USS Intrepid (CV-11) off Newport News, Virginia, on 16 August 1943, the day she went into commission.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph (# NH 53254).

On her way to the Norfolk Navy Yard, back from her training cruise, 25 November 1943, Intrepid is seen passing Old Point Comfort at Hampton Roads. As completed, she had four tall lattice masts, supporting radio antennas, which could be hinged outboard during flight operations. She is camouflaged in Measure 21.

Crewmen prepare to load a 2000-pound general-purpose bomb in the bomb bay of a TBM "Avenger" aircraft, 27 January 1944. Intrepid was then en route to support the invasion of Roi and Namur Islands, Kwajalein Atoll. Note inscriptions on the bomb, from Torpedoman 3rd Class R.A. Franco, addressed to "Hon. Hirohito, Imperial Palace, Tokyo". Also note flame reducer on the plane's exhaust port, and landing gear details.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-227134).

The night of 17 February 1944 an aerial torpedo struck Intrepid's starboard quarter, 15 feet below her waterline, flooding several compartments and jamming her rudder hard to port. By racing her port screw and idling her starboard engine, Captain Thomas L. Sprague kept her on course until two days later strong winds swung her back and forth and tended to weathercock her with her bow pointed toward Tokyo. Sprague later confessed: "Right then I wasn't interested in going in that direction." At this point the crew fashioned a jury-rig sail of hatch covers and scrap canvas which swung Intrepid about and held her on course. Decorated by her crazy-quilt sail, the carrier stood into Pearl Harbor 24 February 1944.

Read "Forward repair of rudder damage" at the Researcher @ Large website.

USS Intrepid (CV-11) operating in the Philippine Sea in November 1944. Note F6F Hellcat fighter parked on an outrigger forward of her island. In this picture Intrepid is camouflaged to Measure 32, Design 3A.

(Thanks to Robert Hurst, who provided additional info).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center (photo # NH 97468).

Japanese Kamikaze suicide plane disintegrates in flames after hitting USS Intrepid (CV-11), during operations off the Philippines on 25 November 1944. Collection of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center (photo # NH 62958).

USS Intrepid (CV-11) continues operations near Luzon despite kamikaze hit, 25 November 1944.

USS Chicopee (AO-34) refueling USS Intrepid (CV-11) to port while simultaneously refueling USS Norman Scott (DD-690) to starboard, Pacific Ocean, 10 April 1945.

Okinawa Campaign, March-June 1945 — USS Intrepid (CV-11) afire, after she was hit by a Kamikaze off Okinawa on 16 April 1945. Photographed from USS Alaska (CB-1), as a Fletcher-class destroyer steams by in the foreground.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-328441).

USS Alaska (CB-1) cruising in company with USS Intrepid (CV-11), April 16, 1945. The carrier is smoking from an earlier kamikaze strike and is getting ready to retire homeward for repairs, via Ulithi and Pearl Harbor. The plane is a Helldiver returning to USS Bennington (CV-20).

USS Intrepid (CVA-11) operating off Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, 9 February 1955, shortly after her SCB-27C modernization. F2H "Banshee" jet fighters are on her flight deck.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-659612).

USS Intrepid (CVA-11) underway, possibly during her May-November 1955 Med cruise. USS Salem (CA-139) is in the background.

USS Intrepid (CVA-11) prepares to launch a McDonnell F2H-2 "Banshee" jet fighter from the starboard catapult, June 1956. Note details of the carrier's island, including radar antennas.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-K-20593).

Departing Norfolk, September 3, 1957, for Operation Strike Back.

Sequence showing final approach and landing of a F2H-3 Banshee of VF-71, in the North Atlantic.

Note two-letter tail code on aircraft of Carrier Air Group Six (CVG-6). Although officially introduced per MIL-I-18464B(Aer), 30 September 1958, examples could already be seen in the second half of 1957. CVG-6's tail code was changed from "C" to "AF." The effective date was most likely the beginning of FY 58 (1 July 1957).

Two Grumman F9F-8B Cougar of VA-66 "Waldomen" and three North American FJ-3 Fury of VF-33 "Astronauts" parked on deck, North Atlantic. The empty "slot" marks the point where another FJ-3 fell overboard.

Both squadrons received new aircraft shortly after Strike Back: VA-66 transitioned to the Douglas A4D-1 Skyhawk and VF-33 transitioned to the short-lived Grumman F11F-1 Tiger.

Four North American FJ-3 Fury and a Douglas AD-6 Skyraider of VA-25. North Atlantic.

Take off, North Atlantic.

North American FJ-3 Fury taking off. North Atlantic.

One of the "Fleet Angels" of HU-2 takes off.

An AD-5W Skyraider of VAW-12 "Bats" landing on USS Intrepid.

Arriving Brest, France, October 1957. Parked on deck are F2H-3 Banshees of VF-71 and F9F-8B Cougars of VA-66 "Waldomen."

Off Brest, France.

From the fantail.

Flight deck.

Glenn Herzenach, PNSN.

USS Independence (CVA-62), USS Saratoga (CVA-60), and USS Intrepid (CVA-11) (listed from bottom to top) underway in 1961, with crewmen paraded on deck in a spellout commemorating the 50th birthday of Naval Aviation.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. (# NH 97716).

Welcome Aboard the Anti-Submarine Warfare Support Aircraft Carrier USS Intrepid (CVS-11), "The Fighting I." (1962).

In 1968-1969 USS Intrepid (CVS-11), "The Fighting I," was operating as an attack carrier under Captain V. F. Kelley, with Carrier Air Wing 10 aboard.

In 1969-1970 USS Intrepid (CVS-11), "The Fighting I," was operating as an ASW carrier under Captain H. N. Moore, Jr.

USS Intrepid (CVS-11), In Mare, In Coelo.