CVB 42 / CVA 42 / CV 42 – USS Franklin D. Roosevelt

with Carrier Air Wing 19 (CVW-19) embarked – 1976-77

with Carrier Air Wing 19 (CVW-19) embarked – 1976-77

with Carrier Air Wing 19 (CVW-19) embarked – October 1976

redesignated CV 42 on June 30, 1975


with Carrier Air Wing 6 (CVW-6) embarked – circa 1975

with Carrier Air Wing 6 (CVW-6) embarked – circa 1973

with Carrier Air Wing 6 (CVW-6) embarked – circa 1973

with Carrier Air Wing 6 (CVW-6) embarked – circa 1973

with Carrier Air Wing 6 (CVW-6) embarked – circa 1973

with Carrier Air Wing 6 (CVW-6) embarked – circa 1973

with Carrier Air Wing 6 (CVW-6) embarked – circa 1972

with Carrier Air Wing 6 (CVW-6) embarked – circa 1970-71

with Carrier Air Wing 6 (CVW-6) embarked – circa 1970-71

with Carrier Air Wing 6 (CVW-6) embarked – circa 1970-71

with Carrier Air Wing 6 (CVW-6) embarked – circa 1970-71

with Carrier Air Wing 6 (CVW-6) embarked – circa 1970-71

with Carrier Air Wing 6 (CVW-6) embarked – 1970’s

with Carrier Air Wing 6 (CVW-6) embarked – 1970’s

with Carrier Air Wing 6 (CVW-6) embarked – 1969

with Carrier Air Wing 6 (CVW-6) embarked – July 1969

after refit – July 1969

after refit – July 1969

USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA 42) receiving a new deck-edge elevator at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Virginia. Roosevelt was initially slated to undergo an extensive reconstruction (SCB 101.68) similar to that received by USS Midway (CVA 41) from 1966 to 1970. This plan was derailed by massive cost overruns in Midway’s reconstruction, which eventually totalled $202 million. Roosevelt was therefore limited to an austere $46 million refit, enabling her to operate the Grumman A-6 Intruder and LTV A-7 Corsair II. In July 1968, Roosevelt entered Norfolk Naval Shipyard for her 11-month modernization program. The forward centerline elevator was relocated to the starboard deck edge forward of the island, the port waist catapult was removed, the crew spaces were refurbished, and two of the four remaining 127 mm anti-aircraft turrets were removed. Roosevelt also received a deck edge spray system using the new seawater compatible fire-fighting chemical, Light Water. She put to sea again on 26 May 1969.

overhaul & modernization: December 1968 – June 1969


with Carrier Air Wing 1 (CVW-1) embarked – 1967

with Carrier Air Wing 1 (CVW-1) embarked – 1967

with Carrier Air Wing 1 (CVW-1) embarked – 1966-67

with Carrier Air Wing 1 (CVW-1) embarked – October 1966

with Carrier Air Wing 1 (CVW-1) embarked – Gulf of Tonkin – September 1966

with aircraft of Carrier Air Wing 1 (CVW-1) embarked – August 1966

with Carrier Air Wing 1 (CVW-1) embarked – January 1966

with Carrier Air Wing 1 (CVW-1) embarked – September 1965

with Carrier Air Wing 1 (CVW-1) embarked – May 1965

with Carrier Air Group 1 (CVG-1) embarked – March 1963

with Carrier Air Group 1 (CVG-1) embarked – March 1963

with Carrier Air Group 1 (CVG-1) embarked – March 1963

with Carrier Air Group 1 (CVG-1) embarked – January 1963

with aircraft of Carrier Air Group 1 (CVG-1) embarked – 1962-63

with Carrier Air Group 1 (CVG-1) embarked – 1961

Vought F8U-1P Crusader from Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron VFP-62 Det.37 “Fighting Photos” is hoisted aboard USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA 42)
at Mayport, Florida, in preparation of FDR´s 1961 deployment to the Mediterranean Sea – February 1961

with Carrier Air Group 1 (CVG-1) embarked – 1959

with Carrier Air Group 1 (CVG-1) embarked – 1959

September 1958

with Carrier Air Group 17 (CVG-17) embarked – circa 1957

with Carrier Air Group 17 (CVG-17) embarked – circa 1957

with Carrier Air Group 17 (CVG-17) embarked – circa 1957

Mark 16 (5″/54-caliber) guns aboard USS Franklin D. Roosevelt – 1957

circa 1957

 USS Franklin D. Roosevelt, with CVG-17 embarked, during her voyage from the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Washington to her new homeport Mayport, Florida,
following her SCB-110 modernisation. The FDR circumnavigated South America via Cape Hoorn from 4 June to 8 August 1956

after her SCB-110 conversion – June 1956

after her SCB-110 conversion – June 1956

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Washington – June 1956

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Washington – June 1956

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Washington – June 1956

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Washington – June 1956

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Washington – June 1956

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Washington – June 1956

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Washington – June 1956

May 1956

May 1956

May 1956

May 1956

May 1956

May 1956

USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA 42) during her SCB-110 modernisation at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard which lasted from 5 March 1954 to June 1956

SCB-110 modification: March 1954 – June 1956


arriving at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for her upcoming conversion – March 1954

March 1954

March 1954

March 1954

March 1954

March 1954

March 1954

March 1954

USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA 42) off Cape Horn on 4 February 1954. FDR, with assigned Carrier Air Group 8 (CVG-8), circumnavigated South America
between 7 January and 5 March 1954 to enter the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Washington (USA), for her SCB-110 modernization

McDonnell F2H-2P Banshee of Composite Squadron 62 (VC-62) “Fighting Photos” in flight over USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA 42) on 27 January 1953.
VC-62 Det.7 was assigned to Carrier Air Group 17 (CVG-17) aboard the Franklin D. Roosevelt for a deployment to the North Atlantic
and the Mediterranean Sea from 26 August to 19 December 1952

redesignated CVA 42 on October 1, 1952


Douglas F3D-2 Skyknight of VC-4 on the flight deck – 1952

Douglas F3D-2 Skyknight of VC-4 on the flight deck – 1952

with Carrier Air Group 17 (CVG-17) embarked – early 1950’s

with Carrier Air Group 17 (CVG-17) embarked – early 1950’s

Lockheed P2V-3C Neptune launches with “Jet-assisted take-off (JATO)” from USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVB 42) on 2 July 1951

with CVG-6 embarked – off Nice, France – 1951

USS Franklin D. Roosevelt anchored at an unknown location in the Mediterranean Sea.
On the flight deck are various aircraft of Carrier Air Group 4 (CVG-4) which was deployed aboard the FDR from 13 September 1948 to 23 January 1949

with Carrier Air Group 4 (CVG-4) embarked – November 1948

with Carrier Air Group 4 (CVG-4) embarked – late 1948

with Carrier Air Group 4 (CVG-4) embarked – off Piraeus, Greece – October 1948

circa 1946-48

circa 1947

with CVBG-75 embarked – at anchor at Piraeus, Greece – September 1946

with CVBG-75 embarked – circa May 1946

early 1946

Guantanamo Bay, Cuba – May 1946

Gulf of Paria, off Trinidad – April 1946

FH-1 Phantom taking off from USS Franklin D. Roosevelt – 1946

Lockheed P-80A fighter aircraft tests off Virginia – 1946

Vought F4U-4 Corsair fighters from Fighting Squadron VF-75 Gay Blades and Curtiss SB2C-4E Helldivers of Torpedo Squadron VT-75 Fish Hawks fly over
USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVB 42). Both squadrons were assigned to Carrier Air Group 75 (CVBG-75) aboard the FDR
for a cruise in the Western Atlantic from 19 April to 25 May 1946

November 1945

New York City – late 1945

commissioning at the New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn on Navy Day – October 27, 1945

commissioning at the New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn on Navy Day – October 27, 1945

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