USS Independence CVL-22
So far, seven U.S. Navy vessels have been christened the Independence, and the fourth, the USS Independence CVL-22, served during World War II as a light aircraft carrier, the very first in her class. Built by New York Shipbuilding Corporation in Camden, New Jersey and launched in August of 1942, the Independence CVL-22 was commanded by Captain G.R. Fairlamb, Jr.
The Independence CVL-22 began her first patrol in the Caribbean and then traveled through the Panama Canal, eventually landing in San Francisco to join the Pacific Fleet, a group of ships which would eventually arrive in Pearl Harbor. The Independence CVL-22 arrived in Pearl Harbor on the 14th of July, 1943, and carried out her training exercises alongside the USS Essex CV-9 and the USS Yorktown CV-1O in preparation for a large-scale attack on Marcus Island, located in the Pacific Ocean. On September 1 of that same year, planes which took off from the Independence CVL-22 destroyed well over 70% of military installations on Marcus Island. She then headed towards Wake Island to assist a U.S. strike on the 5th of October. The gunners aboard the Independence CVL-22 had their first major victory against enemy forces in November, shooting down six Japanese planes near Rabaul. In November, the carrier assisted in several strikes in Tarawa and Funafuti and then returned to San Francisco in January of 1944 for repairs to damages sustained by torpedoes.
Returning to Pearl Harbor in July, the Independence CVL-22 began training for night-carrier operations. Sailing alongside several other vessels, she headed for Palau to assist in the Battle of Pelieliu. Airplanes were launched under the cover of night from the Independence CVL-22 in the Philippines, Formosa and Okinawa, and upon the Japanese surrender, the carrier was used to deliver U.S. troops back to their homeland. The Independence CVL-22 received eight battle stars for exemplary service in World War II and was sunk off of the coast of San Francisco in 1951. After her sinking, it was deemed that the vessel had been laden with radioactive waste, and the sunken carrier subsequently contaminated ocean life off of the Farallon Islands.
The USS Independence CVL-22 was instrumental in several World War II victories. Her crew weathered a number of risks, including inclement weather at sea and enemy attack, and in addition to these dangers the crew also faced the danger of asbestos exposure. Previous exposure to asbestos, which was found within insulation aboard many World War II vessels, has been linked to the eventual development of mesothelioma, a fatal cancer. Veterans who served aboard the USS Independence CVL-22 should consult with a medical doctor to assess their risk of developing mesothelioma, also known as asbestos cancer.
Last modified: December 28, 2010.
