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Photo # NH 96206:  USS Cowpens en route to the Palaus, 31 August 1944

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

USS Cowpens (CVL-25, originally CV-25, later AVT-1), 1943-1960

USS Cowpens, an 11,000-ton Independence class small aircraft carrier built at Camden, New Jersey, was commissioned in May 1943 with the hull number CV-25. She was redesignated CVL-25 two months later and arrived in the Pacific in September to join the war against Japan. After seeing combat for the first time in the October 1943 raid on Wake Island, she participated in the Gilberts and Marshalls invasions during the last two months of 1943 and the first two months of 1944. From February until May 1944, Cowpens and other Fifth Fleet aircraft carriers attacked enemy targets in the Central Pacific and New Guinea. She took part in the Marianas campaign, including the Battle of the Philippine Sea, during June 1944, and continued her support of operations in that area into July.

In September 1944, Cowpens covered the invasions of the Palaus and Morotai. Over the next three months, she participated in raids on Okinawa, Formosa and the Philippines and in the great Battle of Leyte Gulf. Her combat activities continued into January and February 1945, with raids around the South China Sea and Philippines areas and support for the landings at Lingayen Gulf and Iwo Jima.

Following a west coast overhaul, Cowpens returned to the war zone in June 1945. During the last months of the Pacific War, her aircraft pounded Wake Island and targets in the Japanese home islands. Support for the occupation of Japan was followed by duty transporting war veterans home from the Pacific during late 1945 and early 1946. Cowpens was decommissioned in January 1947 and spent the rest of her Navy service in the Reserve Fleet. She was briefly reclassified as an aircraft transport, with the new hull number AVT-1, in May 1959 and was sold for scrapping a year later.

This page features selected views of USS Cowpens (CVL-25).

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 96205

USS Cowpens (CV-25)


Photographed by the Naval Aircraft Factory, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 25 June 1943

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

Online Image: 81KB; 740 x 600 pixels

 
Photo #: 80-G-74266

USS Cowpens (CVL-25)


Underway at sea on 17 July 1943.

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

Online Image: 74KB; 740 x 600 pixels

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

 
Photo #: 80-G-74271

USS Cowpens (CVL-25)


Underway at sea on 17 July 1943.

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

Online Image: 104KB; 740 x 605 pixels

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

 
Photo #: NH 96206

USS Cowpens (CV-25)


En route to take part in the Palaus operation, 31 August 1944.
She is wearing camouflage Measure 33, Design 7a.
Carrier in the distance (in camouflage Measure 32, Design 8a) is USS Independence (CVL-22).

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

Online Image: 99KB; 740 x 600 pixels

 
Photo #: 19-N-84024

USS Cowpens (CVL-25)


Off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 12 May 1945, following overhaul.

Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

Online Image: 56KB; 740 x 510 pixels

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

 
Photo #: 80-G-K-100 (Color)

USS Cowpens (CVL-25)

Grumman F6F "Hellcat" fighters warming up on the flight deck, while the carrier was operating with Task Group 58.3 during raids on the Marshall Islands, circa January 1944.

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

Online Image: 92KB; 740 x 605 pixels

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

 
Photo #: 80-G-K-13718 (Color)

USS Cowpens (CVL-25)

A TBM "Avenger" torpedo plane landing on board the carrier, at the time of the Marshalls-Gilberts raids, November-December 1943.
Note flight deck barrier rigged in the foreground.

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

Online Image: 111KB; 740 x 605 pixels

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

 
Photo #: 80-G-208140

USS Cowpens (CVL-25)


Pilot evacuates his burning F6F-3 fighter after landing unaware that it was on fire, during the Gilberts Operation, 24 November 1943. Firefighters are rushing to the plane, and put out the flames in a minute and a half, with no casualties. The fire started as the "Hellcat" approached Cowpens for an emergency landing.
The pilot was Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Alfred W. Magee, Jr., USNR. The plane was Bureau # 66101.

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

Online Image: 89KB; 640 x 675 pixels

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

 
Photo #: 80-G-K-527 (Color)

USS Cowpens (CVL-25)

Crewmen on the flight deck, looking aft toward the carrier's island during raids on the Marshall Islands, November-December 1943.
Note crane and other features on and around the island. Radar antennas atop the foremast include "SC" (larger antenna, in front); "SG" (small antenna, in middle). A "YE" homing beacon antenna is mounted on the topmast. Large radar antenna behind the island is a "SK".

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

Online Image: 110KB; 740 x 600 pixels

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

 
Photo #: 80-G-K-13723 (Color)

USS Cowpens (CVL-25)

Ship's Marines line up on the flight deck for physical drill, circa mid-1943.
Planes on the flight deck include F6F, SBD and TBM types.
Note "SK" radar antenna mounted on the stub mast between the stacks and inflatable life belts worn by many of the men on deck.

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

Online Image: 150KB; 740 x 605 pixels

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

 
Photo #: 80-G-291229

USS Cowpens (CVL-25)


Captain George H. DeBaun (center) relieves Captain Herbert W. Taylor (left) as the carrier's Commanding Officer, in ceremonies held by her island in November 1944. Commander Hugh R. Nieman is looking on, at right.
The ship's insignia and scoreboard are painted on her bridge wing.

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

Online Image: 86KB; 585 x 765 pixels

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

 


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


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Page made 25 October 2000
Link added 27 October 2001