History Channel - History Classics Hero Ships (2008) Part 13 USS Yorktown

History Classics: Hero Ships

For nearly a hundred years, these steel, grey-skinned battlewagons have fought off everything from Al Qaeda to dive-bombing Kamikazes. Some returned from the hell of war to become major tourist attractions for new generations. Others continue to patrol the world's trouble-spots in America's latest war. History Classics: Hero Ships profiles the complete combat history and evolving technology of a single American ship, often through multiple conflicts. These are the battleships, destroyers, aircraft carriers, submarines, and specialized ships that belong in the warship hall of fame. Archival footage and interviews are punctuated by all-access inspections of the ship's “battle stations,” conducted by young, active Navy sailors. The series lets us understand the role of each weapon and technology, the dramas that unfolded in different rooms during the heat of battle, and the unique traditions and stories of each vessel.

Part 13: USS Yorktown

Yorktown received 11 battle stars for her World War II service and was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. She was also the star of an Academy Award winning documentary movie “Fighting Lady” in 1945. Though no formal credit was given her in the film, the majority of the footage used in the film was shot on her decks by Navy combat photographers. Yorktown and other Essex class carriers comprised the core of the U.S. post-war fleet. After her Korean War duty, Yorktown was modernized for anti-submarine warfare and was deployed to Vietnam. For her service off Vietnam she was awarded four battle stars. In 1968 the carrier recovered the crew of Apollo 8, the first manned flight to orbit the moon. Decommissioned in 1970, Yorktown became the centrepiece of the fleet of ships at Patriots Point in 1975.