ESSEX CV9, WWII
In line next up for refueling.
After centerline elevator
Tightly packed deck load, Korea
Boston, in drydock 1945
Ready for flight ops
Damaged plane, note towmotor instead of jeep, 1944
December 1944, AG VMF-124 (18 F4U), VMF-213 (18 F4U), Marine squadrons.
Another accident
ESSEX condition after her first WWII deployment
Fire on deck, date unknown
First and only wartime refit 1944
Flac shots
Kamakazi crash off sbd side, Enterprise in background
Gun tub
TBM Avengers, AG 83, 1945
Commander David McCampbell, AG 15, became the Navy's first ACE on Oct 24, 1944, in his aircraft, "Minsi II", flying from ESSEX. He had 9 shoot downs and two probable's that day alone, for a total at that point of 30 individual kills.