World War II Database

1. Dave Hoge says:
20 Jun 2018 12:17:46 PM

My dad flew on the Hancock, 1944-45; Lt. Charles Vernon Hoge, TBM pilot, plane #10

2. Rich Miller says:
13 Sep 2020 09:21:30 PM

Photo taken during her trip from San Diego to Pearl Harbor August 23-30 1944 based on the full load on the flight deck. Logs indicated flight deck inoperable due to ferrying aircraft.

3.  David Stubblebine says:
14 Sep 2020 12:26:24 PM

Rich Miller (above):
Your assessment seems precisely correct. Moreover, since this was an aerial shot and neither Hancock nor her escorts could launch any aircraft during the passage, it is reasonable to conclude this was taken while she was still the San Diego area. It was customary for Airship Squadron ZP-31 to take photos of warships departing for the combat areas and this looks like one of those. Also, the photo shows the ship barely making any headway so it is likely she was still in the channel departing San Diego on 23 Aug 1944. The possibility remains this was taken the following day, however, since Hancock logs say she spent the daylight hours of 24 Aug 1944 cruising back and forth off the California coast conducting underwater measurement experiments in conjunction with USS Jasper, departing for Pearl Harbor at sunset. The 23rd seems more likely so caption has been adjusted accordingly and we thank you for bringing up the question.