Launching, 30 August 1943, at Newport News on the James River.

Unusual view of Hornet's flight deck.

Stern view just before her shakedown cruise, Dec. 1943. (National Archives photo).

USS Hornet (CV-12) underway in January 1944 during her shakedown in the Atlantic, before Air Group 15 came aboard. She is wearing Measure 33, Design 3A camouflage. There are only four radio masts on the starboard side of the flight deck, and the hangar catapult outrigger is in the stowed position. In place of a third Mk 37 director, a 40-mm quad mount was fitted at the same level as the flight deck. Note the hull number on the flight deck is unusually painted facing "the other" way — this was corrected before she entered combat.

(Thanks to Steve Whitby, who provided additional information.)

The Atlantic Ocean, January 1944. Training accidents during a ship and airgroup shakedown and workup were not infrequent. This Helldiver from VB-15 (# 15-B-25) had its tail chewed off by another SB2C (see below).

The Atlantic Ocean, January 1944. This Helldiver chewed off the tail of another Helldiver (# 15-B-25, see above). Crews in both aircraft were hurt; note crewman carrying a stretcher. National Archives photo.

This photo was taken on March 4, 1944 as Hornet was tying up to the mooring at Fox 9 Ford Island, Pearl Harbor with Air Group 15 on the flight deck. The photo was taken from Essex (CV-9) who would soon be taking Air Group 15 aboard while Hornet would take Air Group 2 into her first combat with the Japanese.

A close-up of Hornet's hangar deck catapult with Air Group 2 on the flight deck; 1944.

Good bow shot of Hornet in original form tied up at Majuro, May 29, 1944. National Archives photo # 80-G-242616.

USS Hornet (CV-12) recovering an SB2C Helldiver from VB-2, June 1944.

"ENS F. T. Long from Torpedo 2 [VT-2] wrote off TBM-1C BuNo 45593" in June 1944. Both photos appear to have been taken within seconds from each other.

(NS021291): It looks like the landing gear collapsed, perhaps because the hydraulics of #93 had been shot out. This picture shows to good advantage the "Net" that the LSO dove into if there was a problem.

(NS021291a): Apparently #93, its engine and starboard wing ripped off, had already been hit some time earlier, as attested by the still unpainted fabric patch on its rudder.

VT-2 Avengers returning to Hornet from a mission, August 1944. National Archives.

Hornet's flight deck and island taken while at anchor in Eniwetok Atoll, August 26, 1944. This was a ceremony in which Admiral Mitscher, Commander of TF-58, honored the ship, crew, and Air Group 2 for their part in the conquest of the Marianas Islands. The ship anchored off Hornet's starboard side is USS Essex (CV-9). The light carrier is believed to be USS San Jacinto (CVL-30). National Archives photo.

K-Division, Radio Communications crew, September 1944.

The second Fighting Two squadron (VF-2), "Rippers," later "Tall Dogs," was established on 1 June 1943. It made two combat deployments, one aboard USS Enterprise (CV-6), November 1943–January 1944, and one aboard USS Hornet (CV-12), March–September 1944. Its first commanding officer, and leading ace, was Commander William A. Dean. VF-2 was disestablished on 9 November 1945.

David LaMar Berrey was a pilot between 1943–1944. His brother, Boyd Berrey, also served on the Hornet and trained with "Pappy" Boyington in 1941.

A VF-11 F6F getting a wave off while another Hellcat taxies out of the way, Dec. 1944.

The famous "Murderers Row" at Ulithi lagoon, December 1944, as seen from USS Wasp (CV-18): USS Yorktown (CV-10), USS Hornet (CV-12), and USS Hancock (CV-19).

Curtiss SB2C-3 Helldiver aircraft bank over the carrier before landing, following strikes on Japanese shipping in the China Sea, circa mid-January 1945. Photographed by Lieutenant Commander Charles Kerlee, USNR.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-469319).

A mix of Hellcats. Flat windscreen F6F-5's and round windscreen -3's from VF-11, late January 1945, launching for strikes against Formosa.

Hornet and Independence (CVL-22) together, Jan. 25, 1945, as seen from Lexington (CV-16). National Archives.

Bombs being transferred to Hornet from ammo ship off Iwo Jima, February 1945. Note one of VF-11's F6F's with geometric white squares on the tail denoting CV-12, parked on the forward flight deck and the heavy weathering and rust on the original dazzle paint on her forward hull. The USS Hornet was the first Essex-class carrier to be painted in dazzled paint (November 29, 1943) and one of the last to have it painted out (July 1945). National Archives photo.

40mm Quad Machine Gun Mount firing on board USS Hornet (CV-12), circa February 1945, probably during gunnery practice. The original picture caption identifies the photo as having been taken during Task Force 58's raid on Japan, 16 February 1945. However, helmetless members of the gun crew, and rolled up shirt sleeves, strongly indicate that the occasion was in warmer climes and not while in combat. View looks aft on the port side, with the carrier's port quarter 5"/38 guns just beyond the 40mm mount. Note ready-service ammunition and spent shell casings at right; men passing 4-round clips to loaders at left.

Hornet, showing heavy weathering and rust after more than a year of sustained combat and salt water, anchored at Ulithi on March 6, 1945 with Air Group 17 on deck. LCI(L)-1052 is in the foreground.

One of VB-17's SB2C Helldivers taxiing out for launch, March 1945.

Hornet recovering and Bennington (CV-20) launching aircraft off the coast of Japan, March 1945. (National Archives photo).

March 1945, with Air Group 17 on the flight deck. National Archives.

USS Hornet (CV-12) operating near Okinawa, 27 March 1945. The ship is painted in camouflage Measure 33, Design 3a.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-K-14466).

Hornet under attack as seen from Bennington (CV-20), April 1945. Photo by Lowell Love.

USS Hornet (CV-12), along with USS Bennington (CV-20), shooting down a kamikaze off Okinawa, April 1945.

A grainy shot of Hornet's TBM Avengers and SB2C Helldivers from Air Group 17 preparing for launch, April 1945.

Unique shot of a VF-17 Hellcat being lowered down Hornet's deck edge elevator showing her geometric tail and wingtip design, April 1945.

TBM-3 Avengers from VT-17 attacking targets around Tokyo, possibly in April 1945.

Sixteen F6F Hellcats from VF-17 running up their Pratt & Whitney R-2800's on April 6, 1945 to attack the Japanese battleship Yamato and her escorts.

View looking aft from the ship's island as she steams with other carriers during a western Pacific gunnery practice session, circa June 1945. Next ship astern is USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31), firing her 5"/38 battery to starboard. Two small aircraft carriers (CVL) are beyond her. Note yellow flight deck markings on Hornet and TBM and SB2C aircraft parked aft.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-K-5702).

Photo taken from the bridge on the morning of June 5th, 1945 just as the first 24 feet of the flight deck get smashed to splinters by the typhoon. The forward antenna mast has left the ship!. National Archives.

A VT-17 TBM-3E Avenger on top of a VF-17 F6F-5 Hellcat, June 6, 1945 the day after the typhoon.

Shown here after weathering a typhoon on June 4–5, 1945. She continued on despite the damage and when it was too dangerous to launch over the bow, she backed into the wind until there was enough wind across the deck to safely launch planes. Compare these photos to those of Wasp (CV-18) and Bennington (CV-20).

View of port section of flight deck forward.

View of port section of flight deck where folded, taken from forecastle deck looking forward. This section contains the Forward Emergency Radio Room, Motor Generator Room and one gasoline filling station.

View of bottom flange of bent at Frame 8, showing twist.

View of under starboard side of extreme forward flight deck, where collapsed. Taken from centerline.

Shot of the damaged bow from the June 1945 typhoon being repaired at Hunters Point, San Francisco, July 1945. National Archives.

USS Hornet's scoreboard, on display at the National Naval Aviation Museum, Pensacola, Florida. Photo taken on 13 June 2008.

Naval Air Station, Alameda, California — Four aircraft carriers docked at the Air Station's piers, 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). Note PBY amphibians parked at the far left.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-701512).

Note that four, out of five, classes of fast Aircraft Carriers that fought in the Pacific (only the one-ship class Wasp is missing) are represented in this photograph.

USS Hornet (CV-12) returning to San Francisco from her fifth trip to the Pacific bringing troops back home on January 28, 1946. She's wearing a weathered Measure 22 paint scheme, along with the 40-mm guns added during her July-August refit and flight deck repair. She has F8F Bearcats on deck. Only the two forward flight deck radio masts remain.

Drydock, Hunters Point, March 1946. It looks like right after sandblasting the hull. Note the little tugboat that pulled Hornet in. Looks like the tugboat was sandblasted too. Photo by RM2C Robert Whitby.

Drydock, Hunters Point, March 1946. Photo by RM2C Robert Whitby.

Drydock, Hunters Point, March 1946. Photo by RM2C Robert Whitby.

Drydock, Hunters Point, March 1946. Photo by RM2C Robert Whitby.

RM2C Robert Whitby (left) and Vito Vaccaro in front of the ship's Grumman Duck, circa early 1946.

RM2C Robert Whitby (left) and some of his friends on one of the 20-mm Oerlikon machine guns on the starboard catwalk, early 1946.

RM2C Robert Whitby and his fellow radiomen, Alameda, circa early 1946.

Hornet at Alameda, early 1946. One of the earliest photos of the ship's hull number painted on the funnel.

USS Hornet at Alameda, Calif., circa early 1946.

Hornet at Hunters Point, San Francisco on June 20th, 1947 in the "Mothball Reserve Fleet". Intrepid's bow is at the upper left.