USS Franklin (CV/CVA/CVS-13, AVT-8), nicknamed "Big Ben," was one of 24 Essex -class aircraft carriers built during World War II for the United States Navy, and the fifth US Navy ship to bear the …

Jan 19, 2022 · The USS Franklin (CV-13) was a member of the Essex -class of aircraft carriers, which had a successful design that served well during World War II and into the post-war years. The fifth …

Named to honor Founding Father Benjamin Franklin, Essex -class aircraft carrier USS Franklin (CV-13) was commissioned at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia, on 31 January 1944 with...

For exceptional acts of achievement, bravery, and heroism, the men of the Franklin became the most decorated crew in the history of the U.S. Navy, including two Medal of Honor recipients. Captain …

USS FRANKLIN (CV-13) Crew Links

Jul 25, 2025 · We are honored to share this personal account of the March 19, 1945, bombing of the USS Franklin, provided by Greg Melson, the son of Jack F. Melson, who served as a pilot aboard the …

USS FRANKLIN was the fifth ESSEX - class aircraft carrier and also the fifth ship in the Navy to bear the name. Badly damaged by a Japanese air strike on March 19, 1945, the FRANKLIN returned to the …

As detailed in Part 1 of this essay, some crewmen held Gehres partially responsible for the attack’s human toll of roughly 800 dead and hundreds more wounded. 2 The Franklin suffered the greatest …

Franklin and the other carriers in her task group provided air support for troops on Leyte, and conducted daily searches for survivors of downed aircraft between 28 and 29 October 1944.

The USS Franklin (CV-13) demonstrated remarkable resilience when it survived a devastating attack on March 19, 1945 that killed 807 crewmembers and earned itself the moniker "Big Ben" while its crew …