Photos WW2 US Forces

[guest0001]

US Marines pushing a 37mm gun into position, Garapan, Saipan, Mariana Islands, Jul 2, 1944.
United States Marine Corps

 

[guest0001]

On December 31, 1942, USS Essex (CV-9) was commissioned. She was the first of a class of twently-four, the largest carrier class in history. Essex-class carriers served until the 1970s.
Essex received the Presidential Unit Citation and 13 battle stars for World War II service, 4 battle stars and the Navy Unit Commendation for Korean war service.
https://www.history.navy.mil/.../danfs/e/essex-iv.html


"Proposed Aircraft Carrier - Scheme CV 9-E"
Preliminary design plan prepared for the General Board as part of the process leading to the Essex class (CV-9) aircraft carrier design. This plan, dated 6 December 1939, is for a ship of 24,250 tons standard displacement, 150,000 horsepower geared turbine machinery for a speed of 34 knots, and a waterline length of 820'. Partial inboard profile plans and data are also provided for Schemes CV-9C (23,900 tons, 120,000 horsepower turbo-electric machinery for a speed of 33 knots) and CV-9D (23,300 tons, 120,000 horsepower geared turbine machinery for a speed of 33 knots). Waterline length of both was the same as in Scheme CV-9E. Scale of the original drawings is 1/32 = 1'. The original plan is in the 1939-1944 Spring Styles Book held by the Naval History and Heritage Command. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.
Catalog #: S-511-8

 

[guest0001]

Launching, 31 July 1942, at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company. The ship's sponsor, Mrs. Artemus Gates, is about to christen the Essex.
Naval History and Heritage Command catalog # NH 54101

 

[guest0001]

USS Essex (CV-9) launching, 31 July 1942, at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company. Essex is christened by Mrs. Artemus Gates.
Naval History and Heritage Command Catalog # NH 54102

 

[guest0001]

Launching CV-9, 31 July 1942, at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company.
Naval History and Heritage Command catalog # NH 54103

 

[guest0001]

Essex on the James River immediately after her launching. View of the starboard bow, 1942.
Naval History and Heritage Command catalog # NH 67736

 

[guest0001]

USS Essex (CV-9) flight deck, looking aft from the carrier's island during her shakedown cruise, 20 March 1943. Planes parked on deck are F6F-3 fighters (in foreground, with wings folded) and SBD-4 scout bombers. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.
Catalog # 80-G-K-698

 

[guest0001]

CV-9 silhouetted against the sun, while operating in the South Pacific, circa late 1943. She has SBD aircraft parked aft. Photographed by Lieutenant Charles Kerlee, USNR. Note: Tall lattice SC-2 radar antenna mast (alongside the starboard side of the stack) IDs this ship as Essex.
National Archives catalog # 80-G-K-15556

 

[guest0001]

Rabaul Carrier Strike, 11 November 1943. A Japanese bomber explodes on the water just astern of USS Essex (CV-9), after being shot down by anti-aircraft fire. USS Independence (CVL-22) is in the right background.
National Archives catalog # 80-G-206615

 

[guest0001]

Truk raids, 17-18 February 1944: a VF-9 Grumman F6F-3 is given the go-ahead for takeoff from USS Essex (CV-9) on the first day of operations.
National Archives catalog #: 80-G-217587

 

[guest0001]

Carrier raid on Truk, 17-18 February 1944.
Japanese shipping under air attack in Truk Lagoon, 17 February 1944. Dublon Island is at left, with Moen Island in the background. Four of these ships appear to have been hit by this time.
Catalog #: 80-G-215151
Copyright Owner: National Archives

 

[guest0001]

Battle of the Sibuyan Sea, 24 October 1944: Japanese battleship Musashi is hit during attacks by Task Force 38 aircraft in the Sibuyan Sea. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.
Catalog #: 80-G-281766

 

[guest0001]

Battle of Leyte Gulf: Japanese aircraft carrier Zuiho under attack during the Battle off Cape Engano, 25 October 1944. Photographed from a USS Essex TBM.
NHHS Catalog #: 80-G-47162

 

[guest0001]

Japanese cruiser Nachi under air attack from task group 38.3, in Manila Bay, 5 November 1944. Photographed by a plane from USS Essex (CV-9). Nachi was sunk in this attack.
Catalog # 80-G-287018
Copyright Owner: National Archives

 

[guest0001]

Japanese cruiser Nachi under air attack from task group 38.3, in Manila Bay, 5 November 1944. Photographed by a plane from USS Essex (CV-9). Nachi was sunk in this attack.
National Archives. Catalog # 80-G-287019

 

[guest0001]

USS Essex (CV-9) about to be hit by a Japanese D4Y Judy aircraft during Kamikaze attacks off Luzon, 25 November 1944. The plane, afire from anti-aircraft gun hits, struck near the carrier's forward elevator. Note Cleveland-class light cruiser in the left distance. Photographed from USS Ticonderoga (CV-14).
Catalog # 80-G-270738
Copyright Owner: National Archives

 

[guest0001]

USS Essex (CV-9) attacked by a Japanese kamikaze off the Philippines on November 25, 1944
USS Essex (CV-9) attacked by a Japanese kamikaze off the Philippines on November 25, 1944; USS Missouri (BB-63) firing 16" guns.
Catalog #: UA 478.12.01

 

[guest0001]

Japanese Kamikaze aircraft explodes after crashing into the carrier's flight deck amidships, during operations off the Philippines, 25 November 1944. Photographed from USS Langley (CVL-27). Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.
Catalog # 80-G-273032

 

[guest0001]

Essex afire just after a Japanese Kamikaze attack off Luzon, 25 November 1944.
National Archives catalog # 80-G-270740

 

[guest0001]

Japanese Ships burning and sinking in Saigon river, French Indochina after aerial strike by planes of Air Group 4, USS Essex (CV-9), on 12 January 1945.
Catalog # 80-G-300660
Copyright Owner: National Archives