This Warship Terrorized Japanese Military in WWII — She’s Now a Museum in Charleston, SC

The Rise of the Fighting Lady

The USS Yorktown (CV-10) began life with a different name – Bon Homme Richard.

Following the tragic loss of the first USS Yorktown (CV-5) at the Battle of Midway in June 1942, the Navy renamed the new Essex-class carrier in honor of the fallen ship.

Her keel was laid down on December 1, 1941, just six days before the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Officially commissioned on April 15, 1943, with Captain Joseph J. Clark in command, Yorktown was sponsored by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt during her launch on January 21, 1943.

The carrier would quickly earn the nickname “The Fighting Lady” and establish a reputation for excellence that would follow her throughout her service.

First Combat: Marcus Island Raid

The newly commissioned Yorktown wasted no time entering the fight in the Pacific.

After completing shakedown training near Trinidad and post-shakedown availability at Norfolk, she headed for the Pacific in July 1943.

On August 31, 1943, as part of Task Force 15, Yorktown’s aircraft conducted their first combat mission, striking Japanese installations on Marcus Island.

This early success helped establish Yorktown’s reputation as a formidable weapon in the Pacific campaign.

Expanding the Offensive During the Wake Island Attack

Just weeks after her first combat mission, Yorktown returned to battle on October 5-6, 1943, when she launched air strikes against Japanese installations on Wake Island.

After retiring eastward for the night, her aircraft resumed raids early the following morning. They continuing relentlessly through most of the day before its journey back to Hawaii.

These operations fractured Japanese control in the Central Pacific.

It also paved the way for the Allied island-hopping strategy that would take the war to Japan’s doorstep.

USS Yorktown’s First Major Amphibious Support

In November 1943, Yorktown joined Task Force 50 for the invasion of the Gilbert Islands.

It would be her first major assault operation, and the Fighting Lady arrived at the launch point near Mili and Jaluit on November 19.

There, she launched series of raids to subdue enemy air power during the amphibious assaults on Makin, Abemama, and Tarawa.

Her aircraft provided critical air support for ground troops while neutralizing Japanese defenses. She would perform this repeatedly throughout the Pacific campaign.

Marshall Islands Breakthrough

On January 16, 1944, Yorktown sailed for the Marshall Islands as part of Task Force 58.1.

On January 29, the carrier launched strikes against Maloelap before shifting focus to Kwajalein the next day.

Throughout this period, her aircraft struck targets in preparation for the assaults on Majuro and Kwajalein scheduled for January 31.

When Allied troops stormed ashore, Yorktown’s aviators continued providing crucial air support.

First Strikes Against Japanese Home Islands

Yorktown expanded its role dramatically in 1945 with direct attacks on Japan in support of the Iwo Jima invasion.

Yorktown’s aircraft bombed factories, military installations, and airfields around Tokyo.

These attacks brought American air power directly to Japan’s doorstep, the first after the legendary since Doolittle Raid around three years before.

Planes also struck targets on Chichi Jima and Haha Jima during this operation. Pilots returned with valuable reconnaissance photos showing bomb damage and enemy defenses.

The psychological impact demoralized Japanese civilians and military leadership.

The Great Marianas Turkey Shoot

In June 1944, Yorktown helped support the Allied landings on Saipan.

On June 19, she started her day by mounting raids on Guam, then jumping into the first stages of the Battle of the Philippine Sea.

Yorktown’s aircraft was ferocious during this first day of battle. They terrorized Guam air bases by dropping 21 tons of bombs, and claimed destroying 37 enemy planes.

The following day, her pilots found Admiral Jisaburo Ozawa’s fleet.

They the carrier Zuikaku and scored several hits.

The decisive American victory went down in history as”The Great Marianas Turkey Shoot,” and effectively ended the threat from Japanese naval air power for the rest of the war.

Helping Destroy the Battleship Yamato

On April 7, 1945, while supporting operations on Okinawa, Yorktown helped defeat Operation Ten-Go and sink Japanese battleship Yamato.

When American reconnaissance spotted the Japanese task force built around Yamato steaming south, Yorktown and other carriers quickly launched strikes to attack.

Yorktown’s Air Group 9 aviators claimed hitting the Yamato with several torpedoes just before it exploded and sank.

The Yamato was Japan’s largest and most powerful battleship, and her defeat marked one of Yorktown’s most significant combat achievements.

Typhoon Cobra: Rescue Operations in Disaster

In December 1944, Yorktown and Task Force 38 encountered Typhoon Cobra while operating in the Philippine Sea.

The typhoon produced 100-foot waves and winds exceeding 100 knots. Nearly 800 sailors lost their lives in this disaster.

The massive storm sank three destroyers: Spence, Hull, and Monaghan.

Yorktown maintained station throughout the storm and launched search aircraft when conditions permitted.

The carrier’s boats retrieved exhausted sailors from the water.

The experience led Admiral Nimitz to establish new weather prediction protocols for the Pacific Fleet.

Striking Japan’s Inner Defenses in the South China Sea

Yorktown and the rest of the Fast Carrier Task Force entered the South China Sea on On January 10, 1945 to launch a series of raids on the inner defenses of Japan.

Her planes pounded targets in the vicinity of Saigon, French Indochina (now Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam) on On January 12.

The Task Force then struck Okinawa, Formosa, Canton and Hong Kong before making their way back to their anchorage at Ulithi Lagoon.

This weakened Japan even more, and she was now isolated from many of its resources and conquered territories.

Welcoming the Apollo 8 Astronauts

On December 27, 1968, Apollo 8 splashed down approximately 1,000 miles southwest of Hawaii after a six-day mission.

The mission marked the first time humans left Earth orbit, circled the moon, and returned safely.

Forty-five minutes after splashdown, astronauts Frank Borman, James Lovell, and William Anders stood safely on Yorktown’s flight deck.

Yorktown’s helicopters located the capsule and deployed Navy swimmers to secure it. The ship’s crane lifted the spacecraft aboard to be examined by NASA technicians.

Receiving Her Presidential Unit Citation

The USS Yorktown received the Presidential Unit Citation for extraordinary service in World War II.

This prestigious award recognized operations from August 31, 1943, to August 15, 1945, including strikes on Marcus Island, Wake Island, the Gilbert Islands, Marshalls, Truk, Marianas, Palau, Hollandia, and Japanese home islands.

The citation praised Yorktown for “extraordinary heroism in action against enemy Japanese forces.

This recognition placed Yorktown among the most decorated vessels of World War II. After decommissioning on June 27, 1970, Yorktown began a new chapter as a museum ship.

In 1975, she arrived at Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, where she later received designation as a National Historic Landmark.

Today, she serves as the centerpiece of Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum.

Exploring the USS Yorktown Today

You can explore multiple decks of this historic aircraft carrier at Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum.

Your admission includes access to the flight deck featuring 27 restored aircraft spanning different eras.

Don’t miss the immersive Engine Room Experience where interactive kiosks bring the ship’s power systems to life. Take a ride in the Apollo 8 capsule replica while listening to actual mission communications.

Download the Patriots Point Experience app for audio tours featuring real stories from those who served aboard.

The Medal of Honor Museum located on the hangar deck honors America’s highest military decoration recipients with compelling exhibits.

Special Tours and Experiences

Beyond standard admission, you can enhance your visit with the Captain’s Guided Tour taking you to areas normally off-limits to the public.

This experience reveals what life was like for sailors during World War II, Vietnam, and the Apollo 8 recovery mission.

For the adventurous, try the Flight Simulator in the Hangar Bay for an additional fee. Pick up a Scavenger Hunt at the Information Desk to engage younger visitors.

The surrounding 2.5-acre Vietnam Experience recreates a Navy base camp with authentic details including a mess hall and fire control bunker.

The adjacent USS Laffey destroyer offers another perspective on naval warfare.

Visitor Information

Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum is located at 40 Patriots Point Road in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, just across the harbor from Charleston.

As of 2025, the museum operates daily from 9am to 5pm, with last tickets sold at 4pm. Christmas Day hours are reduced (9am-3:30pm).

General admission tickets ($29.95 for adults, with discounts for seniors, military, and children) include access to USS Yorktown, USS Laffey, the Vietnam Experience Exhibit, and Medal of Honor Museum.

Tickets remain valid for one year from purchase date. Consider the Friends of the Fleet annual pass ($85) for unlimited visits. Ample parking is available on-site for a separate fee

Read More from This Brand:

• America’s Oldest Landscaped Gardens Showcase 300 Years of History In Charleston, SC
• 7 Historic Mansions & Plantations in Charleston, SC You Should Tour This 2025
• The Untouched Beach at This Former South Carolina Plantation Has Ancient Shell Mounds from 4000 Years Ago