Operations – Yankee Station

Yankee Station was a point about 100 miles east of the DMZ from which aircraft carriers of Task Force 77 launched strikes over North Vietnam. Typically three carriers were on station, each conducting air operations for 12 hours at a time, followed by 12 hours off. USS Taylor (DD 468) and other destroyers performed screening duties for the carriers, as well as plane guarding. A plane guard ship is stationed at least 500 yards astern of the carrier, ready to respond immediately if an aircraft ends up in the water.