An OS2U Kingfisher from the USS North Carolina (BB-55) overloaded with rescued aircrews, waits for the USS Tang (SS-306) after taxiing out of Truk lagoon. 1 May 1944.
Found this a while ago, the same photo but with different captions. One was something along the lines of "bullet riddled F6F returned to Hawaii"
I always thought that kind of code was used for training squadrons
EDIT: Done did some checking and found a modern version of this aircraft that says...
"Steve Hinton flying Comanche Fighters' Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat over Chino, CA during the 2010 Planes of Fame Airshow. It had just emerged from the paint shop in the colors of Lieutenant Commander Edward "Butch" O'Hare's Hellcat." Gotta hit the books
Sometimes war is like a photo shoot for an Abercrombie and Fitch catalogue.
"Leather Bomber Jackets and loose Linen Pants are all the rage in the Pacific these days. Whether your trying to win the war solo for Uncle Sam or just trying to get home alive, it doesn't mean you can't look good while doing it."
The caption for this image was "Deck of Akagi seen from Zero"
However, considering that it would be physically impossible for the pilot of an A6M to get a rearward shot like this (unless he had a GoPro), I suspect that the photo was actually taken by the rear gunner of a dive bomber.
I've looked closely at the photo and it appears these may be the B5N type.
Several shots of Attack of Pearl Harbor and IJN submarines' operation offshore West Coast introduced in our local book in 1942.
I'm guessing the UFOs of Battle of Los Angeles could have been a prank by these submarines' searchlights.
Just my impression