World War II Database

1. Rich MILLER says:
25 Jan 2023 10:32:58 PM

Essex, Enterprise, and Langley were not operating together at this date. Langley had just arrived 1/25 at Ulithi after taking a bomb hit on 1/21 and detaching from TG 38.3 on 1/23. Essex was with the main body of TG 38.3 arriving Ulithi on 1/26. Enterprise was with TG 38.2 not very far from TG 38.3 but certainly not this close (1/2 degree latitude difference in 1200 position reports). But given that, I can't identify all of these just yet. The CVL may be San Jacinto. or the CV may be Hancock in TG 38.2 and pic was taken morning of 1/25 as they came into port.

2. Rich MILLER says:
25 Jan 2023 10:41:41 PM

well would help if I read the caption, Hornet, not Essex.
but again, Langley left the formation 1/23, and that was the only day that Langley worked in a formation with Hornet. But this was TG 38.2, and with Enterprise, so picture was actually taken January 23, not 25 with this cast of characters.

3.  David Stubblebine says:
27 Jan 2023 02:19:49 PM

Rich Miller (above):
Upon further review, the date appears to be correct but the cast of ships is wrong. The Independence-class carrier in the center of the photograph is not Langley but Independence. Langley was never painted in a Dazzle scheme and Independence was the only carrier in the Pacific painted in this pattern. War diaries confirm these three ships were together on this date conducting gunnery drills while returning to Ulithi. As always, thanks for your help with getting this right. The caption has been corrected.