Ranger (CV-4) as she goes down the slipway, Saturday, February 25, 1933.

Ranger (CV-4) launching, at the Newport News Ship Building and Dry Dock Company, Newport News, Virginia, 25 February 1933.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-1007392).

USS Ranger underway in the 1930s, showing the arrangement of her six funnels and three lifts, two of the latter amidships, close together to one side of the flight deck centerline and the third at the aft end of the flight deck. Note the large number of ship's boats, but still no directors atop the island. Initially there were only four 5" guns in the mounts to the sides of the flight deck; two more guns were mounted on the forecastle and two on the hangar deck right aft, an arrangement which proved less than ideal in high seas. Official US Navy photo.

USS Ranger (CV-4) at anchor. Date/place unknown. The first ship of the U.S. Navy designed and constructed as an aircraft carrier, she was commissioned at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Capt. Arthur L. Bristol, commanding.

(Photo # 1150524).

USS Ranger (CV-4) dockside, date and location unknown.

The aircraft carrier USS Ranger (CV-4) underway, date and location unknown.

USS Ranger (CV-4) underway circa 1934, location unknown. Note the angled front face of her island; no directors are fitted on the latter. Official US Navy photo.

The aircraft carrier USS Ranger (CV-4) with funnels lowered, circa 1936, location unknown.

US Navy photo, 1936.

March 17, 1938, during Fleet Problem XIX. Photo from the Northrop Grumman (Newport News Shipbuilding) archives, also found at the National Archives (# 80-G-44503).

(Thanks to Robert J. Cressman, who provided additional info).

USS Ranger (CV-4), foreground; USS Lexington (CV-2), middle distance; and USS Saratoga (CV-3), background, lie at anchor off Honolulu, HI, April 8, 1938 during Fleet Problem XIX.

National Archives photo # 80-G-410056.

Off Honolulu, HI, during Fleet Problem XIX, April 8, 1938.

National Archives photo # 80-G-410061.

Anchored in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, 10 November 1939.

Underway at sea during the later 1930s.

Despite its printed caption, this photo was most likely taken in April 1939 during Ranger's visit to New York for the World's Fair.

(Thanks to Robert J. Cressman, who provided additional info).

Ship's senior officers and heads of departments, 10 June 1941.

Front row, left to right: Lieutenant Commander Herbert W. Taylor, Jr., USN, Navigation Department; Commander Francis G. Ulen, USN(DC), Dental Department; Commander Francis W. Carll, USN(MC), Medical Department; Captain Alfred E. Montgomery, USN, Commanding Officer; Commander Thomas L. Sprague, USN, Executive Officer; Commander Allen H. White, USN(SC), Supply Department, and Lieutenant Commander John M. Hoskins, USN.

Standing, left to right: Captain Thomas B. Hughes, USMC, Marine Detachment; Lieutenant Commander Warren W. Johnson, USN, Engineering Department; Lieutenant Commander Edward J. Robbins, USN (ChC), Chaplain; Lieutenant Commander Jefferson D. Beard, USN, Damage Control Department and First Lieutenant; Lieutenant Commander John R. Van Nagell, USN, Gunnery Department, and Lieutenant John H. Brockway, USN.

In the background are Grumman F3F aircraft of Fighting Squadron Five, which was on its way back to the U.S. to receive new F4F aircraft.

Photograph from Department of the Navy collections in the U.S. National Archives (# 80-CF-8005-1).

Convoy WS-12 steaming toward Capetown, South Africa, in November 1941. USS Quincy (CA-39) leads the nearest column, followed by USS Wakefield (AP-21), USS Mount Vernon (AP-22), USS West Point (AP-23) and USS Cimarron (AO-22). The second column is led by USS Ranger (CV-4), followed by USS Orizaba (AP-24), USS Leonard Wood (AP-25), USS Joseph T. Dickman (AP-26) and USS Vincennes (CA-44). The other ships present are destroyers.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-2275).

USS Ranger in Measure 12 (modified) camouflage at Norfolk Navy Yard in April 1942, after completion of the first modifications necessitated by the war. Note the newly fitted AA mounts, all shielded. The 1.1" AA guns were regrouped, and a few 20mm weapons can be made out. Official US Navy photo.

Douglas SBD Dauntless scout bomber goes around for another landing attempt, after being "waved off" by the Landing Signal Officer on USS Ranger (CV-4), circa June 1942.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-K-741).

USS Ranger (CV-4) underway in Hampton Roads, Virginia, 18 August 1942. Her after elevator is partially lowered.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-10783).

USS Ranger (CV-4) underway in Hampton Roads, Virginia, 18 August 1942. Note partially lowered after elevator and flight deck identification letters "R N G R" still visible just ahead of the ramp.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-10786).

"Aircraft Carrier Ranger."  (From a Russian publication).

These drawings show Ranger after her August 1942 refit at Norfolk (top and center), and after her May-July 1944 refit, also carried out at Norfolk (bottom).

Testing machine guns of Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat fighters aboard USS Ranger (CV-4), while en route from the U.S. to North African waters, circa early November 1942. Note the special markings used during this operation, with a yellow ring painted around the national insignia on aircraft fuselages.

This is a censored photo, since the individual squadron markings (VF-9 and VF-41) are plainly visible on the original negative. (Thanks to Robert J. Cressman).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-30362).

A Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat fighter taking off from USS Ranger (CV-4) to attack targets ashore during the invasion of Morocco, circa 8 November 1942. Note: Army observation planes in the left middle distance; loudspeakers and radar antenna on Ranger's mast.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-30244).

Robert J. Cressman, Head, Ships History Branch, Naval Historical Center, notes: "the original photo, uncropped, shows a crewman directing the plane up the deck to be spotted; all activity on the flight deck appears geared to recovering, not launching, planes, notably the 'asbestos joes' (men wearing protective clothing) by the island, the crewman with the chocks (R), etc."

Sailors "stripping ship" aboard USS Ranger (CV-4), in anticipation of action off Morocco, circa early November 1942. Paint has been chipped from the bulkheads and overheads as a precaution against fire.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-30266).

Pilots of Fighting Squadron 41 (VF-41) singing in their ready room aboard USS Ranger (CV-4), before "zero hour" of the first day of the invasion of Morocco, 8 November 1942. Lieutenant Malcolm T. Wordell, Squadron Executive Officer, (at right) is leading the songs. Lieutenant Jacob W. Onstott is standing in the left center. Note situation board behind them, and chart of aircraft insignia at left.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-30251).

USS Ranger underway in January 1944, location unknown. She is painted up in Measure 22. The 5" guns are still in place, as are the 1.1" AA guns — later removed and replaced by eight quad 40mm AA. Official US Navy photo.

USS Ranger in July 1944, location unknown. The 5" guns have been removed, and quad 40mm mounts have replaced the 1.1" AA guns in the bow and stern positions. Note also an SP fighter-control radar atop her mast and an air search SC-2 below it. Camouflage is Measure 33, Design 1A. Official US Navy photo.

Photographed from a Naval Air Station, Hampton Roads, Virginia, aircraft on 6 July 1944. Note her camouflage paint scheme.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-236719).

Associated Press Wirephoto whose caption states that "the photo shows Ranger headed upstream in the Mississippi River for a port visit to New Orleans."

"Launching 45 Grumman F8F-1 Bearcats (VBF-18 and VF-18) and 15 TBM-1C Avengers (VT-18) on the afternoon of the 15th [October 1945], to fly into NAS New Orleans, when she had reached a point approximately 100 miles from the Crescent City, the Ranger reached her destination the following afternoon, mooring to the Bienville Street dock." Quoted from "USS Ranger, the Navy's First Flattop from Keel to Mast, 1934–1946," by Robert J. Cressman (Brassey's, Inc., Washington, D.C.: 2003).

"Wings over Honolulu" (1937; directed by Henry C. Potter; starring Ray Milland, Wendy Barrie, Kent Taylor, William Gargan, and Polly Rowles) was filmed, in part, aboard USS Ranger (CV-4) during the third week of February 1937.

"[...] several officers [including the CO, Captain Patrick N.L. Bellinger] and enlisted men of the ship's company made movie debuts" (from "The CV-4," the ship's paper, February 27, 1937, quoted in Robert J. Cressman's "USS Ranger, 1934-1946, The Navy's First Flattop from Keel to Mast").

Ship's Bell, on display outside of the National Naval Aviation Museum, Pensacola, Florida. Photos taken on 13 June 2008.

-