USS Essex CVA-9 Special Weapons Unit Roster – 1953–1954
Content: SW Officers + SW Unit.
Rosters for the Third Far East Cruise of the USS Essex Aircraft Carrier, 1953-1954, Section 3. | GGA Image ID # 2334ff318f
Special Weapons Unit Officers
- ADAMS, Harold R., LCDR
- CUPP, Joseph H., LT
- LINDBURG, Norman L., LTJG
- McCREERY, Hugh H., LTJG
- POLK, Mavis X., LT
📦 The Special Weapons Unit reflected a major change in post-WWII naval warfare. By the 1950s, aircraft carriers weren’t just platforms for conventional bombs and guns — they also became potential delivery systems for nuclear weapons. Officers assigned to this unit carried immense responsibility, balancing secrecy, safety, and readiness during the tense years of the Cold War.
📌 Editorial Note on Roster Scans
The scans provided on this page are drawn directly from the USS Essex 1953–54 Cruise Book. Because the original roster pages often included multiple divisions on a single image, some scans may show adjacent or partial divisions beyond the one described here. For a complete sequential view of all 20 roster pages, see the Essex Cruise “Home Page.” Names have been standardized for clarity, but users should always check the original scan for verification.
