USS Belleau Wood, an 11,000-ton Independence class small aircraft carrier, was built at Camden, New Jersey. Begun as the light cruiser New Haven (CL-76), she was converted to a carrier before launching and was commissioned in March 1943. Her original carrier hull number was CV-24, which was changed to CVL-24 in July 1943 at the time she arrived in the Pacific to join the war against Japan. During the rest of 1943, Belleau Wood took part in raids on Tarawa and Wake Islands and the invasion of the Gilbert Islands.
In the first half of 1944, Belleau Wood was part the carrier force that supported the Marshall Islands operation, raided enemy positions throughout the Central Pacific and helped conquer Saipan. During the Battle of the Philippine Sea, in mid-June, her planes sank the Japanese aircraft carrier Hiyo. Following a brief overhaul, she rejoined Task Force 58 for further operations to take Guam, the Palaus and Morotai, as well as raiding the Philippines, Okinawa and Formosa. In late October 1944, Belleau Wood participated in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. While operating off the Philippines on 30 October, she was hit aft by a Kamikaze suicide plane and set afire. Badly damaged, with 92 of her crew killed or missing, she had to return to the United States for repairs.
Belleau Wood returned to the Western Pacific war zone in February 1945, in time to help in raids on the Japanese Home Islands and support Marines on Iwo Jima. The rest of the war was spent on further attacks on targets in and around Japan. Her planes participated in the massed aircraft flyover that followed the Formal Surrender of Japan on 2 September 1945. After supporting occupation operations into October, Belleau Wood transported U.S. service personnel back to the United States until early 1946. Generally inactive from then on, she was placed out of commission in January 1947.
Belleau Wood was reactivated in 1953 for loan to France. Under the name Bois Belleau, she served the French Navy until 1960, when she was returned to U.S. custody and sold for scrapping.
This page features selected views of USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24).
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 #: 19-N-43702 USS Belleau Wood (CV-24) In the Delaware River, off the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, on 18 April 1943. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. Online Image: 82KB; 740 x 610 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: NH 64673 USS Belleau Wood (CV-24) In the Delaware river off the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, 18 April 1943. This view has been marked to identify SK, SC and SG radar and YE aircraft homing beacon antennas. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 72KB; 740 x 625 pixels |
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Photo #: 80-G-276768 USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24) Underway on 22 December 1943. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 138KB; 740 x 620 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: NH 97269 USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24) Underway on 22 December 1943. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 114KB; 740 x 615 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 89299 French aircraft carrier Bois Belleau, formerly USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24) Is moved to a berth at the Norfolk Naval Base to load aircraft in December 1953, shortly before her departure for France. Among the ships in the background are USS New Jersey (BB-62), USS Albany (CA-123) and USS Casa Grande (LSD-13). Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the Collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 93KB; 740 x 620 pixels |
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Photo #: 80-G-218422 Carrier Raids on the Marianas, February 1944 A Japanese bomber explodes as it crashes into the sea near USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24), during an attack on Task Group 58.2 off the Mariana Islands, 23 February 1944. Photographed from USS Essex (CV-9). Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 138KB; 740 x 605 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-342020 USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24) Burning aft after she was hit by a Kamikaze, while operating off the Philippines on 30 October 1944. Flight deck crewmen are moving undamaged TBM torpedo planes away from the flames as others fight the fires. USS Franklin (CV-13), also hit during this Kamikaze attack, is afire in the distance. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 113KB; 610 x 675 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-K-5186 (Color) USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24) Landing Signal Officer, Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Walter F. Wujcik, bringing in a plane, circa 1945. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 75KB; 740 x 615 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-K-5188 (Color) USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24) Seaman 1st Class A.D. Allison and Seaman 1st Class J.W. Roberts reading a letter on the carrier's flight deck, circa 1945. A F6F "Hellcat" fighter is behind them. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 75KB; 585 x 765 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Page made 4 May 2000
Link added 27 October 2001