Crews of more than 3,000 at a time worked aboard the USS Oriskany CV-34, totaling more than 40,000 crew members over the years. On May 17th these amazing photos were taken of the sinking of the USS Oriskany.
The USS Oriskany completed its final mission Wednesday at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Pensacola, Fla. The 888-foot carrier was sunk and will become the world’s largest artificial reef, attracting divers and fishermen alike.
Karen Jacobson, curator of The Oriskany Museum, says residents are very supportive of the museum that has many USS Oriskany artifacts such as the ship’s anchor, bell and a A4-E Skyhawk jet fighter plane like those that flew off its wooden deck during the Vietnam War. The 32,000-ton carrier also saw time in the Korean War.
The one-story museum has two additional focuses: the village history and The Battle of Oriskany, a turning point and one of the bloodiest battles of the American Revolution.
Classes of elementary students from the neighboring Oriskany schools often walk to the museum to get a hands-on history lesson. A group of first-graders are scheduled to go today, Jacobson said.
"I think the village is very lucky to have a museum like this, and a large part of why we’re here today is because of the carrier," she said.
Various mementos from those who served on the aircraft carrier were given to the museum, including a number of yearbook-like cruise books, swim caps, photos and uniforms. The dress uniform and medals of the late Capt. John Iarrobino were donated by his wife, Grace, and is on display at the Utica Street museum.
Shipmates who are members of the USS Oriskany Reunion Association also have ties to the landlocked village, Jacobson said.
A lot of them have joined the (American) Legion (Post 1448)," Jacobson said. "They become members of our village, for sure."
Retired Naval Capt. Phil McKnight stood on the deck of the USS Oriskany more than 40 years ago in the middle of a typhoon and said it’s something he’ll never forget.
"This is how dumb you are when you’re a young officer," said McKnight, of Clinton. "We could go on deck if there were two of us, but we had to get a piece of rope and wrap it around each other’s waists, just so we could watch the waves."
Needless to say, McKnight got his sea legs aboard the storied aircraft carrier.
Many shipmates such as McKnight, who walked the decks between 1950 and 1975, couldn’t be happier about the fate of the carrier.
"This puts that old ship to a very useful purpose," he said. "I’m not about to go down to Pensacola and dive on it, but it’ll be there supporting recreation and it’s better than scrapping it."
Jacobson, the curator, couldn’t agree more.
"I believe the ship will now have an afterlife," Jacobson said. "It’ll still be in service to America, and to the whole world, really. It’s a great ending and a brand new beginning."
Although McKnight was just a young ensign on the "Mighty O" in 1960 he has fond memories of the US Navy putting on air shows for the Philippine government and entertaining the Crown Prince of Japan, who is now the Emperor. The USS Oriskany is the oldest and smallest aircraft carrier McKnight said he ever served on.
"And it may be the deepest in the water," he said.
