remained dangerous, however, with an A-7 from VA-155 lost in a failed catapult shot on 25 June and a VA-153 A-7 crashing in Laos on 28 June. In the latter case, the aircraft flown by Cdr. Aldern, then Commander, Air Wing Nineteen exploded during a night attack run, presumably after taking flak damage. Oriskany conducted three line periods1429 June, 1321 July, 325 August and 18 September to 13 October and launched over 5,300 sorties. During the latter line period, Captain Frank S. Haak relieved Captain Gillcrist on 11 September 1970, and became the new commanding officer. About a month later, during heavy seas, a VF-191 F-8 returning from a night combat air patrol on 6 October crashed the flight deck and exploded, killing Lt. In November, as part of the Navys efforts to reduce costs, the number of aircraft carriers off Vietnam was reduced to one, meaning that Oriskany. S sole focus in her fourth line period 722 November was missions over Laos. In that effort, she joined the Seventh Air Force in strikes against four identified bottleneck points along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The carrier suffered another deadly accident on 14 November, when an RF-8G from VFP-63. Skidded off the flight deck after a material failure caused a failed catapult launch, ultimately causing the death of Lt. Then, in an unusual assignment, Oriskany flew 14 diversionary sorties over North Vietnam early on 21 November in support of the Son Tay POW rescue mission. And another 48 missions during retaliatory strikes later that day. The aircraft carrier turned for home the next day, arriving in Alameda on 10 December 1970. USS Oriskany (CV/CVA-34) nicknamed Mighty O. And occasionally referred to as the O-boat was one of the few Essex -class. Completed after World War II. For the United States Navy. During the Revolutionary War. The history of Oriskany differs considerably from that of her sister ships. Originally designed as a “long-hulled” Essex -class. Her construction was suspended in 1946. She eventually was commissioned in 1950 after conversion to an updated design called SCB-27. (“27-Charlie”), which became the template for modernization of 14 other Essex -class. She operated primarily in the Pacific into the 1970s, earning two battle stars. For service in the Korean War. And five for service in the Vietnam War. In 1966 one of the worst shipboard fires since World War II broke out on Oriskany when a magnesium. Flare was accidentally ignited; forty-four men died in the fire. S post-service history also differs considerably from that of her sister ships. In 2004 it was decided to sink her as an artificial reef. Off the coast of Florida in the Gulf of Mexico. After much environmental review and remediation to remove toxic substances, she was carefully sunk in May 2006, settling in an upright position at a depth accessible to recreational divers. As of 2008, Oriskany is the largest vessel ever sunk to make a reef. Oriskany has been featured in films such as Men of the Fighting Lady. And The Bridges at Toko-Ri. From 1954 and What Dreams May Come. , featuring prima ballerina Mary Ellen Moylan, which was captured in a series of photos shot by renowned New York street and fashion photographer Louis Faurer. And sponsored by Life magazine. The item “Vietnam US Navy Aircraft Carrier USS Oriskany WESTPAC 1969 Cruise Book 8 Patches” is in sale since Saturday, June 17, 2017. This item is in the category “Collectibles\Militaria\Vietnam (1961-75)\Original Period Items\Books”. The seller is “williejoe777″ and is located in Fresno, California. 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- Country/Region of Manufacture: United States