From August 1950 onwards, Philippine Sea's warplanes were in constant service, attacking enemy ground targets as needed (air superiority was quickly reached by the Allies at this point). Beyond general bombing, strafing, and rocket attacks, combat aircraft were used in close proximity of Allied troops in Close-Air Support (CAS) sorties as the war turned to a defensive battle following the introduction of Chinese troops from October 1950 onwards.
Initially taking on prop-driven types such as the Grumman F6F "Hellcat" and Vought F4U "Corsair" fighters, USS Philippine Sea joined the USN transition to jet-powered mounts including the Grumman F9F "Panther". Douglas AD-4 "Skyraiders" also made up the all-important attack arm.
In June of 1951, the warship arrived in San Francisco waters and undertook refitting and repair work. After this, she was given patrol orders along the American West Coast. A second Korean War deployment followed in 1952 to which point she returned back stateside (San Diego) in August of 1952. At this point, her classification was formally changed from "CV" to "CVA" ("Attack Aircraft Carrier") and added additional warplanes to her traditional stable. The ship was back at work pounding enemy positions and continued in this role until the uneasy Armistice of mid-1953 was signed.
In 1954, Philippine Sea responded to downing of a passenger Douglas D-40 airplane to which two of her Skyraiders were attack by Chinese aircraft in the process. The Chinese aggressors were dispatched without further incident in what marked the "Hainan Incident".
In 1955, her aircraft stable included Grumman F9F "Cougar" jet fighters alongside Panthers which were now relegated to fighter-bomber roles. In November of that year, the warship was reclassified as "CVS" ("Anti-Submarine Warfare Carrier") to denote her new at-sea role. This also meant that some of her warplane arm was succeeded by the submarine-hunting Grumman S2F "Tracker" platform. Training of these types ensued.
On December 28th, 1958, the warship was decommissioned from service and resided at Long Beach, California with the U.S. Reserve Fleet until her future was decided. Taking on the new classification of "AVT-11" ("Auxiliary Aircraft Transport and Landing Training Ship") from May 1959 onwards, the ship was finally struck from the Naval Register on December 1st, 1969, bringing about her formal end. On March 23rd, 1971, her stripped hulk was sold off for scrapping.
The USS Philippine Sea name was resurrected for USN service once more through the new USS Philippine Sea (CG-58) Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser in April of 1987. This warship continues in service today (2020).
For her contributions at sea, USS Philippine Sea (CV-47) was awarded the World War 2 Victory Medal, Navy Occupation Medal, China Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, the Antarctic Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal (9 Battle Stars), the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, United Nations Korea Medal, and the Korean War Service Medal. For her time at sea, CV-47 was never updated with a more modern flightdeck, instead retaining her "straight-through" flat-top design of World War 2.
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