AVG-1 was named for the body of water between the southern shore of Connecticut and the northern coast of Long Island, N.Y.

(There was a previous Long Island, but she had retained her former name.)

(Map courtesy of Google Maps.)

Aerial view of the SunShip fitting out piers, 2 April 1940, Chester, PA. The second vessel from the left is Seatrain Texas, with her sister Seatrain New Jersey—later becoming USS Lakehurst (APV-3)—to her port. The other two cargo vessels are Mormacmail and Mormacland in unknown order, later becoming USS Long Island (AVG-1) and HMS Archer (D78).

Photo from the Victor Dallin collection, Hagley Museum. Used for educational and non-commercial purpose.

The future USS Long Island (CVE-1) seen as SS Mormacmail (the nearest vessel), at SunShip Chester, PA, in 1941. Photos from the LIFE magazine collection, photographer Dmitri Kessel (for educational and non-commercial use only).

NS0300151b: Mormacmail, future USS Long Island (AVG-1), with American flag painted on her side; note Mormacland, future HMS Archer, in the background.

The future USS Long Island (AVG-1), ex-Mormacmail, under conversion at Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. Yard, 1 April 1941. She had received the name Long Island on 31 March 1941. Note flight deck under construction and temporary retention of her neutrality markings visible. Open Lighter YC-301 is in left background.

Source: Naval History and Heritage Command, photo No. NH 96711.

As built (1941) USS Long Island (AVG-1) had a 362' flight deck extending aft from the roof of the pilot house, leaving the forward boat deck uncovered. Since the original flight deck proved unsuccessful, on September 15, 1941 BuShips authorized Norfolk Navy Yard to extend it 77' forward, over the pilot house (compare to NS0300104).

Undated early images of the escort carrier USS Long Island. She was completed without an island structure, retaining her original merchant-ship bridge superstructure under her flight deck; bridge wings were fitted under the deck's forward end. Masts carried her radar and radio antennas. The significance of the # 751 in these early photos is unknown. The aircraft are Curtiss SOC Seagull cruiser floaplanes on their alternated wheeled undercarriages. USN.

Photos and text from U.S. Aircraft Carriers: An Illustrated Design History, by Norman Friedman.

USS Long Island (AVG-1) underway on 8 July 1941, with two F2A fighters parked at the forward end of her flight deck. Note flight deck markings: "LI". The ship is painted in Measure 1 camouflage, with heavy weathering of paint evident on the hull side.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-26567).

USS Long Island (AVG-1) (upper center) underway in company with USS Augusta (CA-31), in left front, off Cape Sable, Nova Scotia, in August 1941. Augusta had President Franklin D. Roosevelt embarked to witness Long Island's operations. Among the other ships present are USS Tuscaloosa (CA-37), partially visible at far right, and USS Meredith (DD-434), steaming astern of Long Island.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-13074.

Officers of Scouting Squadron 201 (VS-201) posing on the flight deck of USS Long Island (AVG-1), 10 September 1941. The squadron Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander William D. Anderson, is seated in the center of the front row. VS-201 was the Navy's pioneer "composite squadron", formed in early 1941 for service on Long Island.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-28406).

Undated. Note her flight deck has been extended forward. Her original flight deck proved unsuccessful and on 15 September 1941 BuShips authorized Norfolk Navy Yard to extend it 77' forward, over the pilot house (compare to NS0300130).

USS Long Island (AVG-1), port side, Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, VA., 18 October 1941. Photo serial 2037(41).

Commander Donald B. Duncan, USN, first Commanding Officer, USS Long Island (AVG-1) on his ship's flight deck, at Norfolk, Virginia, 26 October 1941. Note the temporary mast, with what appear to be portable rigging anchors resting on deck.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-28405).

Shipyards, Newport News, Virginia, with USS Long Island (AVG-1) in the right center. Photos appear to have been taken on 29 October 1941, from a height of 700'.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photos, Record Group 18.

NS0300159: NARA Local Identifier 18-AA-129-16.

NS0300159a: NARA Local Identifier 18-AA-129-17. Received 8 November 1941 from 3rd Obsn. Sqdn., Langley Field, Virginia.

USS Long Island (AVG-1) photographed in Measure 12 (Modified) camouflage, November 1941. Planes on her flight deck include seven Curtiss SOC-3A scout observation types and one Brewster F2A fighter.

Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives (# 19-N-27986).

Curtiss SOC-3A Seagull scout-observation plane, of Scouting Squadron 201 (VS-201) parked on the flight deck of USS Long Island (AVG-1), 16 December 1941. Note depth bomb carried below the plane's fuselage, and practice bomb rack below the port wing.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-413479-A).

Curtiss SOC-3A Seagull scout-observation plane, of Scouting Squadron 201 (VS-201) parked on the flight deck of USS Long Island (AVG-1), 16 December 1941. Note depth bomb carried below the plane's fuselage, and practice bomb rack below the port wing.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-413479-B).

Curtiss SOC-3A Seagull scout-observation plane, of Scouting Squadron 201 (VS-201) parked on the flight deck of USS Long Island (AVG-1), 16 December 1941.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-413479-C).

View on the flight deck while operating in the vicinity of Argentia, Newfoundland, January 1942. This was the only time Long Island operated in such northern areas. Planes parked on the carrier's snowy flight deck, behind the palisade, are Curtiss SOC-3A Seagull types.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-13129).

View of the ship's masthead, with SC radar antenna and anemometer, 13 March 1942.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-413462.

View on the hangar deck, looking aft over the elevator pit, 28 March 1942. Three Vought SB2U scout bombers are present, embarked for carrier qualifications. Note propellers on deck, and cowling removed from the SB2U at left. The plane in center is marked "S-75".

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-16967).

Aviation metal shop, 28 March 1942.

National Archives and Records Administration photo, # 80-G-11259.

Training on the 5"/51 gun, on Long Island's stern in Chesapeake, 14 April 1942.

National Archives and Records Administration photo, # 80-G-11236.

Starboard 3"/50 training on Long Island in Chesapeake, 14 April 1942.

National Archives and Records Administration photo, # 80-G-11239.

Anti-aircraft gun training in the starboard forward 20mm gallery on Long Island in Chesapeake, 14 April 1942.

National Archives and Records Administration photo, # 80-G-11240.

Change of command ceremony between Captain John Jennings Ballentine (right) and Commander James Duke Barner (left) on 18 April 1942. Long Island was moored at Pier 7, Navy Base Norfolk during the ceremony.

National Archives and Records Administration, photo # 80-G-11225.

Lieutenant Commander Lex L. Black, Commanding Officer of squadron VGS-1, makes the ship's 2000th landing, 20 April 1942. He is flying a Curtiss SOC-3A Seagull scout-observation aircraft. Note lowered flaps and deployed leading edge slats on the upper wing.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-14256).

Commissary Department and Galley Personnel, 27 April 1942. Long Island was moored to berths 11 and 12 at Norfolk Navy Yard this date.

National Archives and Records Administration photo, # 80-G-11201.

Curtiss SOC-3A Seagull scout-observation planes, of the carrier's embarked squadron, VGS-1, parked on the flight deck, 10 May 1942.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-14521).

A Curtiss SOC-3A Seagull scout-observation plane, of squadron VGS-1, is launched by catapult from USS Long Island (AVG-1), 21 May 1942.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-14549).

Moored at Naval Air Station, North Island, California, on 2 June 1942, shortly before she sortied with Task Force ONE under Vice Admiral William S. Pye. Aircraft on deck include six Grumman F4F-4 fighters and three Curtiss SOC-3A of squadron VGS-1.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-31839).

AVG-1 Long Island. From U.S. Naval Ships & Aircraft (ONI 54-R), issued 12 June 1942.

See also NS0303014.

A Curtiss SOC-3A Seagull scout-observation plane landing aboard USS Long Island (AVG-1), 17 June 1942. Note bomb (or anti-submarine depth bomb) carried on the plane's centerline rack, and arresting gear wires on the carrier's flight deck.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-14257).

Crewmen spotting a Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat fighter on the ship's hangar deck, 17 June 1942. Several other F4F-4s are present, as are Curtiss SOC-3A Seagull scout-observation planes. All are from squadron VGS-1.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-14524).

A Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat fighter on the catapult, ready for take-off, 17 June 1942. Several more F4F-4s are waiting their turn for launch. All planes are from squadron VGS-1. Note that Long Island's catapult runs diagonally across the flight deck, from starboard toward the port bow.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-14548).

Shown is the proper wearing position for use of a type "A" oxygen breathing apparatus aboard USS Long Island (AVG-1), 20 June 1942.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-413485.

USS Long Island (AVG-1) at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on 17 July 1942, with at least eight SBD scout bombers and one TBF torpedo plane parked on her flight deck. She is painted in camouflage Measure 12 (Modified), and wears an unusual number on her bow: "751" (the significance of this number is not known).

Note she did not have an island structure. She was conned from a bridge located forward under the flight deck.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-73390).

A Brewster F2A-3 Buffalo fighter rests in the flight deck gallery walkway after suffering landing gear failure while landing on board USS Long Island (AVG-1), off Palmyra Island, 25 July 1942. This plane is from Marine Fighting Squadron 211 (VMF-211), the last Navy or Marine Corps unit to operate the F2A in a front-line capacity.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-12905).

See above. Note marking "MF-5" on the plane's fuselage and very weathered paint. The carrier's SC radar antenna is visible atop her stub mast at right.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-12906).

Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Territory of Hawaii. View looking eastward from over Pearl City, with Ford Island in the middle of the view and Diamond Head in the distant center, 1 August 1942.

USS Long Island (AVG-1) and USS Hornet (CV-8) are moored along Ford Island's western side, protected by anti-torpedo nets. The capsized hull of USS Utah (AG-16), a victim of the 7 December 1941 Japanese air raid, is astern of Long Island.

Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of The Honorable James V. Forrestal.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center (# NH 83996).

A Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat fighter is lifted on board USS Long Island (ACV-1) from USS Kitty Hawk (APV-1), at Fila Harbor, New Hebrides, 28 August 1942. This plane was en route to Guadalcanal as part of the second group of U.S. Marine Corps planes to be based at Henderson Field. Note that the F4F's markings appear to have been taped over.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-73394).

USS Long Island (ACV-1) off San Diego, California, in December 1942. The carrier was conducting training exercises for carrier pilots, an unglamorous duty, but a necessary and vital contribution to victory.

LIFE magazine Archives, Peter Stackpole photographer, shared by Robert DeForest.

A Grumman TBF-1 Avenger torpedo plane makes an arrested landing, probably during carrier qualifications in late 1942 or early 1943.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-66735).

A North American SNJ-3 training plane (Bureau # 05470) preparing to take off, during pilot qualification operations off San Diego, California, 28 January 1943.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-66744).

A Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat fighter, equipped with ferry tanks, on USS Long Island's catapult ready for launching, during flight operations on 6 March 1943. Note that the catapult runs diagonally across the flight deck. Planes parked in the background include more F4F-4s and Vought F4U-1s.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-66753).

A Grumman JRF Goose amphibian is offloaded from USS Long Island (ACV-1) to YSD-30, a seaplane wrecking derrick, off Palmyra Island, 19 April 1943.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-66769).

(Larger copy of the photo and corrected information thanks to David Wright.)

USS Long Island (ACV-1) underway with a mixed cargo of airplanes and stores on her flight deck, 25 May 1943. The planes include F4F Wildcat, SBD Dauntless and TBF Avenger types.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-83216.

Charger & Long Island-class . From U.S. Naval Ships & Aircraft (ONI 54-R), condensed and printed for FM 30-50, NAVAER 00-80V-57 (Recognition Pictorial Manual of Naval Vessels). Supplement 4 - 4 August 1943.

Photos show HMS Archer, HMS Biter and USS Charger.

See also NS0300140.

As above. Top photos show USS Charger (BAVG-4/AVG/ACV/CVE-30).

Aerial port bow view of USS Long Island (CVE-1) on 1 November 1943. She was being used as an aircraft ferry, a task she performed for the bulk of her naval career. Visible is diesel exhaust venting from her port side funnels and the rudimentary starboard side island, which basically was just a platform for her SG and SC-1 radar antennas. Her deck cargo includes B-25 medium bombers forward and P-47 Thunderbolt fighters aft.

Source: Australian War Memorial, photo No. 302656.

USS Long Island (CVE-1) underway in Puget Sound, Washington, 11 February 1944. She is camouflaged in Measure 32 Design 9A, the colors being dull black, ocean gray and light gray with some white counter shading.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-413493.

Puget Sound, February 1944, camouflaged in Measure 32 Design 9A.

USS Long Island (CVE-1) in Puget Sound, February 1944. The ship served solely in the Pacific during World War II, transporting aircraft and personnel. At the end of hostilities she partook in Operation Magic Carpet, bringing back American troops from the Pacific war zone.

USS Long Island (CVE-1), Chief Petty Officers pose, 4 April 1944.

Front row, (left to right): CMOMM R.W. McIntosh, USN; CY U.E. Bauers, USNR; ACMM R. L. Myers, USNR; CMOMM J.C. McKenzie, USNR; CCS W. Zawesky, USN; CBM F.O. Hood, USN; CQM D.G. Richards, USNR.

Middle row, (left to right): CY J.M. Parnell, USN; CAerM F.C. Kilmer, USN; CBM A.S. Olesnik, USN; CKS D.H. Mohr, USNR; CRT C.G. Allison, USN; CEM T.L. Steward, USN.

Rear row, (left to right), CPhoM T.S. White, USN; CSM G.W. Jennings, USN; CSK M. Awrey, USN; CMoMM A. Molocke, USNR; CPhM C.R. Warth, USNR; CSF R.D. Wedge, USN; ACMM W.E. Heimerle, USN; ACMM H.J. Siegmund, USN.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-413494.

USS Long Island (CVE-1) on 10 May 1944, at Eniwetok Atoll, wearing Measure 32, Design 9A camouflage. She has just launched a night fighter version of an F6F Hellcat while stationary.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-254796.

As above.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-254798.

Photographed on 10 June 1944 by a plane from Naval Air Station, Alameda, California. She has 21 F6F fighters, 20 SBD scout bombers and two J2F utility planes parked on her flight deck. The ship is painted in camouflage Measure 32, Design 9A.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-236393).

Port view of USS Long Island (CVE-1) on 10 June 1944, in San Francisco Bay, as above.

United States National Archives and Records Administration, Photo No. 80-G-236934.

"Escort Aircraft Carrier Long Island." (From a Russian publication).

This drawing shows Long Island in mid-1944, when she was used as an aircraft transport but still retained her arresting gear.

Annotated drawing, similar to the one above.

The Long Island (CVE-1), the prototype escort carrier, as an aircraft transport, June 1944. Note that she still retained her arresting gear at this time. The original freighter superstructure is visible amidships, forward of her short hangar.

Drawing and text from U.S. Aircraft Carriers: An Illustrated Design History, by Norman Friedman.

USS Long Island (CVE-1) at anchor in Ulithi Anchorage. Exact date unknown (might be late June 1944). U.S. Marine Corps photo.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, I.D. 74241184.

USS Long Island (CVE-1) is shown with the extended flight deck, on 14 February 1945, in this Mare Island photograph, as an aircraft transport. Note the outline of her original superstructure is visible abaft amidships. The plated-in area aft was a short hangar served by a single elevator. As a trasnport, she was fitted with a more powerful catapult for delivering aircraft. USN.

A Japanese fighting plane, Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate (Gale, Allied code name Frank), painted to look like a U.S. Navy plane aboard USS Long Island (CVE-1), 1945. Note the tail of a Beech SNB at left.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-413478.

Personal letter from Commander Downes to Boatswain's Mate Louis Alonzo Harris, 1945.

Boatswain's Mate Louis Alonzo Harris (1925-1982).

Ex-USS Long Island (CVE-1), as Nelly.

Ex-USS Long Island (CVE-1), as Nelly, 1948–1953.

Undated photo of Seven Seas, ex-USS Long Island (CVE-1).

Seven Seas, ex-USS Long Island (CVE-1). Date and location unknown.

MS Seven Seas. Postcard, date unknown.

"1. So leb denn wohl, du stilles Haus! Ich zieh betrübt von dir hinaus; so leb denn wohl, denn ich muβ fort, noch unbestimmt, an welchen Ort."

"2. So leb denn wohl, du schönes Land, in dem ich hohe Freude fand; du zogst mich groβ, du pflegtest mein, und nimmermehr vergess' ich dein."

"1. Well then, you quiet house! I leave you sad; so farewell, because I have to go, still undetermined where."

"2. So farewell, you beautiful country, in which I found great joy; you raised me, you looked after me, and I will never forget you."

Newspaper clip of Seven Seas, ex-USS Long Island, leaving New York for Bremerhaven, Germany in 1957. She is shown in full finery, inaugurating a new extended service that included calls at New York.

Seven Seas, ex-USS Long Island (CVE-1), arriving in Bremerhaven, circa 1958.

The passenger vessel Seven Seas, ex-USS Long Island, underway, date unknown. This picture was published in a Bremen Port promotion brochure in 1960.

Seven Seas, ex-USS Long Island, at the pier in Bremerhaven, Germany, 1963. Newspaper photo.

"WORLD HORIZONS - ADVANCE FOR AM'S. 7/21/63. TO GO WITH UPI DISPATCH BY DAVID J. OESTREICHER. NXP1386613-7/20/63-NEW YORK: The Holland-America Line's Seven Seas, in reality a sea-going university, is shown in recent photo. The 428-foot vessel departs on a 110-day voyage 10/22. UPI TELEPHOTO hgr"

Seven Seas, ex-USS Long Island, New York City, November 1964.

Seven Seas, ex-USS Long Island, laid up in Bremerhaven, Germany, in late 1967 or early 1968, just prior to being handed over to her new Dutch owners, who used her as a floating hostel.

Seven Seas, ex-USS Long Island, in tow, on her last voyage from Rotterdam to Ghent, Belgium, 4 May 1977. She arrived there one day later, and breaking up started immediately.

Postcard, with real photo of USS Long Island (AVG-1), see NS0300101.

USS Long Island (CVE-1) Voyage Home Boxing Program ("Smoker"), US Army–Navy, 8 December 1945.

USS Long Island (CVE-1), Chapel Service, 2 December 1945.

USS Long Island (CVE-1), Chapel Service, 9 December 1945.

Cap ribbon, USS Long Island. The Naval History & Heritage Command references indicate that cap ribbons were first noted in 1808, when an unnamed Naval surgeon wrote his observations on uniforms. They were used with various designations until 1941 when regulations called for "U.S. Navy" and "U.S. Naval Reserve" inscriptions. The removal of ships' names came about, in part, due to the expense and inconvenience of changing cap ribbons and the information as to the location and movement of a ship, which was undesirable in the time of war. The "U.S. Naval Reserve" was deleted by 1949, leaving only the "U.S. Navy."