CV-37 was initially named Valley Forge for a locality in Chester County, PA, where the Continental Army suffered bitter cold and privation during the winter of 1777–1778 while British troops basked in warmth and plenty in nearby Philadelphia. Yet, because of the inspiring example of leaders like George Washington and skillful training by drill instructors like Friedrich Wilhelm Augustus von Steuben, the American Army emerged from its winter encampment with renewed self confidence, courage, and fighting ability. The name Valley Forge has since become a symbol of the triumph of American patriotism and self-sacrifice. (Text from DANFS [Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.]). (The name Valley Forge was subsequently assigned to CV-45.)

Renamed Princeton, 21 November 1944, to commemorate CVL-23, lost one month earlier during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Princeton is a borough in west central New Jersey (NS022349a), scene of a famous Revolutionary War battle (2–3 January 1777, NS022349b) and birthplace of Captain Robert F. Stockton, who commanded the first Princeton.

Previous ships that had borne the name:

1. A screw steamer, 1843–1849, the first screw steam warship of the US Navy.
2. A screw steamer, 1852–1855.
3. A gunboat, 1898–1919.
4. A small (light) aircraft carrier, 1943–1944.

NS022349a: Map courtesy of Google Maps.

NS022349b: Washington Rallying the Americans at the Battle of Princeton, oil on canvas by William Ranney (1848), courtesy of the Princeton University Art Museum.

NS022311: USS Princeton (CV-23) underway in the Delaware River, off the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, 28 March 1943. US National Archives and Records Administration, photo # 19-N-42899.

"Capt. John M. [('Peg-leg')] Hoskins, who had been prospective commanding officer of CVL-23 and lost his right foot with her, but who, despite the loss, would become the 1st commanding officer of the fifth Princeton (CV-37)."

"Designed by 'Disney' for the Princeton"

"USS Princeton (CVL-23), sunk 24 October 1944 in the Battle of Leyte Gulf"

"2174-44; Stern assembly CV 37 at head of shipways #3, weight of assembly 121 long tons; Navy Yard, Phila., PA. Nov. 19, 1944"

The future USS Princeton (CV-37) was christened by Mrs. Harold W. Dodds (née Margaret Murray), President of Princeton University, and launched on Sunday, 8 July 1945.

Fitting out.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo.

"MANEUVERS OF THE ACTIVE POSTWAR FLEET FOR THE TRAINING OF REGULAR AND RESERVE PERSONNEL WHO WILL MAN THE 'ZIPPER-FLEET' SHOULD AN EMERGENCY ARISE."

"EIGHTH FLEET—GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA—Midway, left; Princeton, left rear; F. D. Roosevelt, center; Cruisers Macon, Dayton, Little Rock, center foreground; hospital ship Consolation, right rear; auxiliaries, left and right foreground."

An Administrative History of the Bureau of Ships During World War II, 1952. Photo taken circa 1945–1946.

USS Princeton (CV-37), circa 1946, location unknown.

USS Princeton (CV-37) underway off the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Pennsylvania, 11 April 1946.

National Naval Aviation Museum photo, # 1996.488.060.00.

USS Princeton (CV-37) operating off the coast of Japan in November 1946. Photo by AFC G.P. Pulley and courtesy of CDR Gerry Puller, USN, Ret.

This photo is believed to have been taken at Pearl Harbor sometime in 1946–1948.

USS Princeton (CV-37). Extreme bow view, starboard side. Naval Shipyard, Philadelphia, Pa., 10 April 1946. Photo #920-46-A.

USS Princeton (CV-37). Forward midship quarter, Frames 60 to M.P., starboard side looking aft. Naval Shipyard, Philadelphia, Pa., 10 April 1946. Photo #920-46-C.

USS Princeton (CV-37). Aft midship quarter, Frames 155 to M.P., starboard side looking forward. Naval Shipyard, Philadelphia, Pa., 10 April 1946. Photo #920-46-D.

USS Princeton (CV-37). After starboard quarter, looking forward. Naval Shipyard, Philadelphia, Pa., 10 April 1946. Photo #920-46-E.

USS Princeton (CV-37). Extreme stern view, starboard side. Naval Shipyard, Philadelphia, Pa., 10 April 1946. Photo #920-46-F.

A photo of USS Princeton (CV-37) taken on April 11, 1946 at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. USN photo. Note she still has the wartime dark flight deck numbers.

Direct overhead view of USS Princeton (CV-37) underway off the Philadelphia Navy Yard, 11 April 1946.

National Naval Aviation Museum, Robert L. Lawson Photograph Collection, # 1996.488.038.001.

USS Princeton (CV-37) underway off Trinidad in the British West Indies on 30 April 1946, after her identification number had been applied to the smokestack. The flight deck still seems to be painted wartime Deck Blue; the identification number is even darker. Note the whip antennas aft on the starboard side, hinged down horizontally. USN Photo.

Photo and text from "Aircraft Carriers of the U.S. Navy," by Stefan Terzibaschitsch.

USS Princeton (CV-37) photographed on 17 May 1946. The starboard AA mounts below the island have not yet been fitted; in contrast to other carriers, only two were installed later, possibly when the ship was reactivated for operations in Korea. As Princeton also lacked the two aft starboard mounts, she eventually had only two 40mm quads on the starboard side. There are two deck-edge masts; those missing from the after end were replaced on some ships by several whip aerials. Radar included SK-2, SC-2 and SP. Two Mk-37 directors with radar Mk-12/22, plus an unknown number of smaller directors. USN Photo (A. D. Baker Collection).

Photo and text from "Aircraft Carriers of the U.S. Navy," by Stefan Terzibaschitsch.

USS Princeton (CV-37) passes Diamond Head, 12 July 1946, on her way into Pearl Harbor carrying the body of the late President of the Philippines, Manuel Quezon, home.

File name: CV 37 384734 071246 TH.

This is probably an official U.S. Navy photo. Date and location are unknown, but it appears to have been taken circa 1946–1947, with an all-TBM Avenger deckload.

A helicopter, possibly a Sikorsky R-5, lands on the deck of USS Princeton (CV-37), 5 December 1947. The aircraft is painted in the colors of the Sikorsky Company, and the company's name appears above the right landing gear.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-417143.

U.S. Navy ship band, USS Princeton (CV-37), 1948.

USS Princeton (CV-37) arriving at Naval Air Station Alameda returning from a Naval Reserve Midshipmen cruise of the Pacific, 20 August 1948.

File name: CV 37 719 082048 TH.

USS Princeton (CV-37) seen at anchor in Tsingtao, China, with aircraft of Carrier Air Group (CVG) 13 on the flight deck, circa November 1948. Note that her air group was composed mainly of Grumman F8F-1B Bearcat fighters (VF-131 "Free Lancers," VF-132 "Privateers" and VF-133 "Blue Knights") and General Motors TBM-3E/3Q Avenger bombers (VA-15 "Valions" and VA-135 "Uninvited").

CVG-13, VF-132, VF-133, and VA-135 were disestablished on 30 November 1949. VF-132 was redesignated VF-64 on 15 February 1950.

"Gunner's Mate Second Class W.F. Patton gives the 'OK' signal after inspecting one of USS Princeton's (CV-37) 5"/38 twin gun mounts, as she is being prepared for return to service from the Pacific Reserve Fleet. Standing on the deck nearby are Commander C.S. Judson, Jr., (left) and Chief Gunner's Mate L.W. Brugler. All three men had served in Princeton's Gunnery Department prior to her decommissioning in 1949."

Photograph was released by the 13th Naval District Headquarters, Seattle, Washington, on 1 August 1950.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the All Hands collection at the Naval History & Heritage Command (# NH 97007).

"Ominous clouds form a symbolic background as the mighty carrier Princeton is readied for action at Bremerton."

"Typical of U.S. Navy ships awakening from hibernation in the reserve fleets is the aircraft carrier USS Princeton (CV 37), emerging from cocoons at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremeton, Wash. Upon complete reactivation, Princeton will be assigned to U.S. Pacific Fleet."

USS Princeton (CV-37) underway with Carrier Air Group 19 (CVG-19) aboard. Princeton and CVG-19 deployed twice to WestPac & Korea: November 9, 1950 – May 29, 1951 and March 21 – November 3, 1952. Parked forward on the flight deck are F4U Corsairs of VF-192 and AD-4 Skyraiders of VC-35.

Undated [1950–1952] image of an AD[-4] Skyraider from Attack Squadron 195 (VA-195) in flight from the aircraft carrier USS Princeton over Korea. On this mission Skyraider (B-158) is carrying twelve 250-pound bombs. US Navy photo.

Photo and text from Combat over Korea, by Philip Chinnery.

Sasebo, Japan — U.S. Navy ships take on supplies while moored in Sasebo harbor, circa December 1950. Photographed from USS Princeton (CV-37), which arrived in the area on her first Korean War deployment in early December. Among the ships in the background are USS Mount Katmai (AE-16), in left center, and USS Comstock (LSD-19), at right. Planes on Princeton's deck are AD-4 Skyraiders assigned to VA-195 "Dambusters."

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-423620).

USS Princeton (CV-37) dockside, Yokosuka, Japan, 1951.

A U.S. Navy Douglas AD-4 Skyraider of Attack Squadron (VA) 195 "Dambusters" taking off the aircraft carrier USS Princeton (CV-37) during the Korean War. VA-195 was assigned to Carrier Air Group (CVG) 19 and made two deployments to Korea aboard Princeton, from 9 November 1950 to 29 May 1951, and from 21 March to 3 November 1952.

National Museum of Naval Aviation photo No. 2002.001.138.

USS Princeton (CV-37) takes on supplies and ammunition at Sasebo, Japan, on 4 December 1950, the day before she began combat operations off Korea. Note LSU-1082 and large floating crane alongside the carrier.

Storekeeper Third Class Russ Hurd (left) and Ship's Serviceman First Class C.W. Snellings discuss the purchase of a Japanese Samurai sword, during a souvenir bazaar held on board USS Princeton (CV-37) while the carrier was conducting combat air strikes against enemy targets in Korea. Photo is dated 27 March 1951.

Crewmembers hold an oriental "tea party," during a bazaar held for the ship's officers and men while USS Princeton (CV-37) was conducting combat air strikes against enemy targets in Korea. Many Japanese and Chinese articles were offered for sale through the Ship's Service Department. Photo is dated 27 March 1951.

Aviation Ordnanceman Airmen J.V. Lykins and D.F. Jenkins "move two truck loads of bombs onto the bomb elevator ready for the six-deck journey to the flight deck to be loaded on waiting aircraft. Over 100 tons of ammunition are loaded and flown from USS Princeton each operational day."

Quoted from the original caption released with this photo by Commander, Naval Forces Far East under date of 16 May 1951.

The inscription over the elevator door reads: "Maximum Load 5500 lbs".

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the "All Hands" collection at the Naval History & Heritage Command (#NH 97042).

Awards ceremony on the flight deck of USS Princeton (CV-37), circa May 1951, in which 31 Naval Aviators of Air Group 19 received Air Medals, and two more received Gold Stars in lieu of a third Air Medal. The medals were presented by Captain William O. Gallery, the carrier's Commanding Officer. They were awarded "For meritorius achievement in aerial flights in attacks on hostile North Korean and Chinese Communist forces, while upholding policies of the United Nations Security Council". The ceremonies included a fly past salute by Air Group 19 fighter planes. Note still and motion picture photographers at work, and HO3S helicopter parked aft. Also flight deck barrier rigged, but retracted, in lower part of the image. This photograph was released by Commander, Naval Forces Far East on 16 May 1951.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the All Hands collection at the Naval History & Heritage Command (# NH 97045).

Two Grumman F9F-2 Panther fighters dump fuel as they fly past the carrier, during Korean War operations circa May 1951. Photographed from a VC-61 plane piloted by Lieutenant (Junior Grade) George Elmies. This photograph was released by Commander, Naval Forces Far East under date of 23 May 1951. The plane on left is Bureau # 123583.

A Douglas AD-4 Skyraider from Attack Squadron (VA) 195 "Tigers" carrying a Mk-13 torpedo en route to the Hwacheon Dam in Korea, 1 May 1951. The nose of the torpedo is surrounded by a plywood "drag ring" that slowed its flight and entry into the water, and a protective plywood box around the tailfins and propeller that would likewise break off on impact.

VA-195 was assigned to Carrier Air Group (CVG) 19 aboard USS Princeton (CV-37) for a deployment to Korea from 9 November 1950 to 29 May 1951. The squadron was renamed "Dambusters" following this successful attack.

U.S. Navy photo.

Scoreboard on the carrier's bridge wing, showing the work done by aircraft of Air Group 19 while embarked on Princeton from 5 December 1950 to 29 May 1951. The photograph was released by Commander Naval Forces Far East under date of 7 June 1951.

"A U.S. Navy AD-4 Skyraider armed with three 2,000 lb. bombs warms up on the flight deck of Task Force 77 aircraft carrier USS Princeton (CV-37) for another hard hitting naval air strike over Communist territory in Northeast Korea. Task Force 77 planes fly 'round the clock' attacks on enemy bridges, transportation and supply lines as part of the Navy's assignment to help stop the flow of enemy men and material into Korea." Photograph released 31 May 1951.

USS Princeton (CV-37) at sea off the coast of Korea with F4U aircraft parked aft and F9F jet fighters forward. The original photograph is dated 8 June 1951.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command (# NH 97312).

Admiral Forrest P. Sherman, USN, Chief of Naval Operations, with Vice Admiral Harold M. Martin, Commander Seventh Fleet (center), and Rear Admiral George R. Henderson, Commander Carrier Division Five and Commander Task Force 77 (right) aboard USS Princeton (CV-37), off the Korean coast. Photo is dated 1 July 1951.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-431388.

"Destruction of a North Korean Communist Railroad bridge near Yongjohndong, Korea, by pilots from USS Princeton (CV-37) of Task Force 77 of the U.S. Seventh Fleet. This photograph notes the damage to the bridge, 30 July 1951."

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-432801.

"Destruction of a North Korean Communist Railroad bridge near Yongjohndong, Korea, by pilots from USS Princeton (CV-37) of Task Force 77 of the U.S. Seventh Fleet. This photograph notes the damage to the bridge, 30 July 1951."

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-432802.

"Navy Pilots Blast Communist-Held Bridge. This pre-strike photograph shows a railroad bridge west of Kowok in Korea after spans destroyed by a previous U.S. Navy air strike had been laboriously replaced with heavy timbers." Photograph released 29 August 1951.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 330-PS-2151 (USN 432305).

"Navy Pilots Blast Communist-Held Bridge, 29 August 1951. U.S. Navy fliers from Air Group 19, off the fast attack carrier USS Princeton (CV-37) with Task Force 77, raided the bridge again and knocked out more of the original span and part of the repaired span. Enemy supply train operations have been reduced to a trickle since last January as a result of Carrier Task Force's systematic interdiction of the East Korean Coast Railway System."

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 330-PS-2151 (USN 432306).

"NY8-6113, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, 24 March 1952, USS Princeton (CV-37), Bow Starboard, (045°), Radio/Radar Antenna Arrangement & Rigging, (Per BuShips Manual Chapter 67-44)"

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), National Archives Identifier 7578164, Local Identifier 19-NN-CV 37 Princeton-139998.

"NY8-6114, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, 24 March 1952, USS Princeton (CV-37), Stern View, (180°), Radio/Radar Antenna Arrangement & Rigging, (Per BuShips Manual Chapter 67-44)"

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), National Archives Identifier 7578165, Local Identifier 19-NN-CV 37 Princeton-139999.

"NY8-6116, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, 24 March 1952, USS Princeton (CV-37), Port Side, (270°), Radio/Radar Antenna Arrangement & Rigging, (Per BuShips Manual Chapter 67-44)"

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), National Archives Identifier 7578167, Local Identifier 19-NN-CV 37 Princeton-140001.

Date and location unknown (see NS023721 below, however.)

A U.S. Navy Grumman F9F-2 Panther (BuNo 123469, nicknamed "Papasan") attached to Fighter Squadron (VF) 71, Carrier Air Group (CVG) 7, deployed aboard USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) flies over Task Force 77 while engaged in operations against North Korean targets, in a photo dated 1 August 1952. The carriers were Bon Homme Richard, USS Essex (CV-9)—right—and USS Princeton (CV-37).

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo (# 80-G-480645).

USS Mount Baker (AE-4) conducting an underway replenishment with the cruiser USS Helena (CA-75) and the aircraft carrier USS Princeton (CV-37) in 1952, off Korea.

US Navy photo Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum, File AE 4 139X2-7-52 TH.

Official US Navy Photograph #CNFE-1819 from the Photographic Laboratory of Commander, Naval Forces Far East. The photo shows USS Princeton (CV-37), during underway replenishment with USS Ashtabula (AO-51), along with USS John R. Craig (DD-885) breaking away, on 30 September 1952, between air strikes on the Hungnam area on the east coast of North Korea. Princeton was nearing the end of her third Korean War cruise (21 March–3 November 1952).

(Note that this photo appears to have been taken shortly after NS023703, above).

USS Princeton (CV-37). "Study Time. During a recreation period, personnel of the carrier study in the classroom of 'Princeton University Afloat'. A variety of courses are available through the United States Armed Forces Institute, at Madison, Wisc." Photograph and caption were released by Commander Naval Forces, Far East, under date of 30 September 1952. Note posters on the bulkhead, one from the "Why We Fight" series, the other from the U.S. Armed Forces Institute.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the All Hands collection at the Naval History and Heritage Command, # NH 97159.

USS Princeton (CVA-37) refueling from fleet oiler USS Chikaskia (AO-54), July 1953, during operations off Korea. Carrier Air Group (CVG) 15 was aboard.

Lieutenant Guy [P.] Bordelon[, Jr.] who was the only [Navy] pilot to become an Ace during the Korean War flying his Vought F4U-5N Corsair "Annie-Mo" [(BuNo 124453, modex NP21)] with Composite Squadron 3 (VC-3) Det D, assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Princeton (CVA-37) but flying from Kimpo and Pyongtaek airfields. His kills included three Lavochkin La-11 single-seat fighters and two Yakovlev Yak-18 two-seat trainers, both types being used in the night harassment role.

Photo and text from Combat Over Korea by Philip Chinnery.

USS Princeton (CVS-37) off Point Loma, as an Antisubmarine Warfare Support aircraft carrier, possibly in the mid-1950s.

USS Princeton (CVS-37) photographed circa the mid-1950s, with twelve S2F anti-submarine aircraft parked forward.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command (# NH 97313).

USS Princeton (CVS-37) underway circa the mid-1950s, with an unidentified Commencement Bay-class escort carrier in the left distance.

A U.S. Navy SSM-N-8 Regulus missile launch from the aircraft carrier USS Princeton, which did not deploy with the missile but conducted the first launch of a Regulus from a warship. Circa 1954.

U.S. Navy website "Regulus from Surface Ships" photo.

An aerial view of Yokosuka sometime between 1954 and 1955. Ships pictured from front are: USS Princeton (CVS-37), USS Toledo (CA-133), USS Los Angeles (CA-135), USS Rochester (CA-124), and USS Helena (CA-75). This was about 1/4 of the active Cruisers for that period.

Two views of USS Princeton (CVS-37) as an ASW carrier, in the late 1950s.

USS Princeton (CVS-37) helicopter pilots in Ready Room receiving information on HUK Exercises off coast of Japan, 1 March 1955. Note, photograph is curved.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-664985.

HO4S-3 helicopters, attached to Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 4, aboard USS Princeton (CVS-37), to be used during HUK Operations off coast of Japan. Shown: Helicopters going up on elevator, March 1955. Note, photograph is curved.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-664992.

HO4S-3 helicopter, BuNo 138527, modex VO13, going up on forward elevator of USS Princeton (CVS-37) off coast of Japan, March 1955. Note, photograph is curved.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-664993.

Checking HO4S-3 helicopter, attached to Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 4, aboard USS Princeton (CVS-37) off coast of Japan, March 1955. Shown: Lieutenant R.H. Saint Clair, left, and Lieutenant D.H. Willis checking rotor on helicopter prior to take-off. Note, photograph is curved.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-664998.

A Sikorsky HO4S-3 of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 4 Det. N landing aboard USS Princeton (CVS-37) in 1955. The aircraft carrier was deployed to the Western Pacific from 2 November 1954 to April 1955.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-667346.

USS Princeton (CVS-37) at Yokosuka, Japan, July 1957. Planes on deck are S2F-1 Trackers attached to Antisubmarine Squadron (VS) 38 "Claw Clan."

Commander Carrier Division 15, Captain Raymond N. Sharp, shows the Prime Minister of Ceylon, Solomon W.R. Bandaranaike, emergency supplies that are to be delivered to flood victims in his nation, 11 January 1958. Photographed on the carrier's hangar deck, with HSS-1 helicopters undergoing maintenance in the background. Relief supplies include cans of sliced & cored pineapple, produced in Australia and donated by the United States.

"[These photos] were taken spring or summer of 1958, most likely around May. [...] the occasion was an outing for members of the Institute for Aeronautical Sciences, and I am pretty sure the location was off the coast of Southern California—probably near Los Angeles or San Diego."

NS023736, NS023736c, NS023736d: HSS-1 Seabat helicopters, HS-4 "Black Knights."

NS023736a, NS023736b: S2F-1 and -2 Tracker ASW aircraft, VS-23 "Black Cats."

NS023736e: USS Princeton (CVS-37).

U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Princeton (CVS-37) underway with the destroyer USS Twining (DD-540) and the submarine USS Diodon (SS-349). Princeton was deployed to the Western Pacific from 19 June to 2 December 1958. This was Princeton's last deployment as an aircraft carrier before her conversion to a helicopter carrier. She was redesignated LPH-5 on 2 March 1959.

USN photo from the Princeton (CVS-37) 1958 Cruise Book.

"USS Princeton CV-37 — CAPT. F.M. Hughes, USN COMDG.–CDR. C.T. Booth, USN Ex. Officer — 14 June 1947   San Diego, California"

(Larger copy available on request.)

USS Princeton deck planking, (size: 4x6).

Official Launching Postal Cover and Invitation to the Launching of the aircraft carrier USS Princeton (CV-37), Sunday, 8 July 1945.

Aircraft Carrier USS Princeton (CV-37), General Information.

"Uncle John and the USS Princeton." CAPT Hoskins leaves Princeton, with CAPT Hughes in background, 31 December 1946.

USS Princeton Newsletter, #18, October 1993.

Thanksgiving Day, 27 November 1947.

"CV-37 Slipstream from the USS Princeton," Vol. III, No. 20, October 1948.

Imperial Domain of the Golden Dragon certificate for Owen John Rogers, 17 October 1948.

Third Birthday of the U.S.S. Princeton (CV-37), 18 November 1948, Dinner Menu and Program.

"CV-37 Slipstream from the USS Princeton," Christmas 1948.

USS Princeton (CV-37) launch ashtray.

U.S.S. PRINCETON
PHILA NAVY YARD
KEEL LAID 9-14-43
LAUNCHED 7-8-45

Flat Top is a 1952 Korean War film directed by Lesley Selander, written by Steve Fisher, and starred by Sterling Hayden and Richard Carlson, with Keith Larsen, Bill Phipps, Phyllis Coates, John Bromfield, and William Schallert.

Much of the film was shot aboard USS Princeton (CV-37), although actual wartime footage was also edited into the movie. The opening prologue states: "We desire to express grateful appreciation to the Department of the United States Navy for the cooperation which was extended on the production of this picture. We especially salute the men and officers of the USS Princeton on whose ship many of the sequences were filmed."

(See also NS022122b.)

Men of the Fighting Lady is a 1954 Korean War film directed by Andrew Marton, written by James A. Michener, CDR Harry E. Burns, USN, and Art Cohn, and starred by Van Johnson, Walter Pidgeon, Keenan Wynn, Dewey Martin, and Frank Lovejoy.

Although the aircraft carrier that "stars" in the movie is USS Oriskany (CVA-34), this particular publicity still actually shows USS Princeton (CVA-37) in a photo taken circa 1953. Aircraft "in the air" are F9F-2P Panthers from Composite Squadron (VC) 61 "Eyes of the Fleet." Planes on deck are F9F-5 Panthers attached to Carrier Air Group (CVG) 15. Nose number 409 is from Reserve Squadron VF-837 "Flaming Panthers," called to active duty on 1 February 1951 and redesignated Fighter Squadron (VF) 154 on 4 February 1953.