CV-17 was named for the Battle of Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775 which, in fact, was mostly fought on adjacent Breed's Hill. The battle was part of the siege of Boston during the Revolutionary War. General Israel Putnam was in charge of the revolutionary forces, while Major-General William Howe commanded the British forces. Although Howe's immediate objective was achieved, it did not affect the siege and the British suffered more than 1,000 casualties — British General Henry Clinton wrote in his diary that "A few more such victories would have surely put an end to British dominion in America."

The famous order, "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes" was allegedly given by an American officer and popularized by stories about Bunker Hill, but it is not certain who, if anyone at this battle, gave it.

NS021737. "The Battle at Bunker's [sic] Hill," drawing by Henry A. Thomas; published by C. Frank King, Boston, c.1875. Library of Congress reproduction # LC-USZ62-4430.

NS021737a. An illustrated map of the battle ground on Charlestown peninsula, encompassing Bunker and Breed's Hills, from "History of the Battle of Bunker's [Breed's Hill] on June 17, 1775," George E. Ellis; Boston, 1875.

Bunker Hill (CV-17) afloat immediately after launching, at the Bethlehem Steel Company's Fore River yards, Quincy, Massachusetts, 7 December 1942. Several tugs are in attendance and a Navy blimp is overhead.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center (# NH 97290).

"This beautiful painting of the new aircraft carrier, Bunker Hill was done by artist Howard Grady, OS2c, USNR. It was presented to the Captain, J. J. Ballentine, at the commissioning ceremonies. Grady is well known for his portraits of prominent people."

From Our Navy magazine, mid-September 1943 issue.

Interesting view of VB-17 SB2C-1's turning into the pattern to land aboard Bunker Hill after their raid on Rabaul, November 11th, 1943. Photo by Capt. Robert Wood.

USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) at sea while participating in strikes on the Palau Islands, 27 March 1944. She is painted in camouflage Measure 33, Design 6A.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-K-1560).

Note: Though this was originally a color image, the original "Aero Kodacolor" transparency has lost all colors but red and can now only be reproduced in monochrome.

Believed to have been taken at Majuro atoll, May 1944.

Battle of the Philippine Sea, June 1944 — USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) is near-missed by a Japanese bomb, during the air attacks of 19 June 1944. The Japanese plane, with its tail shot off, is about to crash, at left. Photographed from USS Monterey (CVL-26).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-366983).

USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) in a photo probably taken in early 1945.

USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) in a photo probably taken circa the spring of 1945.

USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) at sea in 1945 (although dated October 16, 1945 this picture is older, as the ship did not operate aircraft after May 1945). This photo has been autographed by Admiral Arleigh A. Burke, who served on board Bunker Hill in January-May 1945, while he was Chief of Staff to Admiral Marc A. Mitscher, Commander, Task Force 58.

Collection of Admiral Arleigh A. Burke, USN. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph (# NH 42373).

USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) underway in Puget Sound, Jan. 19, 1945. The ship was commissioned May 25, 1943, Capt. J. J. Ballentine in command. Launched 7 Dec. 1942 by Bethlehem Steel Co., Quincy, Mass. Redesignated CVS-17 Aug. 8, 1953.

At sea during strikes against targets on Kyushu, Japan, 18 March 1945. USS New Jersey (BB-62) is in the right distance. Photographed from USS Essex (CV-9).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-373737).

Afire after being hit by two Kamikaze suicide planes off Okinawa, 11 May 1945. Photographed from USS Bataan (CVL-29).

Scene on the carrier's flight deck, looking aft, while her crew was fighting fires caused by Kamikaze hits, off Okinawa on 11 May 1945.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-323712).

This widely known photograph was taken by Tony Faccone with a Kodak K-4 camera resting directly on the flight deck. The talker holding his huge helmet down over his ears is Art Volkema, who had served most of the war as a lookout in Air Aft, perched high up just behind the stack on the back side of the island, but had been transferred to the ship's bow the day before—every man at his old position was killed in the attack (Maxwell Taylor Kennedy, "Danger's Hour,", Simon & Schuster, New York, 2008, pages 295, 360–361).

USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) burning after being hit by "Kamikaze" suicide planes during the Okinawa operation, 11 May 1945. A Cleveland class light cruiser is steaming nearby, at left.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-K-5274).

Burning after being hit by a Kamikaze attack while operating off Okinawa on 11 May 1945. Photographed from USS Wilkes Barre (CL-103), which appears to have received fire damage herself helping to fight the blaze from alongside the carrier. A destroyer is off Bunker Hill's port side.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-328618).

Casualties from Kamikaze hits are transferred to USS Wilkes Barre (CL-103) for medical care, off Okinawa on 11 May 1945. Photographed from Wilkes Barre's port side amidships, looking aft. Note SB2C aircraft (one with a burned wing) parked aft on Bunker Hill, smashed 40mm gun position on her starboard side, smoke from still-burning fires, and firefighting water streaming over her side. On Wilkes-Barre note the 40mm quad gun mount in the foreground and the electronic antenna above.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-328619).

A casualty from the Kamikaze attack is transferred to USS Wilkes Barre (CL-103). (See above.)

Aircraft wreckage on the flight deck, after most fires were out following hits by two Kamikazes off Okinawa, 11 May 1945.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-259904).

USS Bountiful (AH-9) taking casualties on board from USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) on 12 May 1945, one day after the carrier was devastated by a kamikaze attack. USS The Sullivans (DD-537) is in the foreground. Photographed by PhoM2/c F. W. Pataye, USN of Commander Service Squadron 6.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-350765).

Puget Sound Navy Yard. Damage in action of 11 May 1945. Hit No. 2, looking fwd. from aft side of No. 2 elevator.

Seattle Branch of the National Archives photo.

Puget Sound Navy Yard, 12 June 1945. Aftermost damaged section at Fr. 180 looking aft.

Seattle Branch of the National Archives photo.

Puget Sound Navy Yard, 17 June 1945. Looking Forw'd and to port from fr.164 flight deck.

Seattle Branch of the National Archives photo (RG 181).

The covered lighter YF-273 alongside the aircraft carrier USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) at Puget Sound Navy Yard, 19 July 1945. After these repairs, Bunker Hill took part in Magic Carpet transport operations bringing home US military personnel from the Pacific area up until the end of her service life. US Navy photo.

Ship's Bell, Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum ("Home of the Spruce Goose"), McMinnville, Oregon. (Note TBM-3E Avenger just behind the bell.)

"Welcome Aboard" pamphlet for USS Bunker Hill (CV-17), dated 1945.

Ex-Bunker Hill moored off Point Loma, San Diego, after conversion to an electronics test hulk, date unknown.

Ex-USS Bunker Hill (ex-AVT-9) tied up at Naval Air Station, North Island, San Diego, California, in October 1971. Though stricken from the Naval Vessel Register, she was still employed as a test platform for the Naval Electronics Laboratory Center.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph (USN 1150533).

This is a scan of a Polaroid of the ex-USS Bunker Hill taken in 1972 when she was at NAS North Island in San Diego.