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Photo # 80-G-290628:  USS Monterey at anchor in Ulithi Atoll, 24 November 1944

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

USS Monterey (CVL-26, originally CV-26, later AVT-2), 1943-1971

USS Monterey, an 11,000-ton Independence class small aircraft carrier, was built at Camden, New Jersey. Begun as the light cruiser Dayton (CL-78), she was converted to an aircraft carrier well before launching and commissioned in June 1943 with the hull number CV-26. A month later, this was changed to CVL-26. Monterey transited the Panama Canal to the Pacific later in the year, and took part in the invasion of the Gilbert Islands in November. The following month, her planes raided Kavieng, New Ireland.

During the first half of 1944, Monterey participated in the Marshalls operation, attacks on the Japanese in the central Pacific and New Guinea, the Marianas invasion and the Battle of the Philippine Sea. After an overhaul, she rejoined the fast carriers for strikes on Wake Island, the Ryukyus and the Philippines in September-December 1944. In October, Monterey took part in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Late in the year, she was damaged while steaming through a typhoon and had to return to the U.S. west coast for repairs and another overhaul.

The carrier returned to the combat zone in time to contribute her air power to the conquest of Okinawa. In July and August 1945, she attacked the Japanese Home Islands. After a trans-Pacific voyage bringing veterans home from Japan, Monterey went to the Atlantic, where she was employed transporting men from Italy to the United States. She was decommissioned in February 1947.

After more than three years in "mothballs", the outbreak of the Korean War brought Monterey back to active duty. She recommissioned in September 1950, but remained in the Atlantic area. Sent to Pensacola in early 1951, she served as training carrier from then until mid-1955. Decommissioned again in January 1956, she returned to the Reserve Fleet. Monterey was reclassified as an aircraft transport in May 1959, with the new hull number AVT-2, but had no active service in that role. She was sold for scrapping in May 1971.

This page features selected views of USS Monterey (CV/CVL-26, AVT-2).

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-173719

USS Monterey (CV-26)


Underway in the Delaware River, circa June 1943, soon after she was commissioned.

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

Online Image: 45KB; 740 x 505 pixels

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

 
Photo #: 80-G-204917

Gilberts Operation, November 1943


Ships of Task Force 50 en route to the Gilberts and Marshalls to support the invasions of Makin and Tarawa, 12 November 1943. Ships are (l-r): USS Alabama (BB-60); USS Indiana (BB-58), in distance, camouflaged; and USS Monterey (CVL-26).
Photographed from USS Lexington (CV-16).

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

Online Image: 76KB; 740 x 605 pixels

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

 
Photo #: 80-G-247064

USS Monterey (CVL-26)


Maneuvers to recover planes planes during operations in the Bismarcks-New Guinea area, March 1944.
Photographed from USS Santee (CVE-29). Bow of USS Erben (DD-631) is in the foreground. Note details of her forward 5"/38 gun mount and crewmen lounging on her foredeck.

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

Online Image: 114KB; 740 x 605 pixels

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

 
Photo #: 80-G-290628

USS Monterey (CVL-26)


At anchor in Ulithi Atoll, Caroline Islands, on 24 November 1944, during a break from operations off the Philippines. Note F6F fighters parked aft on her flight deck.
Photographed from USS Wasp (CV-18).

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

Online Image: 107KB; 740 x 605 pixels

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

 
Photo #: NH 97451

USS Monterey (CVL-26)


Underway in the Gulf of Mexico on 28 August 1951, while serving as a training carrier. An SNJ training plane is on her flight deck, aft.
Photographed by Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida.

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

Online Image: 93KB; 740 x 605 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 97452

USS Monterey (CVL-26)


Underway in the Gulf of Mexico, 29 January 1953, with her crew spelling out "Mardi Gras 1953" on her flight deck.
Note that all her guns have been removed. She was then serving as training carrier, operating out of Pensacola, Florida, a duty she performed from January 1951 until June 1955.

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

Online Image: 96KB; 635 x 725 pixels

 
Photo #: 80-G-366872

USS Monterey (CVL-26)


Ship's gunnery officers, 24 October 1943.
Lieutenant Gerald R. Ford, Jr., USNR, is second from right in the front row. He was President of the United States in 1974-77.

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

Online Image: 117KB; 740 x 615 pixels

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

 
Photo #: 80-G-416686

USS Monterey (CVL-26)


Catapults a F6F "Hellcat" fighter during operations in the Marianas area, June 1944.
Note flight deck numbers, crewmen with catapult bridles, plexiglass bridge windscreen and pelorus.

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

Online Image: 115KB; 740 x 620 pixels

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

 
Photo #: 80-G-432851

Marianas Operation, June 1944


TBM "Avenger" bombers prepare to take off from USS Monterey (CVL-26) to attack targets on Tinian, June 1944.

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

Online Image: 90KB; 740 x 615 pixels

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

 
Photo #: 80-G-427309

Marianas Operation, June 1944


Lieutenant Commander Roger W. Mehle, Commander Air Group 28, reports the results of an air strike on Tinian to Captain Stuart H. Ingersoll, Commanding Officer of USS Monterey (CVL-26), in one of the carrier's ready rooms, 11 June 1944.
Note LCdr. Mehle's shoulder holster (marked "U.S.") and revolver.

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

Online Image: 88KB; 740 x 610 pixels

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

 
Photo #: 80-G-474791

Battle of the Philippine Sea, June 1944


Lieutenant Ronald P. "Rip" Gift relaxes with other pilots in a ready room on board USS Monterey (CVL-26), after landing on her at night following strikes on the Japanese fleet, 20 June 1944.
Note admonition "Get the Carriers" on chalk board in the background.
Photographed by Lieutenant Victor Jorgensen, USNR.

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

Online Image: 92KB; 670 x 675 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 23 November 2000
Link added 27 October 2001