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The USS Long Island (CVE-1) was an escort aircraft carrier, that is, a small carrier (sometimes called, "Baby Flattops") whose usual duty was to ferry aircraft and other large equipment, and used as training craft. During WWII, however, a these escort carriers were also used to augment Carrier Battle Groups in support of air operations.
Underway with a mixed cargo of airplanes and stores on her flight deck, 25 May 1943.
The planes include F4F, SBD and TBF types.
As the designation suggests, this ship was the first of its class, the Long Island-class, having been an experiment under authority of the United States Navy as a prototype to deem seaworthiness of naval air support from converted cargo ships. It was a rousing success and she was eventually pressed into service in the Pacific.
10 June 1944: She has 21 F6F fighters, 20 SBD scout bombers and two J2F utility
planes parked on her flight deck.
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