I was hoping someone could shed some light on the naming of the U.S.S. Franklin of WW2 fame and tragedy. For years folks have always said she was named after Benjamin Franklin. That just doesn't seem to make sense since none of the other carriers in the fleet up until the FDR CV-42 were named after famous Americans. (U.S.S. Hancock was named so because of the massive fund-raising efforts dedicated undertaken by employees of the the John Hancock Insurance Company) Also, honestly Benjamin Franklin would seem an odd choice for a warship namesake. I read somewhere and it would seem more logical that she was named after the 1864 Union victory at the Battle of Franklin. At that time naming convention was that carriers were named for famous American battles (Lexington, Saratoga, Yorktown, Bunker Hill, Ticonderoga) or earlier famous warships (Enterprise, Wasp, Hornet, Essex) FDR was the first to really break with that convention and unfortunately we seem to be saddled with the current politically influenced conventions we have now. Egads..Carl Vinson, John Stennis, and too many presidents, good or bad, from both sides of the political spectrum) Too bad we don't have those glorious names of the old Yorktown, Essex, Midway, and Forrestal classes (Sorry not keen on Forrestal either) At least we have a new Enterprise on the ways. Would rather see her sailing into battle with a new Saratoga, Lexington or Ticonderoga.