Rich Kirsch's Photo Lab Photo Galleries
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While the Photo Gallery is under Construction, please visit my Photo Gallery at Jake's
Hancock Memorial - Go
Here
 Welcome to my Website and
the OP Division Photo Galleries. These galleries are unique in that they were images that I collected, as a Photographers
Mate in the middle 50's. These images somewhat captures that period in Naval Aviation, and is unique in more ways
than one, for they depict the last period that the Navy launched planes off of straight deck aircraft carriers,
for the time was shortly before the Era beginning Steam Catapult use in the United States Navy, and the HANCOCK
was the very first American Carrier that employed them.
This Photos in this collection are not all the photos that
I, personally took, but many are.
Mostly, they are copies of
photos, taken by our OP Division Photo Lab Crew which came into my possession and which I carried off
of the ship as souvenirs of my time aboard the USS Hancock CVA-19, when I was released back into civilian life
in 1956.
I am very proud of this collection and am very grateful
that Jake of "Jake's 'Yankee Station' - U.S.S. Hancock CV/CVA-19 Memorial, has given me the opportunity to
share my memories with all of you.
History is best told by those who lived the Adventure, and
lived to tell about it. My own experiences, are no different. I am sure most veterans would agree, that these times
were some of the most poignant times in our young lives, and we are so grateful that the Internet came along so
we could share this History with you all.
For those of you who would like to enjoy Naval History as
collected and shared by Jake and others, he invited you to visit the HANCOCK MEMORIAL's home Page, and those of
our Web Partners.
Again, thanks for coming to this corner of the Internet,
to enjoy my website and my galleries. I hope your stay here is enjoyable and rewarding. If you would like to leave
your comments about your stay here, please feel free to use our Guest Book, I call the "Deck Log" - You
will be asked for a password to get in. I'll give you that password here which is the Hancock's Hull Number (there
are others that will work). The Hull number for the Hancock was "19" - an easy number to remember. Or
you may wish to try out the Quiz on the Gate Keeper Page.
CDR Jay T. Alkire - Faulkner Memorial
Gallery
This Gallery recently was added to the Website to keep the Memories of two Fallen Comrades alive
and also to thank it's contributor, Ms. Debi Faulkner-Ouellette.
Therefore we are honoring CDR
Jay T. Alkire and Charles Henry Faulkner, BM1, USN in this Special Gallery.
CDR Alkire was killed in a failed Trap aboard the USS Hancock
in 1955. Charles Faulkner knew a Photographers Mate who was involved in the incident, who passed the images on
to him. Therefore we are grateful to both of these Shipmates for sharing these images of CDR Alkire's fateful crash
in 1955. The Photographers Mate unfortunately goes on without a name, and we can't honor him here, except to thank
him for the contribution through Charles Faulkner. We also have Charles Faulkner's daughter, Debi Faulkner-Ouellette to thank for contributing the images to me, Rich Kirsch. With her permission, I contributed the
Gallery to Jake's USS Hancock Memorial,
who, being also the Web Yeoman of my Website, deemed it worthy and expedient to also offer it here, which we now
are doing.
The following Gallery has preserved this incident as best
we could at this time, so that the world may remember that we don't need to be at war to suffer casualties of war.
Here in a training evolution aboard the Hancock known as "Carrier Qualifications" or "CarQuals",
CDR Jay T. Alkire lost his life when his plane dipped too low and could not recover from a wave-off.
Please join with me and all those who wish to remember the
life and sacrifice of our Naval Aviators as they seek to keep this nation safe. To return to this Gallery, use
the 'Return' link on the Memorial Page. Thanks for visiting there; I know you will be glad you did.
Go there
Photo Galleries #1
The Ship
Photos marked with the † are from the Hancock Photo Lab
Photos marked with § by Richard Kirsch
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The Hancock heads out to Sea §
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The Hancock and her illustrious Crew headed out to sea many times during her modern debut after her
second Re-commissioning in 1954. I am proud to say that I am a "Plank Owner" from the Second re-commissioning.
Being a "Key Runner" during the period of her refitting at Bremerton, WA, my job
was to unlock all areas of the ship where the workmen needed to go for the day's labor. That position or "Billet"
is very rare, and so I am proud to also have been a Key Runner during that time before her
sea trials and re-commissioning. |
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The Hancock - Pt. Loma, San Diego, CA †
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The Hancock arriving San Diego at Point Loma - North Island from Bremerton with a contingeant of
crew member's cars which were in transit to new Home Port at San Diego†.
San Diego became her Home Port after the long stay in Bremerton for refitting and upgrading.
After re-commissioning, she was sent to San Diego, California, where she would serve for a number of years until
once again, she was sent to NAS, Alameda, California. |
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The Hancock - San Diego †
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The Hannah leaving Pt. Loma for...before the Hancock deployed to the Western Pacific on yearly cruises,
she spent "Quality" time training her crew and the Carrier Air Group; this was in preparation for later
deployments. Also the CAG used this time for Carrier Qualifications of their member squadrons. |
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The Crew's Cars on the Flight Deck - being transported from Bremerton, WA §
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Crew Member's cars being transferred to San Diego.
Other pictures of the cars are available in the Middle Years Gallery §.
The Crew who had cars in Bremerton were able to have their cars hoisted on the Flight Deck, for transporting down
to San Diego, the Hancock`s new Home Port after the refitting and re-commissioning. |
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Christmas - 1954 - A Christmas tree rises up on Elevator #1
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The HANCOCK, along with a Skeleton Crew including Rich Kirsch and Ken Groom, left Bremerton
in December of 1954. They stopped long enough to cut a beautiful 60 foot Evergreen, which they affixed to #1 Elevator,
decked out with lights. When they arrived in San Diego on Christmas, they raised the Elevator and it appeared as
if the tree was growing out of the Flight Deck. Ken Groom also captured a picture of the tree.. |
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Christmas - 1954 - A Christmas tree rises up on Elevator #1
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Ken Groom, Middle Years Gallery coordinator, contributed some photos of this interesting passage
to San Diego.
Read his incredible story and view his photos on the Hancock
Memorial's Middle Years Gallery...
http://usshancockcv19.com/gallery2.htm
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The Hannah passes under the Golden Gate Bridge on her way to Hunters Point Naval
Shipyard.
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The HANCOCK had a brief stay at Hunters Point Naval Shipyard in the San Francisco Bay, to receive
advanced upgrades after her refitting at Bremerton, Washington. This occasion to pass under the Golden Gate Bridge
was only the beginning for her, as much later on, when her Home Port was switched from San Diego to the Naval Air
Station, Alameda, she would enjoy many passages under this famous bridge that transits from San Francisco to Sasalito,
California.
This picture is a classic view of the HANCOCK that was taken before she received her Huricane Bow upgrade along
with Steam Catapults in 1956. |
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Hannah steaming on Sea Trials after refitting 1954 - Plane Guard follows... †
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The Hancock steaming along the coast of California, with following Plane Guard on shakedown cruise
after refitting and recommissioning.
Sea Trials have the purpose of taking the ship through her paces, to see that all the ship functions correctly
and safely. It is something that needs to be done before the ship can join the fleet. If any problems arise during
this important time, then the ship must return to the yards for repairs or correction of the problems. Once these
corrections are done, then the ship must once again return to see for further Sea Trials, until all things function
properly.
The Crew is also involved during this time, as they are learning how to operate the ship properly. This time is
very important for them, as well, as they, too are beng tried just like the ship. |
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A classic aerial view of the Middle Years HANCOCK †
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A great aerial view of the Fighting Hannah - pre-1956 Hurricane Bow and Angle Deck. Notice the men
on deck, a F7U-3 Cutlass on the catapult, and a Cougar readying.
Steam cats were as yet future for the ship at this time. A Cutlass is about to be assisted down the deck with her
hydralic cats at that time. Steam cats came to the HANCOCK during a major refitting in 1956, and the HANCOCK was
the first American Aircraft Carrer to receive them.
WWII Hancock Shipmates would love this picture, as the HANCOCK looked very much like the ship looked when they
sailed in her. |
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Continue on to the Next Page (Page #2) as we take a look at the Aircraft that the HANCOCK launced
during this period we call the HANCOCK'S Middle Years...
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