In a small country area in New Zealand the heroic deeds in the Pacific of the WWII aircraft carrier U.S.S. Yorktown (CV5) are Being remembered. Presently under construction for a museum exhibit north of Auckland is a 1/72nd scale model of this ship.The model will be exhibited in the Confederate Air Force Museum and used as a tribute to the Australian, New Zealand and Americans who served in the Pacific during that time. The model will be used as a tool to educate future generations in the technology of that era, the history of theWar in the Pacific and the sacrifices that were made.

 

THE MODEL

Building of the model started in October 1996, recognized then as been a three year task. To date (Sept ’99) the hull and flight deck is 95% complete and the superstructure 50% complete and a project finish expected mid next year. The model is over 11 feet long and will be almost 3 feet high to the top of the masts. Construction is of 1/2" ply formers to give hull shape, clad with balsa and then fiber glass to give the appearance of steel. Detailing, flight deck and superstructure is being constructed from styrene plastic and brass. Two hundred 1/72nd scale items have been obtained from the U.S.A including all the armament. Sixty 1/72nd scale aircraft, Wildcats, Dauntless and Devastators are being built by a modeller in Whangarei these will be displayed on the flight and hangar decks of the model.

 

THE SHIP

Launched in 1936 at Newport News, first watch set on the 30th September, 1937..Involved in Neutrality Patrols in North Atlantic May to November 1941 before transferring to Pacific fleet after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Yorktown saw action in the Pacific in the Gilbert Islands at Jaluit, Makin and Mili. In New Guinea at Lae Salamaua Yorktown’s planes sink five Japanese ships on 12th March 1942 and Yorktown's aircraft are involved in raids on installations and shipping at Tulagi on the 4th May 1942. Between 6th and 8th of May 1942, Yorktown was involved in the Battle of the Coral Sea, where her aircraft along with those from U.S.S. Lexington sink the Japanese Carrier Shoho and cripple the Carrier Shokako before being hit by two bombs and leaving for Pearl Harbor. After hasty repairs Yorktown was sent to fight in the Battle of Midway, June 1942 where her aircraft help to decimate the Japanese carrier fleet, sinking Soryu, akagi, kaga and Hiryu Yorktown is abandoned on 4th June after being badly damaged by three bomb and two torpedoes hits. Yorktown finally succumbs and sinks on the morning of 7th June 1942 after being hit by two more torpedoes fired from the Japanese Submarine 1-168.

More Pictures