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The USS Yorktown and World War II: Background
On June 7, 1942 the USS Yorktown sank below the surface of the Pacific Ocean taking 141 crew members with her. In recognition of the vessel that fought so bravely at the battles of the Coral Sea and Midway, a newly commissioned aircraft carrier was renamed in her honor. The new USS Yorktown launched on January 21, 1943, and remained in action throughout the remainder of the war.
Nicknamed “The Fighting Lady,” the Yorktown participated in campaigns across the Pacific Theater including the Marshall and Gilbert Islands, the Marianas, Palau, the Philippines, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. After the war, the carrier was used in the 1970 Pearl Harbor film, Tora! Tora! Tora! and recovered the Apollo 8 spacecraft following its return to earth.
Today, the USS Yorktown serves as the centerpiece exhibit of the Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum. Located in Mt. Pleasant, SC along the Charleston Harbor, Patriots Point offers visitors the chance to step aboard a true piece of WWII history. On October 13, 1975, the 200th anniversary of the United States Navy, the USS Yorktown was dedicated as a museum ship. Today, this Essex-class aircraft carrier welcomes over 300,000 visitors annually and serves as a permanent memorial to her role in the Second World War.
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Sites at Patriots Point (USS Yorktown)
While the USS Yorktown is undoubtedly the primary focus of of the Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum, the campus offers a wide-range of additional vessels and aircraft to explore. Due to the size of the campus, as well as the vessels themselves, expect to spend at least three hours at the museum. However, to thoroughly explore all of the Yorktown’s many nooks and crannies, allow at least a half-day for your visit.
The USS Yorktown should be the primary focus of your visit, but the list below provides an overview of additional worthwhile sites at the museum.
USS Laffey
This destroyer launched on November 21, 1943 and would go on to participate in both the D-Day invasion of Normandy as well as several critical battles in the Pacific including the Battle of Okinawa. The Laffey earned the nickname “The Ship That Would Not Die,” when she withstood an attack by 22 Japanese bombers and kamikaze pilots. By the end of the conflict, the Laffey had become the most decorated destroyer of World War II.
Aircraft
The USS Yorktown’s hanger bay and flight deck contain an array of aircraft representing the WWII-era and beyond. Examples of aircraft from the Second World War include a Douglas Skyraider, a heavy-duty torpedo bomber, a B-25B Mitchell used in the Doolittle Raid, the F4F Wildcat, designed to match the speed and maneuverability of the Japanese Zero, and the F6F Hellcat, which took off from the deck of the Yorktown itself.
Interested in visiting more WWII sites in the U.S.? Check out my Ultimate Guide.
The Vietnam Experience
After gaining a better understanding of the many vessels on display from WWII, step into a “Brown Water Navy” support base in the Vietnam Experience. This section of the museum recreates a U.S. base during the infamous Tet Offensive in the Vietnam War. The site allows visitors to walk through various buildings including a Quonset Hut, mess hall and a fire control tower. The experience also includes several Vietnam-era vehicles including an ambulance, MK1 River Patrol Boat and five helicopters from the conflict.
Experiences at Patriots Point (USS Yorktown)
In addition to exploring the museum’s wide array of vessels and aircraft, Patriot’s point offers several add-on experiences. Each of these is available at an additional cost and should be booked in advance (with the exception of the scavenger hunt and virtual reality ride). While a visit to the USS Yorktown itself is more than enough to satisfy the curiosity of most visitors, these add-ons can elevate the experience for those who wish to dive a little deeper into the history of the carrier.
Captain's Tour
Join an experienced guide as they take you through an in-depth tour aboard the USS Yorktown. On this 90-minute behind-the-scenes tour, guests gain exclusive access to both the Captain’s Quarters as well as a B-25 airplane. Your guide will explain what it was like for sailors aboard the Yorktown during both WWII and Vietnam. While a self-guided exploration of the carrier is sufficient for most guests, this option is great for those wishing to gain a deeper understanding of life aboard this famed ship.
The tour is small with a twenty-person capacity. Tickets are $18 in addition to your admission to the museum.
Book your Captain’s Tour here.
Ghost Tour
This spooky tour takes place after the museum has closed for the evening, and is run by an outside company. You will gain access to the USS Yorktown after the day visitors to the museum have departed. In addition to sharing spooky tales from the ship’s storied past, the tour provides guests with exclusive access to behind-the-scenes areas of the ship, which are off limits to the everyday guest.
This 90-minute tour is truly a unique way to experience this famous ship under a whole new light (or dark).
Book your ghost tour aboard the USS Yorktown here.
Operation Overnight
Geared towards scout groups, field trips and other youth organizations, operation overnight allows guests to spend the night aboard the USS Yorktown. You will sleep in the berths used by sailors aboard the carrier during its time in action. The packages include museum admission, games, behind-the-scenes access and morning coffee.
Find out more about Operation Overnight here.
Scavenger Hunt
For an additional $3, you can grab a scavenger hunt booklet from the information desk. The hunt takes you through the museum as you search for clues and decipher hidden messages. It is a great way to make exploring the Yorktown more engaging, particularly for younger kids or those less interested in the history of the carrier.
Flying Circus Simulator and Virtual Reality Ride
Embark on a ride with the “Flying Circus” squadron led by Lt. Eugene Valencia through this virtual reality experience. Valencia’s squadron gained fifty air victories throughout the war, making it one of the most effective groups in the history of the U.S. Navy.
USS Yorktown: Basic Information
- Address – 40 Patriots Point Rd. Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
- Hours – daily, 10 am to 5 pm
- Cost – $28/adult, $23/child (5 and under free)
- Parking – available onsite, $5/first hour, $2.50/each additional hour
- Website – https://www.patriotspoint.org/
During her service in World War II, the USS Yorktown earned eleven Battle Stars and a Presidential Unit Citation. She was involved in nearly every major campaign of the Pacific Theater, and had an impressive post-war career. The USS Yorktown stands out as a prime example of the importance of preserving history.
I would like to take a minute to review the stats of anther U.S. aircraft carrier. The USS Enterprise is the most decorated aircraft carrier of WWII. She received 20 Battle Stars, the Navy Unit Commendation and a decoration from the Royal Navy for distinguished service. The Enterprise downed 911 enemy aircraft, sank 71 ships and damaged an additional 192 while serving in the Battles of Midway, the Philippine Sea, Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Despite all of this, between 1958 and 1960 the USS Enterprise was stricken and scrapped. All that remains of this once mighty war ship are small pieces scattered across a handful of museums.
Despite the best efforts of veterans and the public alike, the Enterprise could not escape her fate, thus ensuring that the public would never get a chance to step aboard her historic flight deck in order to touch a piece of World War II history. Thankfully, the USS Yorktown did not share the fate of the Enterprise. Not every WWII vessel, aircraft or vehicle is preserved for posterity. However, it is vital that their stories are told. A visit to Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum allows visitors to step aboard the flight deck of this mighty piece of history and understand her journey as well as the journey of the thousands of crew members aboard this and every other Allied ship that ensured our freedom during this greatest of conflicts.
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