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Photo # KN-4834:  USS Antietam operating training aircraft, April 1961

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Antietam (CV-36, later CVA-36 & CVS-36), 1945-1974

USS Antietam, a 27,100 ton Ticonderoga class aircraft carrier built at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, was commissioned in January 1945. She transited the Panama Canal to the Pacific in June and was en route to the Western Pacific war zone when Japan capitulated in August 1945. Antietam operated in Far Eastern waters during the first years of the post-war era, returning to the United States in 1949, when she was decommissioned and placed in the Reserve Fleet. Recommissioned in January 1951, in response to Korean War requirements, the carrier made one combat deployment, between September 1951 and March 1952.

In September-December 1952, after joining the Atlantic Fleet, Antietam was modified to receive the U.S. Navy's first angled flight deck. During the next few years, she served as the test platform for this feature, which was to revolutionize carrier flight operations. After being rated as an attack aircraft carrier (CVA-36) from October 1952 to August 1953, she was thereafter classified as an antisubmarine support aircraft carrier, with the hull number CVS-36. In that role, Antietam made Sixth Fleet cruises in the Mediterranean Sea in 1955 and in 1956-57. She was then assigned to carrier flight training duty, generally operating in waters near Pensacola, Florida. Relieved as training carrier in October 1962, she was decommissioned for the last time in May 1963. Following a decade in the Reserve Fleet, USS Antietam was sold for scrapping in February 1974.

This page features selected views of USS Antietam (CV/CVA/CVS-36).

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 #: NH 97363

USS Antietam (CV-36)


Off the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, 2 March 1945.
She is painted in camouflage Measure 32, Design 17a.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 72KB; 740 x 595 pixels

 
Photo #: 80-G-448673

USS Antietam (CV-36)


At sea on 27 August 1951, shortly before deploying for Korean War duty. Crewmen are in formation on her flight deck, spelling out "The Flying =A= is on the way".

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

Online Image: 57KB; 740 x 605 pixels

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

 
Photo #: 80-G-434525

USS Antietam (CV-36)


Underway off the east coast of Korea, while operating with Task Force 77. She has Air Group 15 embarked.
Photo is dated 16 October 1951, soon after Antietam's arrival in the Korean War zone.

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

Online Image: 157KB; 740 x 605 pixels

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

 
Photo #: NH 97364

USS Antietam (CVA-36)


Conducting flight operations in the Virginia Capes area on 14 January 1953, "to obtain a critical evaluation of the operational suitability of canted flight decks as a primary means of operating carrier aircraft" (quoted from the original caption).
Antietam had just returned to service following installation of the then-experimental angled ("canted") flight deck. A F9F "Panther" jet fighter has just left the angled deck, just forward of her midships elevator. Other planes (all jet fighters) parked on deck include F9F "Cougars" (forward), F2H "Banshees" and an FJ "Fury" (immediately forward of the ship's island).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 98KB; 740 x 610 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 97365

USS Antietam (CVS-36)


Operating at sea, circa 1955-57, with HSS-1 helicopters and S2F airplanes on her flight deck. Note that some of the helicopters are wearing the light grey color scheme introduced in 1955, while others are still painted midnight blue.
The original print is dated 31 January 1951, several years before this view was actually taken.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 94KB; 740 x 610 pixels

 
Photo #: KN-4834 (Color)

USS Antietam (CVS-36)

Operating training aircraft, 19 April 1961.
Planes on deck include T2J "Buckeyes" amidships and forward and AD "Skyraiders" parked aft.
Note "dayglo" paint on the aircraft and "mothballed" 5"/38 guns in the carriers port side sponsons.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

Online Image: 129KB; 740 x 600 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-KN-4834

 
Photo #: NH 97366

USS Antietam (CV-36)


Curtiss SB2C aircraft on the carrier's flight deck, with officers and men on her island watching flight operations, circa 1946-47.
The plane in the left foreground is a SB2C-5 (Bureau # 83332).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 88KB; 740 x 610 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 97098

USS Antietam (CV-36)


"De-Briefing Session -- After returning from strikes on enemy targets in the Wonsan area, these three Navy pilots on the aircraft carrier USS Antietam go into a de-briefing session, and check themselves on targets hit and damaged. Left to right: Ens. Robert L. Thomas, ... Lt(jg) Robert F. Baker ... and Ens. Howard E. Foabn." (last name given is unclear)
Photograph and caption were released by Commander Naval Forces, Far East, under date of 12 January 1952.
Note pilots' flight suits and life vests with attached survival equipment.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the "All Hands" collection at the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 118KB; 740 x 610 pixels

 
Photo #: 80-G-K-14214 (Color)

USS Antietam (CVA-36)

Captain Samuel G. Mitchell, Commanding Officer, and Commander J.D. Blitch, Executive Officer, inspecting the ship's various divisions, while she was at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, 31 January 1953.
Note Marine guard at left and Grumman F9F-5 "Panther" fighters parked at the bow. Planes are (left to right): Bureau #s 125275, 125471 and (probably) 125476.

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

Online Image: 143KB; 740 x 605 pixels

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

 
Photo #: 80-G-K-16839 (Color)

USS Antietam (CVS-36)

Launches a red-painted F9F "Cougar" jet fighter, during extremely well-lighted night operations, circa 1953-55.
Other planes on her flight deck include F9F "Panther" and F3D "Skynight" fighters.

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 #: NH 97367

USS Antietam (CVS-36)


Lockheed T2V-1 "SeaStar" makes its first carrier landing, during carrier suitability tests on board Antietam off the U.S. east coast, circa 7 October 1957.
This photograph was originally released by the Lockheed Newsbureau on 9 October 1957, with the caption: "SeaStar Flexes Sea-Legs -- U.S. Navy's Lockheed T2V-1 SeaStar skims in for its first 'sea duty' landing aboard the U.S.S. Antietam. The new ship-or-shore duty trainer recently completed primary carrier suitability tests during operations held off the East Coast. Designed to combine top performance and safety in a two-place school-plane, the SeaStar is in quantity production at Lockheed's California Division.

Lockheed Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 64KB; 740 x 615 pixels

 


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


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Page made 3 October 2000
Link added 7 October 2001