Independence class aircraft carrier

The Independence class light carriers served in the US Navy during World War II. Nine were built in total.

USS Independence (CVL-22)

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  Independence in San Francisco Bay, 15 July 1943.

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  Island of the Independence in 1945

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  Afire aft, soon after the "Able Day" atomic bomb air burst test at Bikini on 1 July 1946.

USS Princeton (CVL-23)

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  Launching at the New York Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard, Camden, New Jersey, on 18 October 1942

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  In 1943

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  1001 a.m.: On fire after hit by japanese bomb, 24 October 1944

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  1055 a.m.: cruiser Birmingham fighting fires on Princeton

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  damaged flight deck and elevator

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  Reno fighting fires on Princeton

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  1524 a.m.: Second heavier explosion aft on Princeton, with Birmingham alongside

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  after 1604 a.m.: Birminghamat left, and a destroyer pull away from Princeton following the big explosion that destroyed the carrier's stern at

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  1746 a.m.: Final explosion after torped by destroyer Irwin and cruiser Reno.

USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24)

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  A Japanese bomber explodes as it crashes into the sea near USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24), during an attack on Task Group 58.2 off the Mariana Islands, 23 February 1944.

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  On fire, 1944

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  French Bois Belleau, former Belleau Wood, at Norfolk Naval Base, December 1953.

USS Cowpens (CVL-25)

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  Launch of Cowpens on 17 Januar 1943

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  In Philadelphia am 25. Juni 1943

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  At Sea, 17 July 1943

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  Cowpens during the raids on the Marshall Islands, November-December 1943

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  A TBM Avenger torpedo plane landing on board the carrier, at the time of the Marshalls-Gilberts raids, November-December 1943

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  F6F Hellcats warming up on deck, January 1944.

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  Cowpens at sea, 31 August 1944

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  change of command in Nov 1944

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  Cowpens heavy rolling in Typhoon Cobra on 18 December 1944.

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  Cowpens bow

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  At Tokyo Bay with Mount Fiji in the back.

USS Monterey (CVL-26)

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  Monterey after commission at Delaware River

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  Monterey (right) during Gilberts Operation, November 1943

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  During Hollandia-Operation in March 1944

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  Monterey catapults a F6F Hellcat fighter during operations in the Marianas area, June 1944.

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  Navy crewmen aboard the Independence-class light aircaft carrier USS Monterey pushing a Grumman F6F Hellcat fighter to the flight deck elevator in June 1944.

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  Montys crew spelling out Mardi Gras 1953 in 1953.

USS Langley (CVL-27)

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  Langley rolling during Typhoon Cobra on 18 December 1944

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  Langley as french La Fayette in 1951

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USS Cabot (CVL-28)

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USS Bataan (CVL-29)

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  HMS Belfast (C35) coming alongside USS Bataan (CVL-29) off the coast of Korea on 27 May 1952

USS San Jacinto (CVL-30)

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  Four aircraft carriers, circa mid-September 1945. The ships are (from front to back): USS Saratoga (CV-3); USS Enterprise (CV-6), USS Hornet (CV-12) and USS San Jacinto (CVL-30).

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