USS Bennington
The USS Bennington CV 20 was an Essex-class aircraft carrier that was named for the Battle of Bennington that occurred in Bennington, Vermont. The USS Bennington was officially launched on February 28th, 1944 from the Brooklyn Navy Yard and was sponsored by a Mrs. Melvin J. Maas who was the wife of Congressman Maas of Minnesota at the time. The ship was commissioned on August 6th, 1944 under the command of Captain J. B. Sykes. The ship left port for her first voyage on December 15th, 1945 where she then traveled through the Panama Canal transit system on December 21st, 1945 arriving at Pearl Harbor as of January 8th, 1945. From this point, the Bennington steamed towards Ulithi Atoll in the Caroline Islands to be appointed to Task Force 58.
When the Bennington finally reached her new station on February 8th, 1945 she began participating in the U. S. campaign involving air assaults directed against the Japanese home islands from February 16th, 1945 until February 25th, 1945. The Bennington proceeded to assist in the bombardments of the Volcano Islands as well as on March 1st of that very year when the ship joined with the Pacific Fleet in the invasion of Okinawa. The Bennington then headed along the eastern most coast of North America and onward through the Mediterranean from May of 1953 until May of 1954.
Tragically, on May 26th, 1954 some sort of fluid among one of the ship's catapults burst into flames and a massive explosion occurred that started a multiple chain reaction that took the lives of 103 brave crewmen as well as seriously injuring more than 200 of the personnel aboard. The Bennington docked in Rhode Island for emergency repair and medical attention as well as an investigation into why the accident happened. During the month of April in 1955 the crewmen killed in the 1954 tragedy were officially honored and 178 crewmen were recognized for their bravery and heroism. The USS Bennington CV 20 was officially decommissioned on November 8th, 1946.
The USS Bennington CV 20 and her crewmembers who worked aboard the USS Bennington served with great honor, but unfortunately were exposed to a danger they were not aware of at the time of their service. Due to the fact that the Bennington was built at a time when people were unaware of the hazards that were apparent from asbestos, and it was used extensively in the construction of the vessel. This was particularly a fact of the insulation around piping systems and duct fixtures within the ship. The crew may have been put at serious risk for a variety of respiratory problems including a deadly form of cancer known as mesothelioma. Any veteran soldiers who worked aboard the USS Bennington CV 20 should be aware that they might develop respiratory problems and difficulties with breathing. Any veteran sailors or any Unites States soldiers that are concerned they may have been exposed to asbestos should consult a medical physician for testing and begin mesothelioma treatment if necessary.
Last modified: December 28, 2010.
