USS LAKE CHAMPLAIN
(CV-39) Motto: The Straightest And The GreatestClick to view crew list
Named for the battle of the War of 1812, USS Lake Champlain was built at the Norfolk Navy Yard in Virginia. After being commissioned in June 1945, she helped bring home troops from Europe. The ship was put on mothballs in February of 1947.
As the Cold War began to heat up, the need for more aircraft carriers became apparent. After receiving a modernization, the ship was re-commissioned in late 1952. That same year she received a new hull number of CVA-39. She arrived to help with the Korean War effort in June 1953, just six weeks before armistice was declared. She made several voyages to the Mediterranean over the next few years.
In August 1957, USS Lake Champlain was reconfigured to carry anti-submarine aircraft. This changed her hull designation to CVS-39. She continued serving in the Atlantic, Caribbean and Mediterranean areas. She participated in the quarantine of Cuba in late 1962. She was also used for training cruises and helped with recovery during manned space flights.
Her design ended up being her doom. She was the only ship left with a straight flight deck. Modern aircraft could not operate on her safely and in May 1966, she was formally decommissioned.
CV-39 Deployments - Major Events
| Month | Year | to | Month | Year | Deployment / Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Add a CV-39 Deployment - Major Event | |||||
CV-39 Crew
| Year | Rank/Rate | Last Name | First Name | Hometown | Home State | Remembered by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 | LTJG | Henderson | Glenn | Nashville | TN | |
| 1943 | MM | Tomlinson | James | Portage Lakes | OH | |
| 1944 | -- | Howell | Guy W. | Anniston | AL | |
| 1944 | CPL | Thomas | Jack | Frost | TX | |
| 1944 | FC | Cavanagh | Thomas | Bron X | NY | |
| 1944 | GM | Gleason | Thomas | Elizabeth | NJ | |
| 1944 | GM | Kelly | Harold | Brooklyn | NY | |
| 1944 | GM | Perry | Wayne | Amarillo | TX | |
| 1944 | GM | Thompson | Elmer | Council Bluffs | IA | |
| 1944 | QM | Mahony | Owen | Warwick | RI | |
| 1944 | RD | Schneider | Lewis | Woodstown | NJ | |
| 1944 | SC | Sheward | Donald | Dunkirk | IN | |
| 1944 | SF | Knapp | Albert | Framingham | MA | |
| 1944 | SN | Lemay | Raymond | Cohoes | NY | |
| 1945 | Carl | James I. | Horseheads | NY | ||
| 1945 | AO | Cooper | Thomas | Schenectady Ny | FL | |
| 1945 | MM | Vergona | Joe | New Orleans | LA | |
| 1945 | PFC | Caldwell | Gordon T. | Cummington | MA | |
| 1945 | SM | Phillips | Ralph | Kennewick | WA | |
| 1945 | WT | Newton | Fred | Omaha | NE | |
| 1945 | YN | Stewart | Hugh | Tavares | FL | |
| 1952 | AB | Crook | Norman | Rumford | RI | |
| 1952 | AB | Crook | Norman | Rumford | RI | |
| 1952 | AD | Elrod | William | Jacksonville | FL | |
| 1952 | EM | Meckel | Melvyn | Pleasanton | TX | |
| 1952 | EM | Meckel | Melvyn | Pleasanton | TX | |
| 1952 | EM | Williams | John | Vinita | OK | Meckel |
| 1952 | EN | Walker | Jim | Nacogdoches | TX | |
| 1952 | ET | Jones | Mike | Athens | GA | |
| 1952 | FT | Rostin | Clifford | Ft. Laud | FL | |
| 1952 | HM | Donnelly | Thomas | Bristol | PA | |
| 1952 | HT | Breglia | Robert | Brooklyn | NY | |
| 1952 | ME | Mizzi | Joseph | Beaufort | NC | |
| 1952 | PFC | Truman | Roscoe | Louisville | KY | |
| 1952 | SCPO | Printy | John | Rochester | NH | |
| 1953 | AB | Ribbe | James | Cherry Hjill | NJ | |
| 1953 | AB | Ribbe | James | Trenton | NJ | |
| 1953 | AE | Nussbaum | Henry | Valdosta | GA | |
| 1953 | FT | Peralta | Tony | Brooklyn | NY | |
| 1953 | ME | Cirillo | Angelo | Manchester | NJ | |
| 1953 | SK | Relahan | John | Calais | ME | |
| 1953 | SM | Carroll | Eugene | Interlaken | NY | |
| 1954 | AB | Hatton | Donald (Tex) | Murchison | TX | |
| 1954 | AE | Plude | Michael D | Eagle River | WI | |
| 1954 | BM | Cranford | Austin (ozzie) | Peoria | IL | |
| 1954 | BM | Dan | Elder | Colombus Jct. | IA | |
| 1954 | BT | Pastorius | Frank | Pittsburgh | PA | |
| 1954 | FT | Mc Leod | Robert | Warren | NJ | |
| 1954 | FT | Mitchell | Mike | Syracuse | NY | |
| 1954 | FT | Weinstein | Jerry | Miami | FL | |
| 1954 | GM | Almy | Gordon | Gloversville | NY | |
| 1954 | HT | Clare | Leige | Niagara Falls | NY | |
| 1954 | HT | Stoffel | Joe | Aurora | IL | |
| 1954 | MS | Van Beck | Henry | Sarasota | FL | |
| 1954 | PH | Hermanson | Herman | Blanchardville | WI | |
| 1954 | SK | Ogletree | Daniel | Virginia Beach | VA | |
| 1954 | SM | Harding | Robert | Galesburg | IL | |
| 1954 | SN | Hardel | Everett | San Pierre | IN | |
| 1955 | AB | Hagar | Lowell | Lemars | IA | |
| 1955 | AB | Melvin | Burton | Smyrna | DE | |
| 1955 | AE | Egner | Russell | Somerset | PA | |
| 1955 | CMDR | Krasno | Louis | Milwaukee | WI | Essey |
| 1955 | FN | Keels | Stephen | Philadelphia | PA | |
| 1955 | FT | Hunter | Ralph | Atlantic Beach | FL | |
| 1955 | RM | Kilpatrick | Donald | Atlanta | GA | |
| 1956 | AB | Lauzon | Donald | Algonac | MI | |
| 1956 | AO | Brown | Leon | Charlotte | NC | |
| 1956 | AO | Nazworth | James | Ft White | FL | |
| 1956 | BM | Siegler | Mike | Farmingdale, Li | NY | |
| 1956 | GM | Warren | Allen | Laurelton | NY | |
| 1956 | GYSGT | Sassenberger | Joseph | Acworth | GA | Newberry |
| 1956 | HM | Essey | George | Monessen | PA | |
| 1956 | HM | Nichols | Jack | Philadelphia | PA | Essey |
| 1956 | RM | Kierl | Joe | Haines City | FL | |
| 1956 | RM | Osborne | Dodge | Hamilton | OH | |
| 1956 | SN | Gramlich | David | Rochester | NY | |
| 1957 | AM | Linton | Pete | FL | ||
| 1957 | AN | Keller | Kenneth | Easley | SC | |
| 1957 | AN | Keller | Kenneth | Easley | SC | |
| 1957 | AN | Mathurin | Martin | Danielson | CT | |
| 1957 | CPO | Wise | Willie M. | Pensacola | FL | |
| 1957 | PR | Winslow | Edward | Beverly | MA | |
| 1957 | PR | Winslow | Edward | Beverly | MA | |
| 1957 | PR | Winslow Iii | Edward | Beverly | MA | |
| 1958 | AK | Seibold | Vincent | Bayside L.i. | NY | |
| 1958 | AK | Stark | Jon | Olean | NY | |
| 1958 | BT | Jeannotte | Keith | St.John | ND | |
| 1958 | BT | Marshall | Jimbo | Springdale | AR | |
| 1958 | BT | Moore | John | NJ | ||
| 1958 | BT | Nails | William | Buchanan | GA | |
| 1958 | BT | Nails | William | Buchanan | GA | |
| 1958 | BT | Norris | Jim | West Friendship | MD | |
| 1958 | BT | Reynolds | Robert | Stockbridge | MI | |
| 1958 | CMDR | Nelson | Henry T. | Cheyenne | WY | |
| 1958 | HM | Furlong | James | East Prairie | MO | |
| 1958 | MM | Smith | John | Laurens | SC | |
| 1958 | RM | Young | Charles | Collins | MS | |
| 1958 | RM | Young | Charles | Collins | MS | |
| 1958 | SN | Holmes | Gary | Brighton | MI | |
| 1958 | SSGT | Sanders | Richard L. | Duncan | SC | |
| 1959 | Inman | Jack | Jasonville | IN | ||
| 1959 | Ross | David | Na | NY | Carpenter | |
| 1959 | AC | Killian | Ed | Runge | TX | |
| 1959 | AD | Allen | Larry (Vs-30) | Arvin | CA | |
| 1959 | AD | Upchurch | Larry (vaw 12 ) | Anadarko | OK | |
| 1959 | AT | Parker | Robert | Orange | TX | |
| 1959 | CPL | Zolna | Kenneth | Cleveland | OH | |
| 1959 | MM | Carpenter | Larry | Seymour | IN | |
| 1959 | MM | Carpenter | Larry | Seymour | IN | |
| 1959 | MM | Tally | Roy | Lubbok | TX | |
| 1959 | PH | Kreitzberg | Larry | Rochester | NY | |
| 1959 | PH | Newberry | Richard | Hamilton | OH | |
| 1959 | RD | Dengg | Edward | Louisville | KY | |
| 1959 | RD | Thompson | Irven | Williamson | WV | |
| 1959 | SN | Gatto | Vito | Old Forge | PA | |
| 1959 | YN | Johnson | Greg | St. Paul | MN | Millets |
| 1960 | AB | Cunningham | Jerry | Decatur | IL | |
| 1960 | AB | Picone | Ronnie | Yonkers | NY | |
| 1960 | AD | Eidson | Randall ( Randy ) Vaw-12 Det.39 | Springfield | OH | |
| 1960 | AE | Knott | Bobby (bob) | Lagrange | GA | |
| 1960 | AO | Voice | Gilbert | Hinsdale | IL | |
| 1960 | BT | Fahrney | Tom | Dayton | OH | |
| 1960 | BT | Mogstad | Dennis | Creswell | OR | |
| 1960 | EN | Stonebraker | Larry | Los Angeles | CA | |
| 1960 | MCPO | Rouse | Daniel | Johnson City | NY | |
| 1960 | MM | Dawson | Norman | San Marcos | TX | |
| 1960 | PN | Millets | John | Allentown | PA | |
| 1960 | SH | Kirkendall | Harlan | Toledo | OH | |
| 1960 | SN | Thompson | Scott | Beaver Falls | PA | |
| 1961 | -- | Duhaime | William | Mendon | MA | |
| 1961 | AE | Smith Vs22 | J.b.. | Powder Springs | GA | |
| 1961 | AT | Devan | Ric | Geneva | OH | |
| 1961 | AT | Hughes | Ed | Ny | NY | |
| 1961 | BT | Rankin | Gary | Dover | OH | |
| 1961 | IM | Bazzano | Bart | Winstead | CT | |
| 1961 | LT | Maiellaro-vs-22 | Robert (bob) | Auburn | NY | |
| 1961 | MM | Blackhurst | William | East Liverpool | OH | |
| 1961 | MM | Marquardt | Robert (bob) | Rhinelander | WI | |
| 1961 | MS | Rogers | Charles | Cassville | GA | |
| 1961 | PH | Raymond | Bruce | Fruitport | MI | |
| 1961 | PH | Woods | Robert | Natick | MA | |
| 1961 | SH | Evans | John | Bristol | RI | |
| 1961 | YN | Strieter | James | Unionville | MI | |
| 1961 | YN | Strieter | James | Unionville | MI | |
| 1962 | AB | Barbara | John | Hammond | IN | |
| 1962 | AB | Norman | James | Southington | CT | |
| 1962 | AC | Ellis | Emanuel | Howard Beach | NY | |
| 1962 | AD | Jackson | Curtis | Laurinburg | NC | |
| 1962 | AD | Pfeiffer - Vs22 | Robert | Cincinnati | OH | |
| 1962 | AD | Wood | Harry | Kenilworth | NJ | |
| 1962 | AD | Wood | Harry | Kenilworth | NJ | |
| 1962 | AM | Adams | Edward | Independence | MO | |
| 1962 | AM | Cote | Raymond | New York City | NY | |
| 1962 | AM | Sullivan | Richard | Brooklyn | NY | |
| 1962 | AT | Joseph | Charles | Orig Staten Is. Ny | MD | |
| 1962 | AT | Neve | Anthony | Norristown | PA | |
| 1962 | BT | Herdman | James | Kingston | NY | |
| 1962 | BT | Jennings | Ronald | Yakima | WA | |
| 1962 | CS | Becksted | James | Massena | NY | |
| 1962 | HM | Forsythe | John | Beachwood | OH | |
| 1962 | LTJG | Crimmins | Pat | PA | ||
| 1962 | LTJG | Hennebry | Maurice | -- | ||
| 1962 | LTJG | Morse | Jack | -- | ||
| 1962 | LTJG | Rice | Walter | -- | ||
| 1962 | LTJG | Rogers | Jerry | Avon-by-the Sea | NJ | |
| 1962 | LTJG | Roth | Cliff | -- | ||
| 1962 | PH | Letourneau | Larry | Peoria | IL | |
| 1962 | PH | Letourneau | Lawrence | Peoria | IL | |
| 1962 | RD | Cooper | Jerry | Charleston | MO | |
| 1962 | RM | Bisceglia | Anthony(Tony) | Monessen | PA | |
| 1962 | SM | Talley | John | San Angelo | TX | |
| 1963 | AB | Labruyere | Ronald | Brooklyn | NY | |
| 1963 | AD | Sandberg | Bcharles | Des Moines | IA | |
| 1963 | AE | Cross | Charles | Atlanta | GA | |
| 1963 | AO | Alpert | Michael | Lakewood | NJ | |
| 1963 | BM | Brittingham | Robert | Vienna | VA | |
| 1963 | BM | Thomas | Robert F. | Manistee | MI | |
| 1963 | ET | Seyfert | Harry | Danville | IL | |
| 1963 | LTJG | Mcnerney | Daniel | Mims | FL | |
| 1963 | PH | Weaver | James Lee | Palm Harbor | FL | |
| 1963 | PN | Pharr - Vs-22 | Carl | Columbus | OH | |
| 1963 | PN | Woller | Leslie | Fond Du Lac | WI | |
| 1963 | QM | Houston | Jimmie | Marion | OH | |
| 1963 | RM | Condon | John | Chicago | IL | |
| 1964 | AD | Bardin | Mike | Navarre | OH | |
| 1964 | AD | Mills | Jerry | Childress | TX | |
| 1964 | AK | Bale | Robert | Sand Springs | OK | |
| 1964 | AX | Acevedo (vs-22) | Frank | Los Angeles | CA | |
| 1964 | CS | Volpe | Peter | Brooklyn | NY | |
| 1964 | DC | Adams | Ronald | Toledo | OH | |
| 1964 | HM | Walkup | Larry | Pasco | WA | |
| 1964 | IC | Anderson | Thomas | Branson | MO | |
| 1964 | TM | Fisher | Harry | Philadelphia | PA | |
| 1965 | ENSN | Leroe | Bernard | Washington | NJ | |
| 1965 | PH | Ladd | Arnold | Hammond | IN | |
| 1966 | AD | Halsey | Sterling | Walden | NY | |
| 1966 | BT | Gregory | James | Longwood | FL | |
| 1966 | CPO | Stevens | Merrill (steve) | Taylor | TX | |
| 1966 | IC | Leibe | Paul | Lexington Park | MD | |
| 1968 | RM | Denault | Fred | Walden | NY | Halsey |