VALLEY FORGE LPH 8

Ship Name and Designation History

This section lists the names and designations that the ship had during its lifetime. The list is in chronological order.

Ticonderoga Class Aircraft Carrier Keel Laid 7 September 1943 - Launched & Christened 18 November 1945 USS VALLEY FORGE CV-45 Commissioned 3 November 1946 USS VALLEY FORGE CVA-45 Reclassified Attack Aircraft Carrier (CVA) 2 January 1953 USS VALLEY FORGE CVS-45 Reclassified Anti-submarine Carrier (CVS) 12 November 1953 USS VALLEY FORGE LPH-8 Reclassified Amphibious Assault Ship (Helicopter) (LPH) 1 July 1961 Decommissioned 15 January 1970 Struck from Naval Register 15 January 1970 Sold 29 October 1971 for scrap

Naval Covers

This section lists active links to the pages displaying covers associated with the ship. There should be a separate set of pages for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Covers should be presented in chronological order (or as best as can be determined).

Since a ship may have many covers, they may be split among many pages so it doesn't take forever for the pages to load. Each page link should be accompanied by a date range for covers on that page.

1. USS Valley Forge CV-45 / CVA-45 / CVS-45 / LPH-8 Covers Page 1    (1945-2006)

 

Postmarks

This section lists examples of the postmarks used by the ship. There should be a separate set of postmarks for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Within each set, the postmarks should be listed in order of their classification type. If more than one postmark has the same classification, then they should be further sorted by date of earliest known usage.

A postmark should not be included unless accompanied by a close-up image and/or an image of a cover showing that postmark. Date ranges MUST be based ONLY ON COVERS IN THE MUSEUM and are expected to change as more covers are added.
 
>>> If you have a better example for any of the postmarks, please feel free to replace the existing example.

 

Postmark Type --- Killer Bar Text	Postmark Date	Thumbnail Link To Postmark Image	Thumbnail Link To Cover Image

 

Locy Type FDC 2(n)

1946-11-03

CV-45.

 

Locy Type FDC 9ef(nu)

1946-11-03

CV-45. From the Ronald Finger collection.

 

Locy Type FDC F USCS Postmark Catalog Illus. V-3

1946-11-03

Commissioning, from the Richard F. Hoffner collection.

 

Locy Type 2 USCS Postmark Catalog Illus. V-3b

1953-12-14

CVA-45.

 

Locy Type 2(n) USCS Postmark Catalog Illus. V-3e

1947-03-25

CV-45.

 

Locy Type 2(n) USCS Postmark Catalog Illus. V-3f

1947-05-20

CV-45. 20th Anniversary of Lindbergh's solo flight.

 

Locy Type 2(n) USCS Postmark Catalog Illus. V-3f

1948-07-22

CV-45.

 

Locy Type 2(n+) USCS Postmark Catalog Illus. V-3g

1949-06-22

CV-45.

 

Locy Type 2(n+) (CVS)

1959-10-30

CVS-45.

 

Locy Type 2(n+) (LPH) USCS Postmark Catalog Illus. V-3h

1965-03-13

LPH-8.

 

Locy Type 2(n+) (LPH,USS) USCS Postmark Catalog Illus. V-3i

1964-02-07

LPH-8.

 

Locy Type 7t

1955-08-15

CVS-45.

 

Locy Type 9ef(nu)

1949-10-27

CV-45. Navy Day

 

Locy Type 9fu

1959-10-30

CVS-45.

 

Locy Type F "AROUND / THE WORLD" USCS Postmark Catalog Illus. V-3j

1948-07-22

CV-45. Postmark used as a cachet.

 

Locy Type SLn

1946-11-03

CV-45. Ships straight-line marking. From the John Young collection.

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Ships Commissioning Marking

 

Ships Marking FORMER Locy Type FDC F USCS Postmark Catalog Illus. V-3a

1946-11-03

The marking was cataloged as a Type FDC F (V-3a) postmark, however, NO examples have been found that actually cancelled the stamp. This marking has been used as a cachet or miscellaneous ships marking on covers. Seeing that in 75 years no postally used examples have been seen, in 2021 it was decided to de-list this marking from the postmark listing. Dave Kent, Rich Hoffner and Greg Ciesielski all agree in this course of action, Jan. 24, 2021. Black ink.

 

Ships Marking FORMER Locy Type FDC F USCS Postmark Catalog Illus. V-3a

1946-11-03

"FREE" franking. Purple ink. Cachet by John C. Von Losberg. From the Ronald Finger collection.

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USPS Pictorial Postmark

 

USPS Pictorial Postmark "60th Anniversary Commissioning Station" Valley Forge, PA

2006-11-03

60th Anniversary, cachet by Stephen Decatur Chapter No. 4, USCS

 

Other Information

USS VALLEY FORGE earned the Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon (3 awards), the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon, the China Service Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the Navy Occupation Service Medal w/"Europe" clasp, the National Defense Service Medal (2 awards), the Korean Service Medal w/ 8 Campaign stars, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal w/ 9 Campaign stars, the Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation Ribbon w/ Palm, the United Nations Korean Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal during her Naval career.

NAMESAKE - A locality in Chester County, Pa., where the Continental Army suffered bitter cold and privation during the winter of 1777 and 1778 while British troops basked in warmth and plenty in nearby Philadelphia. Yet, because of the inspiring example of leaders like Washington and skillful training by drill instructors like von Steuben, the American Army emerged from its winter encampment with renewed self confidence, courage, and fighting ability. The name Valley Forge has since become a symbol of the triumph of American patriotism and self-sacrifice.

The ships sponsor was Mrs. Mildred Vandegrift, wife of the Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Alexander A. Vandegrift.

Three ships of the US Navy have borne the name VALLEY FORGE - USS Valley Forge CV-37, USS Valley Forge CV-4 and USS Valley Forge CG-50.

 

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