The Battle of Saratoga in September and October 1777 was a decisive American victory resulting in the surrender of an entire British army of 9,000 men invading New York from Canada during the American Revolutionary War. The Battle of Saratoga was actually two battles about 9 miles south of Saratoga, New York, namely the Battle of Freeman's Farm and the Battle of Bemis Heights, and is related with the earlier Battle of Bennington, about 15 miles east of Saratoga. The surrender of General John Burgoyne, who was surrounded by much larger American militia forces, took place after his retreat to Saratoga. The capture of an entire British army secured the northern American states from further attacks out of Canada and prevented New England from being isolated. A major result was that France entered the conflict on behalf of the Americans, thus dramatically improving the Americans' chances in the war. The Battle of Saratoga was the turning point in the Revolutionary War. There were actually two battles at Saratoga. The first began with John Burgoyne's offensive on September 19, the second with the fighting during the Battle of Bemis Heights on October 7. In the first Battle at Saratoga, generally referred to by historians as Freeman's Farm, the British lost two men for every one American casualty. In terms of ground gained, however, both sides fought to a draw. In the second Battle, otherwise known as Bemis Heights, British losses were four to one. The rebels' victory was overwhelming. After negotiations, Burgoyne officially surrendered on October 17. He returned to England in disgrace and was never given another command. When news of the American victory reached Europe, France entered the war on the side of the patriots. Money and supplies flowed to the American cause, providing Washington's Continental Army with the support necessary to continue its fight against Great Britain. Britain's loss at Saratoga was disastrous because it showed the European powers that the rebels were capable of defeating the English on their own. More than any other event, it would prove decisive in determining the eventual outcome of the War and the victory of Patriots.

"Surrender of General Burgoyne," painting by John Trumbull (1822); photograph by the Architect of the Capitol.

Launching of Saratoga at the New York Shipbuilding Corp., Camden, N.J., Tuesday, April 7, 1925.

Painting by Walter L. Greene, 1927, depicting the ship launching aircraft.

Courtesy of the Navy Art Collection, Washington, DC.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph (# NH 42486-KN).

USS Saratoga, probably in January 1928, at the Philadelphia Navy Yard.

USS Los Angeles (ZR-3) landing on USS Saratoga (CV-3), 27 January 1928. Note lines used to walk the airship forward from the aircraft carrier's stern.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph (# NH 44097).

USS Saratoga steams through the Panama Canal, probably in February 1928. She has two floatplanes on her flight deck. Note that the outer portions of platforms for her 5"/25 guns have been folded up to clear her of the lock walls.

USS Saratoga steams through the Panama Canal, probably on the same occasion as photo NS020313, above.

Aerial view of USS Saratoga (CV-3), probably in 1929, location unknown.

A Torpedo and Bombing Squadron TWO B (VT-2B) T4M-1 making an approach on USS Saratoga (CV-3), 1929. Note the squadron's dragon insignia on the fuselage just aft of the lower wing.

USS Lexington (CV-2), top; USS Saratoga (CV-3); and USS Langley (CV-1), accross the pier from Saratoga. Bremerton, Washington, 11 November 1929. This is one of the earliest known photos of Saratoga with her distinctive funnel stripe.

Aircraft on the flight deck, preparing for launching, circa 1929-30. Planes in the foreground are Boeing F3B-1 fighters [of VB-2B squadron]. In the background are fifteen Martin T4M-1 torpedo planes, of Torpedo Squadron Two (VT-2B).

Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, D.C. Collection of Admiral William V. Pratt.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph (# NH 75874).

Note: This photo may have been taken in early 1929, during Fleet Problem IX. In any event, it can't have been taken later than September 1929: the foremost T4M is sitting on the "fiddle bridge" arresting gear, which was removed from Saratoga in said month. The carrier had spent three months (June-August) at anchor at San Pedro, without any aircraft. Sources: Tracy White, Researcher @ Large; John Fry, USS Saratoga CV-3, pages 29–36.

Vought O2U-2 Corsair aircraft, of Marine Corps Scouting Squadron 14 (VS-14M) fly past USS Saratoga (CV-3) while preparing to land on board, circa 1930. Note Marine Corps insignia painted under the after cockpit of the closest aircraft.

Courtesy of PHC John L. Highfill, USN (Retired).

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph (# NH 94899).

USS Los Angeles (ZR-3) flies over ships of the U.S. Fleet, circa 1930. Photographed from on board the airship, with two of her engine cars in the foreground. Ships below are USS Patoka (AO-9), closest to the camera, and the aircraft carriers Lexington (CV-2) and Saratoga (CV-3).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-462136).

USS Saratoga (CV-3) at anchor circa 1930, location unknown.

USS Saratoga (CV-3) in drydock at Hunter's Point, San Francisco, California, circa the early 1930s. (The S.S. Mexican is in the right distance. She was USS Mexican (ID # 1655) in 1917-1919.)

Courtesy of PHC John Highfill, USN (Retired).

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph (# NH 94849).

USS Saratoga (CV-3) anchored, most likely, at San Diego, early 1930s. Photo by Teddy Krueger, USS Holland (AS-3).

Flight deck scene, 1930s.

A painting of USS Saratoga (CV-3) underway in the 1930s, made by Michael Donegan for Trumpeter models.

USS Saratoga (CV-3) dressed with flags on Navy Day, 27 October 1932.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-1007395).

Identifiable ships in this photo possibly at Puget Sound circa 1933 are, from left to right: U.S. Crane Ship No. 1, ex-Kearsarge (BB-5); seaplane tender Jason (AV-2); one of the Colorado-class battleships, possibly the West Virginia (BB-48), in the dry dock; and a Pennsylvania-class battleship along the pier. The aircraft carrier in the photo is USS Saratoga (CV-3) — note the "SARA" on the flight deck aft.

USS Saratoga (CV-3) and USS Lexington (CV-2) in front of Diamond Head. Regardless of what is printed on the picture, it was taken on February 2, 1933 while both sister carriers were awaiting the official beginning of Fleet Problem XIV (February 6.)

[On July 1, 1932 Sara was eased into Drydock #2 in Bremerton, WA.]

Sara's aircraft prepare to take off during a Presidential Review by President Roosevelt, off New York City, May 31, 1934. As President Roosevelt watched from USS Indianapolis (CA-35), 90 ships passed by, led by USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) flying the 4-star flag of Admiral Sellers. Note one of Saratoga's two destroyer plane guards (upper left corner).

Image # 80-G-462893.

Sara prepares to pass in review for President Franklin D. Roosevelt, 31 May 1934 (see NS020301). (Thanks to John Fry for dating the photo).

Photo from NARA, San Francisco.

Believed to have been taken off New York City. If this is correct, this photo must have been taken in May-June 1934 — there was a Presidential Review on May 31, see above.

USS Lexington (CV-2), left, and USS Saratoga (CV-3) open to the public for viewing at New York City, June 1934.

Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington. Aerial photograph taken in the mid-1930s. Alongside the pier in center are the aircraft tender (ex-collier) Jason (AV-2), laid up in 1932 and sold in 1936, and the crane ship Kearsarge. Also present are the aircraft carriers Lexington (CV-2) and Saratoga (CV-3), the latter with her distinctive funnel stripe.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph (# NH 45236).

Launching biplanes, circa the mid-1930s. (Please disregard what is printed on the photo.)

USS Saratoga (CV-3) landing planes on 6 June 1935.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-651292).

USS Saratoga (CV-3) underway circa 1936, location unknown.

Left to right: USS Saratoga (CV-3), USS Lexington (CV-2) and USS Ranger (CV-4) off Honolulu, with Diamond Head in the background. This picture was probably taken in April 1938, during Fleet Problem XIX.

(See also photos NS020434 and NS020401).

USS Saratoga (CV-3) underway, seemingly heading north after leaving San Diego. She was awarded the large "E," for Engineering Excellence, for the first time on August 16, 1938. The photo must have been taken before August 1939, when Sara was awarded a second "E," denoted by a hashmark under the giant "E" on her stack. (USN photo.) (Please disregard what is printed on the photo.)

Captain Albert C. Read, USN, Commanding Officer, USS Saratoga (CV-3) inspects the ship's Marines during change of command ceremonies, 15 March 1940. Captain Robert P. Molten, USN, the new CO, is visible over Read's right shoulder, also wearing a "fore and aft" hat.

Collection of Vice Admiral Dixwell Ketcham, USN.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph (# NH 95723).

USS Saratoga (CV-3) launching planes, circa summer 1941, as seen from the rear cockpit of a plane that has just taken off. Aircraft on deck are Douglas TBD-1 Devastator torpedo planes, probably from squadron VT-3.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-21191).

Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat fighters, of Fighting Squadron Three (VF-3), on board USS Saratoga (CV-3) in early October 1941. Plane on the aircraft elevator is BuNo 3982 (3-F-9, later 3-F-15), piloted by Ensign Gayle Hermann.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph (# NH 97485).

USS Saratoga, "The Ship of Happy Landings," Christmas Menu, 1936. Long Beach, California.

Commanding Officer was Captain William F. Halsey, Jr. Later, he was Commander, Third Fleet in the advance across the Pacific during World War II, and attained the rank of Fleet Admiral (the fourth and last officer to hold that rank).

Executive Officer was Commander Frederick C. Sherman. A renowned leader of carrier task groups during World War II, he earned three Navy Crosses and attained the rank of Vice Admiral.

Christmas Church Service, 1936.

Frederick B. Kirkland, aboard USS Saratoga (CV-3), was appointed a Private First Class in the United States Marine Corps on 4 January 1938. (Note signature of Captain John H. Towers).

Ship's Bell, displayed at the National Naval Aviation Museum, Pensacola, Florida. Photo taken on 13 June 2008.