20 MAR 1945

Christened:  USS MIDWAY

Launched & towed to outfitting pier by nine tugs

Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company

Newport News, Virginia

10 SEP 1945

Moved under own power from Newport News, Virginia

to Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia

Commissioned:  CVB-41 MIDWAY

Commanding Officer:  CAPT J.F. Bolger

24 SEP 1945 ~ 11 OCT 1945

Drydock #4

Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia

CVB-41

20 OCT 1945 ~ 15 DEC 1945

Shakedown Cruise

(Caribbean)

Navy Day Celebration (New York City, NY)

Commanding Officer:  CAPT J.F. Bolger

Length of Cruise:  57 Days

Total Miles Steamed:  Not Available

Total Days at Sea:  37 (not consecutive)

Equator Crossing:  No

CVBG-74

Squadrons

Aircraft

Tail Code

Modex

VF-74

F4U-4, F6F-5N, F6F-5P

74-F-xx

VBF-74

Cavaliers

F4U-4

74-BF-xx

VB-74

Bomb-a-Toms

SB2C-5

74-B-xx

VT-74

Beasts

SB2C-5, TBM-3E

74-T-xx

CVB-41

USS MIDWAY

SNJ-5

CVB-41

14 JAN 1946 ~ 04 FEB 1946

Drydock #4

Norfolk Naval Shipyard

Portsmouth, Virginia

CVB-41

01 MAR 1946 ~ 09 APR 1946

WESTLANT (Local Operations)

NORLANT / Arctic Circle Operations

(Between Greenland, Labrador & the Hudson Strait)

Operation FROSTBITE

Commanding Officer:  CAPT H.S. Duckworth

Length of Cruise:  39 Days

Total Miles Steamed:  Not Available

Total Days at Sea:  31 (not consecutive)

Equator Crossing:  No

CVBG-74

Squadrons

Aircraft

Tail Code

Modex

VF-74

F4U-4, F6F-5N, F6F-5P

74-F-xx

VBF-74

Cavaliers

F4U-4

74-BF-xx

VB-74

Bomb-a-Toms

SB2C-5

74-B-xx

VT-74

Beasts

SB2C-5, TBM-3E

74-T-xx

CVB-41

USS MIDWAY

SNJ-5

NATC

F8F-1, FR-1

NATC

USCG

HNS-1 (R-4)

CVB-41

19 APR ~ 11 JUN 1946

Caribbean

Commanding Officer:  CAPT H.S. Duckworth

Length of Cruise:  

Total Miles Steamed: 

Total Days at Sea: 

Equator Crossing:  No

CVBG-74

Squadrons

Aircraft

Tail Code

Modex

VF-74  (*B)

F4U-4, F6F-5N, F6F-5P

74-F-xx

VBF-74  (*C)

Cavaliers

F4U-4

74-BF-xx

VB-74  (*D)

Bomb-a-Toms

SB2C-5

 74-B-xx

VT-74  (*E)

Beasts

SB2C-5, TBM-3W

74-T-xx

CVB-41

USS MIDWAY

SNJ-5

NOTES:

(*A)  15 NOV 1946:  CVBG-74 redesignated as CVBG-1

(*B)  15 NOV 1946:  VF-74 redesignated as VF-1B

(*C)  15 NOV 1946:  VBF-74 redesignated as VF-2B

(*D)  15 NOV 1946:  VB-74 redesignated as VA-1B

(*E)  15 NOV 1946:  VT-74 redesignated as VA-2B

JUN 1946 ~ APR 1947

Overhaul:

Extension and enlargement of the island structure & relocation of

the forward flight deck Mk 37 gun director to the top of the island.

Norfolk Naval Shipyard

Norfolk, Virginia

CVB-41

Early to Mid-1947

Caribbean Training Cruises

Commanding Officer:  CAPT J.P. Whitney

Length of Cruise:  

Total Miles Steamed: 

Total Days at Sea: 

Equator Crossing:  No

CVBG-1

Squadrons

Aircraft

Tail Code

Modex

VF-1B

F4U-4, F6F-5P

M

1xx

VF-2B

Cavaliers

F4U-4

M

2xx

VA-1B

Bomb-a-Toms

AD-1

M

3xx

VA-2B

Beasts

AD-1, TBM-3W

M

4xx

CVB-41

USS MIDWAY

SNJ-5

CVB-41

02 ~ 09 SEP 1947

WESTLANT  (Local Operations)

Operation SANDY

(V-2 Rocket Launch)

Commanding Officer:  CAPT A.K. Morehouse

Length of Cruise:  

Total Miles Steamed: 

Total Days at Sea: 

Equator Crossing:  No

CVBG-1

Squadrons

Aircraft

Tail Code

Modex

VF-1B

F4U-4

M

1xx

VF-2B

Cavaliers

F4U-4

M

2xx

VA-1B

Bomb-a-Toms

AD-1

M

3xx

VA-2B

Beasts

AD-1

M

4xx

VX-3

HO3S-1

XC

CVB-41

USS MIDWAY

SNJ-5

CVB-41

29 OCT 1947 ~ 11 MAR 1948

Mediterranean

Commanding Officer:  CAPT A.K. Morehouse

Length of Cruise:  134 Days

Total Miles Steamed:  19,000

Total Days at Sea:  51 (not consecutive)

Equator Crossing:  No

CVBG-1

Squadrons

Aircraft

Tail Code

Modex

VF-1B

F4U-4

M

1xx

VF-2B

Cavaliers

F4U-4

M

2xx

VA-1B

Bomb-a-Toms

AD-1

M

3xx

VA-2B

Beasts

AD-1

M

4xx

VCN-2 Det ?

F6F-5N

LA

VX-3

HO3S-1

XC

CVB-41

USS MIDWAY

SNJ-5

22 MAR ~ 30 SEP 1948

CVB Improvement Program No. 1

Norfolk Naval Shipyard

Norfolk, Virginia

CVB-41

18 OCT ~ 23 NOV 1948

Caribbean

Commanding Officer:  CAPT M.E.A. Gouin

Length of Cruise:  

Total Miles Steamed: 

Total Days at Sea: 

Equator Crossing:  No

CVG-6

Squadrons

Aircraft

Tail Code

Modex

VF-61

Jolly Rogers

F8F-2, F8F-2N, F8F-2P

C

1xx

VF-62

F8F-2

C

2xx

VF-63

Fighting Redcocks

F8F-2

C

3xx

VA-64

AD-1

C

4xx

VA-65

Fist of the Fleet

AD-1

C

5xx

VC-4 Det 5

Nightcappers

F6F-5N

NA

VC-12 Det 5

Bats

TBM-3W

NE

HU-2 Det 5

Fleet Angels

HO3S-1

UR

CVB-41

USS MIDWAY

SNJ-5

CVB-41

04 JAN ~ 05 MAR 1949

Mediterranean

Commanding Officer:  CAPT M.E.A. Gouin

Length of Cruise: 

Total Miles Steamed: 

Total Days at Sea: 

Equator Crossing:  No

CVG-6

Squadrons

Aircraft

Tail Code

Modex

VF-172

Checkmates

F4U-4

R

2xx

VA-64

AD-1

C

4xx

VA-65

Fist of the Fleet

AD-1

C

5xx

VMF-225

Vagabonds

F4U-4

WI

VMF-461

Red Raiders

F4U-4

LP

VC-4 Det 5

Nightcappers

F4U-5N

NA

VC-12 Det 5

Bats

TBM-3W

NE

VC-62 Det 5

Fighting Photos

F4U-5P

PL

HU-2 Det 5

Fleet Angels

HO3S-1

UR

CVB-41

USS MIDWAY

SNJ-5

Commanding Officer:  CAPT M.E.A. Gouin

Length of Cruise: 

Total Miles Steamed: 

Total Days at Sea: 

Equator Crossing:  No

NO CVG ASSIGNED

Squadrons

Aircraft

Tail Code

Modex

VA-174

Battering Rams

AM-1

R

4xx

CVB-41

07 APR 1949

WESTLANT (Local Operations)

Jet Aircraft Evaluations

P2V-3C Neptune Test Launches

K-Class Airship landing

Commanding Officer:  CAPT M.E.A. Gouin

Length of Cruise:  

Total Miles Steamed: 

Total Days at Sea: 

Equator Crossing:  No

CVG-?

Squadrons

Aircraft

Tail Code

Modex

NATC

F2H-1

NATC

VC-5

P2V-3C

NB

ZPK-?? (K-Class Airship)

~ Partial List Only ~ No Additional Information Available ~

CVB-41

02 ~ 07 MAY 1949

WESTLANT (Local Operations)

CARQUALS

Commanding Officer:  CAPT M.E.A. Gouin

Length of Cruise:  

Total Miles Steamed: 

Total Days at Sea: 

Equator Crossing:  No

CVG-4 & CVG-88

Squadrons

Aircraft

Tail Code

Modex

VA-44  (*A)

Scarlet Knights

AM-1

F

4xx

VA-45  (*A)

BlackKnights

AM-1

F

5xx

VA-84  (*B)

Maulers

AM-1, AM-1Q

E

4xx

VA-85  (*B)

AM-1

E

5xx

~ Partial List Only ~ No Additional Information Available ~

NOTES:

(*A)  CVG-4

(*B)  CVG-8

CVB-41

?? MAY ~ ?? JUN 1949

Caribbean

Commanding Officer:  CAPT M.E.A. Gouin

Length of Cruise:  

Total Miles Steamed: 

Total Days at Sea: 

Equator Crossing:  No

NO CVG ASSIGNED

Squadrons

Aircraft

Tail Code

Modex

VC-4

Nightcappers

AM-1Q

NA

xx

NARTU Dallas

AM-1

D

4xx

HU-2 Det

Fleet Angels

HO3S-1

UR

xx

CVB-41

27 JUN ~ ?? JUL 1949

WESTLANT (Local Operations)

Naval Reserves Training Cruise

Commanding Officer:  CAPT M.E.A. Gouin

Length of Cruise:  

Total Miles Steamed: 

Total Days at Sea: 

Equator Crossing:  No

CVG-8

Squadrons

Aircraft

Tail Code

Modex

VA-84

Maulers

AM-1, AM-1Q

E

4xx

VA-85

AM-1

E

5xx

~ Partial List Only ~ No Additional Information Available ~

CVB-41

?? ~ ?? AUG 1949

WESTLANT (Local Operations)

CARQUALS

Commanding Officer:  CAPT M.E.A. Gouin (possibly CAPT W.M. Beakley depending on if this deployment was before or after 08 AUG 1949, the date CAPT Beakley relieved CAPT Gouin)

Length of Cruise:  

Total Miles Steamed: 

Total Days at Sea: 

Equator Crossing:  No

CVG-4

Squadrons

Aircraft

Tail Code

Modex

VA-44

Scarlet Knights

AM-1

F

4xx

VA-45

BlackKnights

AM-1

F

5xx

~ Partial List Only ~ No Additional Information Available ~

CVB-41

29 AUG ~ 10 SEP 1949

Commanding Officer:  CAPT W.M. Beakley

Length of Cruise:  

Total Miles Steamed: 

Total Days at Sea: 

Equator Crossing:  No

CVG-8

Squadrons

Aircraft

Tail Code

Modex

VF-41

Gay Blades

F4U-5

F

1xx

VF-42

Green Pawns

F4U-5

F

2xx

VF-43

Challengers

F4U-4

F

3xx

VA-84

Maulers

AM-1, AM-1Q

F

4xx

VA-85

AM-1

F

5xx

HU-2 Det 5

Fleet Angels

HO3S-1

UR

CVB-41

USS MIDWAY

SNJ-5

CVB-41

26 SEP & 05 OCT 1949

WESTLANT (Local Operations)

P2V-3C Neptune Test Launches

Commanding Officer:  CAPT W.M. Beakley

Length of Cruise:  

Total Miles Steamed: 

Total Days at Sea: 

Equator Crossing:  No

CVG-?

Squadrons

Aircraft

Tail Code

Modex

VF-41

Gay Blades

F4U-5

F

VC-5

P2V-3C

NB

~ Partial List Only ~ No Additional Information Available ~

CVB-41

31 OCT ~ 22 NOV 1949

WESTLANT (Local Operations)

NORLANT (Arctic Circle Operations)

Commanding Officer:  CAPT W.M. Beakley

Length of Cruise:  

Total Miles Steamed: 

Total Days at Sea: 

Equator Crossing:  No

CVG-8

Squadrons

Aircraft

Tail Code

Modex

VF-81

F8F-2

E

1xx

VF-82

Screamin’ Demons

F8F-2

E

2xx

VF-41

Gay Blades

F4U-5

E

VA-84

Maulers

AM-1, AM-1Q

E

4xx

VA-85

AM-1

E

5xx

CVB-41

USS MIDWAY

SNJ-5

CVB-41

06 JAN ~ 23 MAY 1950

Mediterranean

Commanding Officer:  CAPT W. M. Beakley

Length of Cruise:  138 Days

Total Miles Steamed:  Not Available

Total Days at Sea:  57 (not consecutive)

Equator Crossing:  No

CVG-4

Squadrons

Aircraft

Tail Code

Modex

VF-41 (*A) (*B)

White Pawns (*A)

(Gay Blades) (*B)

F4U-5

F

1xx

VF-42 (*A)

Green Pawns

F4U-5

F

2xx

VF-43 (*A)

Blue Pawns (*A)

(Challengers)

F4U-4

F

3xx

VA-44 (*A)

Scarlet Knights(*A)

AD-1

F

4xx

VA-45 (*A)

Black Knights

AD-1

F

5xx

VC-4 Det 5

Nightcappers

F4U-5N

NA

VC-62 Det 5

Fighting Photos

F4U-5P

PL

VC-12 Det 5

Fighting Omars

TBM-3W

NE

HU-2 Det 5

Fleet Angels

HO3S-1

UR

CVB-41

USS MIDWAY

SNJ-5

NOTES:

(*A)  For this deployment, the squadrons of CVG-4 were assigned colors & names of chess pieces. The fighter squadrons were pawns (two were temporarily renamed) & the attack squadrons were knights. The various detachments also aboard were not part of this scheme.

(*B)  VF-41 Gay Blades is not the same squadron as the future VF-41 Black Aces. The one aboard this cruise was disestablished in June 1950. The future VF-41 (Black Aces) was established immediately after.

CVB-41

19 ~ 27 JUN 1950

WESTLANT (Local Operations)

K-Class Airship Landing

Commanding Officer:  CAPT W. M. Beakley

Length of Cruise:  

Total Miles Steamed: 

Total Days at Sea: 

Equator Crossing:  No

CVG-?

Squadrons

Aircraft

Tail Code

Modex

ZPK-?? (K-Class Airship)

~ Partial List Only ~ No Additional Information Available ~

CVB-41

10 JUL ~ 10 NOV 1950

Mediterranean

Commanding Officer:  CAPT F. M. Kivette

Length of Cruise:  

Total Miles Steamed: 

Total Days at Sea: 

Equator Crossing:  No

CVG-7

Squadrons

Aircraft

Tail Code

Modex

VF-71

F9F-2

K

1xx

VF-72

Bearcats

F8F-1B

E

2xx

VA-75

Sunday Punchers

AD-4

E

3xx

VMF-211

Wake Island Avengers

F4U-4

AF

xx

VC-4 Det 5

Nightcappers

F4U-5N

NA

4xx

VC-62 Det 5

F4U-5P

PL

5xx

VC-33 Det

Night Hawks

AD-3N, AD-4Q

SS

6xx

VC-12 Det 5

Fighting Omars

AD-2W, AD-3W

NE

7xx

HU-2 Det 5

Fleet Angels

HO3S-1

UR

CVB-41

USS MIDWAY

SNJ-5