USS Hancock (CV-19)

The USS Hancock (CV-19) which was named after the first governor of Massachusetts, John Hancock, was an Essex class aircraft carrier. She followed a long line of other vessels with the name, most of which served the United States in the 1700’s.

She was laid down in the Bethlehem Steel Yard of Quincy Massachusetts in January 1943 and was commissioned almost exactly one year later. Her first mission was as part of Admiral William Halsey’s third fleet at Ulithi. She played an important part in neutralizing enemy air power during General Douglas MacArthur’s invasion of Leyte in the Philippines.

In 1944, the aircraft aboard the Hancock were successful in destroying many enemy vessels and aircraft in Okinawa, Japan. On October 10, pilots from the Hancock helped to eliminate or severely damage 7 aircraft, a submarine, 12 torpedo boats, 2 midget subs, and 4 cargo ships. Two days later, similar destruction occurred at Formosan air bases.

The battle off Formosa continued for two more days as Japanese fighter pilots attacked the US fleet, and the Navy airmen responded by destroying ammunition dumps, supply depots, and other military installations. On the third morning of the battle, a bomb that did little damage as it passed through a gun platform before exploding in the water hit the Hancock

In November of that year, the Hancock was hit by a kamikaze aircraft, which dove out of the sun, hit the deck and burst into flames. The crew acted quickly to extinguish the fire and little damage was sustained. In December, the vessel had to ride out a severe typhoon, which caused enormous waves to break over the flight deck even though it was located 55 feet above the water line.

Her heroic exploits in the Pacific continued until the end of WW II and included assisting in the battle for Iwo Jima in February 1945. The Hancock strafed enemy positions on the island in order to support marines as they landed and fought one of the bloodiest battles of the campaign. When Japan signed the surrender agreement aboard the USS Missouri, planes from the Hancock circled overhead.

After the war the Hancock returned home for refitting and was the first US carrier to acquire steam catapults that were able to launch high performance jets. In the years to follow, the Hancock received regular overhauls and upgrades, which allowed her to provide valuable support to troops in Korea and Vietnam. She was decommissioned in 1976 and sold for scrap by the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service. During her long and distinguished service, the Hancock received the Navy Unit Commendation and four battle stars.

Though the sailors aboard the Hancock were probably unaware of it, she and other ships of her day were constructed using asbestos. These materials were found throughout the body of the ship and have now been identified as agents of various respiratory diseases, including a type of cancer called mesothelioma. Men who worked aboard the Hancock or other vessels and who think they may have been exposed to these hazards are encouraged to see a thoracic specialist or physician well versed in mesothelioma for an evaluation.

Last modified: December 09 2009.