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USS Coral Sea Tribute Site
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USS Coral Sea Tribute Site
USS Coral Sea Tribute Site
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USS Coral Sea Tribute Site
Pictures -> Scrapping - Pg. 1
USS Coral Sea Tribute Site


USS Coral Sea Tribute Site
This page is dedicated to the memory of

~ Kerry L. Ellis ~

Keel Laid: July 10, 1944 - Keel Scrapped: August 9, 2000


As you know, it is traditional to make the first entry in the log of a commissioned ship each New Year in verse. We keep a log at the breaking site. The writer penned this on the last day of 1998. That turned out not to be the "penult'mate" year, however, but it seemed that it would be that cold New Year's Eve as the ship rested surrounded by ice in the harbor at Baltimore.

Coral Sea Reflections At Year's End

Country music sets the mood,
Sad, sweet sentiments, so I brood
And think of what has happened here
Throughout the old and passing year.

Coral Sea is almost gone.
All the planes from her have flown
Long ago; yet her ghost is anchored here
Waiting for her final year,

Like an old and obese lady, sprawled upon the ice,
Her underwear exposed. To gawk is less than nice,
Yet it is a spectacle rare and filled with wonder,
All that material kept secretly down under.

Boilers open to the sky, bull gears bathed in daylight,
It seems a sacrilege to glimpse this sight
That all who lived in her worked hard to prevent.
She was old and tired and is now is nearly spent.

As a fog at dawn that lies upon the bay,
Warmed by the morning sun begins to fade away,
Will Coral Sea this cold New Year at last disappear;
I sadly think on this last day of her penult'mate year.

-A Government Contractor

The Scrapping: 1993 - 2000



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Page last updated on Aug 3, 2020.
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[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - Kerry Ellis Collection]
#2
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Jul 1993 - ex-CV-43 her on the way from Philadelphia Naval Yard to Seawitch Salvage in Baltimore.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - Kerry Ellis Collection]
#3
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Jul 1993 - ex-CV-43 her on the way from Philadelphia Naval Yard to Seawitch Salvage in Baltimore.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - Kerry Ellis Collection]
#2560
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Jul 1993 - Stern view of USS Coral Sea on her way from Philadelphia Naval Yard to Seawitch Salvage in Baltimore.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - Kerry Ellis Collection]
#2561
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Jul 1993 - Port quarter view of her on the way from Philadelphia Naval Yard to Seawitch Salvage in Baltimore.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - Kerry Ellis Collection]
#2562
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Jul 1993 - Bow view of her on the way from Philadelphia Naval Yard to Seawitch Salvage in Baltimore.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - Kerry Ellis Collection]
#2563
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Jul 1993 - Entering Baltimore Harbor, Key Bridge in foreground.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - Kerry Ellis Collection]
#2564
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Jul 1993 - About to dock in Baltimore.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - Kerry Ellis Collection]
#2565
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Jul 1993 - About to dock in Baltimore.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - Kerry Ellis Collection]
#2566
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Jul 1993 - Last few seconds of the Coral Maru moving prior to being docked for the last time.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - Earl Neall]
#2649
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Jul 1993 - Bow shot arriving in Baltimore.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - Earl Neall]
#2650
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Jul 1993 - Arriving in Baltimore.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - NNAM - US Navy]
#698
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Aug 10, 1993 - A port quarter view of the decommissioned aircraft carrier CORAL SEA (CV-43) moored at the Kurt Steel and Salvage Co. pier at Lambert Point. The decommissioned ocean minesweeper ILLUSIVE (MSO-448) is in the background at right. Both ships are being scrapped by the Seawitch Salvage Co
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - NNAM - US Navy]
#749
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Aug 10, 1993 - A port beam view of the decommissioned aircraft carrier CORAL SEA (CV-43) moored at the Kurt Steel and Salvage Co. pier at Lambert Point. The ship is being scrapped by the Seawitch Salvage Co.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - NNAM - US Navy]
#663
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Sep 20, 1993 - A port bow view of the aircraft carrier CORAL SEA (CV-43) moored at Lambert Point for scrapping by the Seawitch Salvage Co.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - NNAM - US Navy]
#664
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Sep 20, 1993 - A port bow view of the aircraft carrier CORAL SEA (CV-43) moored at Lambert Point shortly after its arrival for scrapping by the Seawitch Salvage Co.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - NNAM - US Navy]
#670
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Sep 20, 1993 - A starboard view of the bow section of the aircraft carrier CORAL SEA (CV-43) moored at Lambert Point shortly after its arrival for scrapping by the Seawitch Salvage Co.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - NNAM - US Navy]
#671
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Sep 20, 1993 - A port quarter view of the aircraft carrier CORAL SEA (CV-43) moored at Lambert Point for scrapping by the Seawitch Salvage Co.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - NNAM - US Navy]
#672
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Sep 20, 1993 - A close-up view of the bow of the aircraft carrier CORAL SEA (CV-43) moored at Lambert Point shortly after its arrival for scrapping by the Seawitch Salvage Co.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - NNAM - US Navy]
#719
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Sep 20, 1993 - A view from the hangar bay of the hole in the flight deck where the forward jet blast deflector on the port side was removed before the aircraft carrier CORAL SEA (CV-43) was stricken. The ship is being dismantled by the Seawitch Salvage Co. at Lambert Point.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - NNAM - US Navy]
#720
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Sep 20, 1993 - A view of the pressure cylinder for the port side forward catapult in the hangar bay of the aircraft carrier CORAL SEA (CV-43). The ship is being dismantled for scrap by the Seawitch Salvage co. at Lambert Point.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - NNAM - US Navy]
#721
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Sep 20, 1993 - A view of the cut-away forward sponson on the starboard side of the aircraft carrier CORAL SEA (CV-43). The ship is being dismantled for scrap by the Seawitch Salvage Co. at Lambert Point.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - NNAM - US Navy]
#743
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Sep 20, 1993 - A view looking aft along the starboard side of aircraft carrier CORAL SEA (CV-43), from amidships under the island at the 01 level. The ship is being dismantled for scrap by the Seawitch Salvage Co. at Lambert Point. The steam plant barge on the left is being used to power cutting equipment.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - NNAM - US Navy]
#744
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Sep 20, 1993 - A view of the cut-away forward sponson on the starboard side of the aircraft carrier CORAL SEA (CV-43). The ship is being dismantled for scrap by the Seawitch Salvage Co. at Lambert Point.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - NNAM - US Navy]
#745
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Sep 20, 1993 - A starboard view of the aircraft carrier CORAL SEA (CV-43) moored at Lambert Point for scrapping by the Seawitch Salvage Co. The hulk of the merchant ship SS SEAWITCH and the ocean minesweeper ILLUSIVE (MSO-448), also being dismantled, are in the foreground.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - NNAM - US Navy]
#746
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Sep 20, 1993 - A view looking forward along the starboard side of the aircraft carrier CORAL SEA (CV-43), from amidships under the island at the 01 level. The ship is being dismantled for scrap by the Seawitch Salvage Co. at Lambert Point.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - NNAM - US Navy]
#747
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Sep 20, 1993 - Workers cut up piping that was removed from the hangar bay overhead of the aircraft carrier CORAL SEA (CV-43). The ship is being dismantled for scrap by the Seawitch Salvage Co. at Lambert Point.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - NNAM - US Navy]
#748
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Sep 20, 1993 - A stern view of the aircraft carrier CORAL SEA (CV-43) moored at Lambert Point for scrapping by the Seawitch Salvage Co. The hulk of the merchant ship SS SEAWITCH and the ocean minesweeper ILLUSIVE (MSO-448), also being dismantled, are on the starboard side of the carrier.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - NNAM - US Navy]
#763
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Sep 20, 1993 - A view from the forward elevator on the starboard side into the hangar bay of the aircraft carrier CORAL SEA (CV-43). The ship is being dismantled by the Seawitch Salvege Co. at Lambert Point. The opening in the overhead is where the forward jet blast deflector on the port side was removed before the ship was stricken.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - NNAM - US Navy]
#767
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Sep 20, 1993 - A close-up view of the island of the aircraft carrier CORAL SEA (CV-43) as the Seawitch Salvage Co. dismantles the ship for scrap at Lambert Point. Resting on the flight deck of the top part of the ship's mast, which was removed at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard to ensure the carrier would have enough clearance to pass under the Chesapeake Bay bridges as it was towed to Baltimore.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - NNAM - US Navy]
#768
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Sep 20, 1993 - A view of the island of the aircraft carrier CORAL SEA (CV-43) as the Seawitch Salvage Co. dismantles the ship for scrap at Lambert Point. Resting on the flight deck is the top part of the ship's mast, which was removed at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard to ensure the carrier would have enough clearance to pass under the Chesapeake Bay bridges as it was towed to Baltimore.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - NNAM - US Navy]
#769
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Sep 20, 1993 - A port bow view of the aircraft carrier CORAL SEA (CV-43) moored at Lambert Point for scrapping by the Seawitch Salvage Co. The former hospital ship SANCTUARY (AH-17) is moored at the Maryland Port Authority pier in the foreground. Life International, the non-profit organization that obtained the ship from the Navy in 1990 for 15 dollars, has proposed a plan to use the ship as a shelter for homeless residents of Baltimore.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - NNAM]
#4043
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Sep 20, 1993 - A view of the island of the aircraft carrier CORAL SEA (CV-43) as the Seawitch Salvage Co. dismantles the ship for scrap at Lambert Point. The top of the ship's mast was removed at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard to ensure the carrier would have enough clearance to pass under the Chesapeake Bay bridges as it was towed to Baltimore
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - NNAM - US Navy]
#674
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Oct 4, 1993 - A port view of the aircraft carrier Coral Sea (CV-43) moored at Fairfield Terminal for scrapping by the Seawitch Salvage Co.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - NNAM - US Navy]
#722
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Oct 4, 1993 - A bow view of the aircraft carrier CORAL SEA (CV-43) moored at Lambert Point for scrapping by the Seawitch Salvage Co. Portions of the armored flight deck have been removed and scrap is piled on the bow.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - NNAM - US Navy]
#742
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Oct 4, 1993 - A stern view of the aircraft carrier CORAL SEA (CV-43) moored at Lambert Point for scrapping by the Seawitch Salvage Co. The hulk of the merchant ship SS SEAWITCH and the ocean minesweeper ILLUSIVE (MSO-448), also being dismantled, are on the starboard side of the carrier.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - NNAM - US Navy]
#761
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Oct 4, 1993 - A starboard bow view of the aircraft carrier CORAL SEA (CV-43) moored at Lambert Point for scrapping by the Seawitch Salvage Co. Portions of the armored flight deck have been removed and scrap is piled up on the bow. The hulk of the merchant ship SS SEAWITCH and the ocean minesweeper ILLUSIVE (MSO-448), also being dismantled, are off the starboard side of the carrier.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - NNAM - US Navy]
#673
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Oct 24, 1993 - A port bow view of the decommissioned aircraft carrier CORAL SEA (CV-43) being scrapped by the Seawitch Salvage Co. at Lambert Point.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - Kerry Ellis Collection]
#2576
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1994 - Cutting away at the 4" flight deck plating.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - Kerry Ellis Collection]
#2577
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1994 - Work shifted to taking up the flight deck from the forward cats on back.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - Kerry Ellis Collection]
#2578
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1994 - Shot of the now exposed hangar deck.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - Kerry Ellis Collection]
#2580
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1994 - Overhead shot.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - Kerry Ellis Collection]
#2581
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1994 - How it's done.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - Kerry Ellis Collection]
#2582
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1994 - Watching a "burner" from the hangar deck.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - Kerry Ellis Collection]
#2587
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1994 - Nice shot of her ceremonial gun with island in the background.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - Kerry Ellis Collection]
#2589
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1994 - Kerry L. Ellis, Best "breaker" in the world.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - Kerry Ellis Collection]
#2590
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1994 - Overhed shot #4.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - Kerry Ellis Collection]
#2591
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1994 - Fantail.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - Kerry Ellis Collection]
#2600
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Mar 1994 - Satellite view of the scrapping.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - NNAM - US Navy]
#701
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Mar 23, 1994 - A starboard bow view of the aircraft carrier CORAL SEA (CV-43) moored at the Baltimore Fairfield Terminal for scrapping by the Seawitch Marine Salvage Company. Large portions of the armored flight deck have been removed exposing the interior of the hangar bay.
[USS CORAL SEA TRIBUTE SITE]
[Image Source - NNAM - US Navy]
#702
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Mar 23, 1994 - A stern view of the aircraft carrier CORAL SEA (CV-43) moored at the Baltimore Fairfield Terminal for scrapping by the Seawitch Marine Salvage Company. Large portions of the armored flight deck have already been removed.


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