USS Princeton, an 11,000-ton Independence class small aircraft carrier, was built at Camden, New Jersey. Originally laid down as the light cruiser Tallahassee (CL-61), she was converted to a carrier before launching and redesignated CV-23. That hull number was changed to CVL-23 in July 1943. Princeton was commissioned in February 1943 and, following shakedown operations in the Atlantic area, arrived at Pearl Harbor in August. She covered the occupation of Baker Island in August and September and raided Makin and Tarawa later in September 1943. Princeton had a busy November, supporting the Bougainville landings, raiding Rabaul and Nauru and participating in the invasion of the Gilbert Islands.
Following a quick overhaul at the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Princeton helped in the conquest of the Marshall Islands in January and February 1944. Over the next four months, her planes attacked Japanese targets in the Central Pacific and supported amphibious landings at Hollandia, New Guinea. In June, Princeton participated in the invasion of Saipan and the Battle of the Philippine Sea. She continued to cover the Marianas operation in July, then joined in raids on the Palaus, the Philippines, Okinawa and Formosa during August, September and October.
On 24 October 1944, Princeton was off the northern Philippines, taking part in attacks on Luzon airfields to support the Leyte invasion. That morning, she was hit by a Japanese dive-bombing attack and set afire. The blaze could not be contained, and in mid-afternoon a bomb magazine exploded. The after part of the ship was wrecked and severe casualties inflicted on the crew of USS Birmingham (CL-62), which was alongside helping to fight the fires. After her remaining crewmen were removed, USS Princeton was sunk by her escorts.
This page features selected views of USS Princeton (CVL-23) and provides links to images related to her loss.
For photographs related to the ship's loss, see:
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-42899 USS Princeton (CV-23) Underway in the Delaware River, off the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, 28 March 1943. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. Online Image: 111KB; 740 x 600 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 19-N-42904 USS Princeton (CV-23) Underway in the Delaware River, off the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, 28 March 1943. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. Online Image: 82KB; 740 x 525 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-65969 USS Princeton (CV-23) Underway in the Atlantic area, during her shakedown cruise, 31 May 1943. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 194KB; 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-65971 USS Princeton (CV-23) Underway in the Atlantic area, during her shakedown cruise, 31 May 1943. Planes parked aft include nine SBD scout bombers and twelve F4F fighters. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 89KB; 740 x 600 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: NH 95648 USS Princeton (CVL-23) Off the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, 1 January 1944. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Historical Center. Online Image: 89KB; 740 x 605 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 95647 USS Princeton (CVL-23) Off the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, 1 January 1944. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Historical Center. Online Image: 84KB; 740 x 560 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 95649 USS Princeton (CVL-23) Off the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, 1 January 1944. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Historical Center. Online Image: 79KB; 740 x 520 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 95651 USS Princeton (CVL-23) Steaming at 20 knots off Seattle, Washington, 3 January 1944. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Historical Center. Online Image: 101KB; 740 x 595 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 95650 USS Princeton (CVL-23) Steaming off Seattle, Washington, 3 January 1944. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Historical Center. Online Image: 96KB; 740 x 605 pixels |
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Photo #: 80-G-285050 Carrier raids on Formosa, October 1944 A Japanese airplane crashes near USS Princeton (CVL-23), during an air raid off Formosa, 14 October 1944. Battleship in the left distance is probably USS South Dakota (BB-57) or USS Alabama (BB-60). Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 66KB; 740 x 605 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 19-N-46451 USS Princeton (CV-23) Launching, at the New York Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard, Camden, New Jersey, on 18 October 1942. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. Online Image: 90KB; 575 x 765 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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For photographs related to the ship's loss, see:
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Page made 9 May 2000
New images added and page divided 25 May 2003