Cheers fellas! Does anyone of you know how many of the Essex class carriers that is still waiting for their destiny, or are they all scrapped by now?
USS Lexington (CV-16) a F6F-3 Hellcat of Fighting Squadron Sixteen (VF-16) gets the take-off flag from Lieutenant John M. Clark, during operations in the Gilberts and Marshalls, 23 November 1943. VF-16 pilots shot down seventeen Japanese aircraft on that day.
USS Wasp (CV-18) flight deck crews prepare to load a Mark XIII torpedo on a TBM aircraft, during strikes in the Luzon-Formosa area, 13 October 1944.
Note plywood shrouds on the torpedo's fins and nose. Plane at right is an F6F, others visible are TBMs.
USS Bennington (CV-20) Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat fighters prepare for takeoff, May 1945.
Gilberts Operation, November 1943 a Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat fighter makes condensation rings as it awaits the take-off flag aboard USS Yorktown (CV-10), 20 November 1943. The plane is from Fighting Squadron Five (VF-5).
Yorktown was then hitting targets in the Marshall Islands to cover the landings in the Gilberts.
USS Yorktown (CV-10) ordnancemen working on bombs amid F6F-3 Hellcat fighters parked on the carrier's hangar deck, circa October-December 1943. Other crewmen are watching a movie in the background. Bombs appear to include two 1000-pounders and one 500-pounder.
USS Yorktown (CV-10) SB2C-1 Helldiver bombers return to the carrier after a raid in early July 1944. The original caption for this photograph, released by Commander in Chief, Pacific, gives the date as 6 July 1944 and identifies the target as Chichi Jima, Bonin Islands, which was actually attacked on 4 June. Edward Steichen's "U.S. Navy War Photographs" identifies the target as Guam.
USS Randolph (CV-15) alongside a repair ship at Ulithi Atoll, Caroline Islands, 13 March 1945, showing damage to her after flight deck resulting from a Kamikaze hit on 11 March. Photographed from a USS Miami (CL-89) floatplane.
USS Randolph (CV-15) crewmen fighting fires on the ship's flight deck, after she was hit by a Kamikaze, 11 March 1945.
USS Randolph (CV-15) Grumman F6F "Hellcat" fighter parked on the port catapult, March 1945. Note the plane's tail markings, unique to this ship.
USS Hornet (CV-12) view looking aft from the ship's island as she steams with other carriers during a western Pacific gunnery practice session, June 1945. Next ship astern is USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31), firing her 5"/38 battery to starboard. Two small aircraft carriers (CVL) are beyond her.
Note yellow flight deck markings on Hornet and TBM and SB2C aircraft parked aft.
Carrier Raids on Formosa, October 1944 crewmen on USS Hancock (CV-19) move rockets to planes, while preparing for strikes on Formosa, 12 October 1944.
Carrier Raids on the Philippines, November 1944 flight Deck Officer on USS Hancock (CV-19) waves the "take-off" flag at a SB2C Helldiver bomber, during strikes on Manila Bay, 25 November 1944.
USS Intrepid (CV-11) crewmen prepare to load a 2000-pound general-purpose bomb in the bomb bay of a TBM Avenger aircraft, 27 January 1944. The carrier was then en route to support the invasion of Roi and Namur Islands, Kwajalein Atoll. Note inscriptions on the bomb, from Torpedoman 3rd Class R.A. Franco, addressed to "Hon. Hirohito, Imperial Palace, Tokyo".
Also note flame reducer on the plane's exhaust port, and landing gear details.
Japanese Kamikaze suicide plane disintegrates in flames after hitting USS Intrepid (CV-11), during operations off the Philippines on 25 November 1944.
USS Ticonderoga (CV-14) Grumman F6F Hellcat fighters prepare to take off for strikes against targets in Manila Bay. The two leading planes are F6F-5N night fighters, with wing-mounted radar. Photograph is dated 9 January 1945, but may have been taken during the 5-6 November 1944 attacks.