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Photo # 80-G-270357:  USS Birmingham fighting fires on USS Princeton, 24 October 1944

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- EVENTS -- World War II in the Pacific --

Battle of Leyte Gulf, October 1944 --
Loss of USS Princeton (CVL-23), 24 October 1944 (Part II)


This page features additional views related to the loss of USS Princeton (CVL-23), especially those involving USS Birmingham.

For other images related to Princeton's loss, see:

  • Battle of Leyte Gulf -- Loss of USS Princeton, 24 October 1944.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: 80-G-270395

    Loss of USS Princeton (CVL-23), 24 October 1944


    The burning Princeton seen from USS Birmingham (CL-62), during the effort to save the carrier on 24 October. She had been hit by a Japanese air attack while operating off the Philippines.
    Note Princeton's buckled flight deck and other damage resulting from explosions in her hangar deck.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 68KB; 740 x 600 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-281660-2

    Battle of Leyte Gulf, October 1944


    USS Birmingham (CL-62) comes alongside the burning USS Princeton (CVL-23) to assist with fire fighting, 24 October 1944.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 128KB; 740 x 615 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-270357

    Battle of Leyte Gulf, October 1944


    Crewmen on USS Birmingham (CL-62) play fire hoses on the burning USS Princeton (CVL-23), as their ship comes alongside to assist in damage control measures, 24 October 1944.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 77KB; 740 x 605 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-270437

    Loss of USS Princeton (CVL-23), 24 October 1944

    Princeton's port forward area, as seen from USS Birmingham (CL-62) during attempts to control her fires during the afternoon of 24 October. She had been hit by a Japanese air attack while operating off the Philippines.
    Note damage to Princeton's 40mm gun position and catwalk, caused by Birmingham's Number Two 6"/47 gun turret as the two ships grind together. Also note flight deck tractor partially hung up on Princeton's deck edge, F6F and TBM airplanes parked forward, floater nets and life rafts on Birmingham's gun turret.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 89KB; 740 x 615 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-270375

    Loss of USS Princeton (CVL-23), 24 October 1944


    Damage control parties standing on Princeton's forward port flight deck, during attempts to control her fires during the afternoon of 24 October 1944. Photographed from USS Birmingham (CL-62), which was assisting from alongside.
    Note the 40mm twin gun mount at left, whose shield has been torn off by Birmingham's Number Two gun turret as the two ships rolled and pitched while in close contact with each other. They were then operating off the Philippines.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 55KB; 740 x 600 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-270398

    Loss of USS Princeton (CVL-23), 24 October 1944


    View of Princeton's port midships area, showing her collapsed forward aircraft elevator and shattered flight deck, the results of explosions in her hangar deck following a Japanese bomb hit off the Philippines on 24 October 1944. Photographed from USS Birmingham (CL-62), which was coming alongside to assist with firefighting.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 79KB; 740 x 615 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-270359

    Loss of USS Princeton (CVL-23), 24 October 1944


    View of Princeton's after port side and flight deck, seen from USS Birmingham (CL-62) as she came alongside to help fight fires during the afternoon of 24 October 1944.
    Note aircraft elevator blown out of position and turned upside down, and flight deck buckled by the hangar deck explosions that followed a Japanese bomb hit. The ships were operating off the Philippines.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 52KB; 740 x 615 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-270453

    Loss of USS Princeton (CVL-23), 24 October 1944


    View from the foredeck on USS Birmingham (CL-62) as she stood alongside Princeton to help fight her fires, during the afternoon of 24 October. The carrier had been hit by a Japanese air attack while operating off the Philippines.
    Note fire hoses on Birmingham's deck and details of the underside of her Number Two 6"/47 gun turret.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 98KB; 740 x 605 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-270542

    Loss of USS Princeton (CVL-23), 24 October 1944


    Damage control party examines Princeton's shattered hangar, after she was ripped by explosions following a Japanese bomb hit off the Philippines on 24 October. Note the burned out airplane inside the carrier's hangar, and the top of her hull blister in the lower foreground.
    Probably photographed from USS Birmingham (CL-62), which was alongside to assist with firefighting.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 96KB; 740 x 605 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-281663-3

    Battle of Leyte Gulf, October 1944


    Heavy explosion aft on USS Princeton (CVL-23), with USS Birmingham (CL-62) alongside, 24 October 1944.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 90KB; 595 x 765 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-270553

    Battle of Leyte Gulf, October 1944


    USS Birmingham (CL-62), at left, and a destroyer pull away from USS Princeton (CVL-23) following the big explosion that destroyed the carrier's stern at about 1523 hrs. on 24 October 1944. This blast killed over two hundred men aboard Birmingham, which was alongside Princeton fighting fires.
    Note the light smoke over Birmingham's midships and stern areas. Princeton's stern, and a good deal of her after superstructure, has been blown off.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 86KB; 740 x 610 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-47305

    Battle of Leyte Gulf, October 1944


    USS Princeton (CVL-23) blows up after being torpedoed by USS Reno (CL-96) on 24 October 1944.
    Princeton had been fatally damaged by Japanese air attack earlier in the day, and was scuttled by torpedoing to permit U.S. forces to clear the area.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 85KB; 740 x 600 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     

    For photographs of the damage inflicted on USS Birmingham (CL-62) when Princeton blew up alongside her, see:

  • Photo # NH 98121, an overall view of Birmingham returning to the United States for repair of her damages; and
  • Photo # NH 98128, a closeup view of Birmingham's after smokestack and superstructure, showing fragmentation damage.

    For other images related to Princeton's loss, see:

  • Battle of Leyte Gulf -- Loss of USS Princeton, 24 October 1944.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


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    Page made 29 May 2003