Seen just over three months after entering service, Independence is camouflaged in Measure 14, and has a few SBDs and TBMs on the flight deck forward. The contours of the port hull bulge can be seen. A few weeks after this photo was taken, the bow and stern 5"/38 guns, fitted as original equipment, were each exchanged for one 40-mm quad. SK, SC-2 and SG radars were carried. (Thanks to Robert Hurst, who provided additional info).

USS Independence (CV-22) photographed soon after completion, circa early 1943, while she still carried a 5"/38 gun at the bow.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph (# NH 88416).

USS Independence, location unknown. USN photo, 1943. Note the early war aircraft markings on the planes on deck.

Aft plan view of USS Independence (CV-22) at Mare Island Navy Yard on 11 July 1943. Navy photo # 5083-43.

Stern view of USS Independence (CV-22) off Mare Island Navy Yard on 13 July 1943. Navy photo # 5099-43.

Broadside view of USS Independence (CV-22) off Mare Island Navy Yard on 13 July 1943. Her hull number was changed to CVL-22 two days later. Navy photo # 5101-43.

[Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives (# 19-N-48266)]

Bow on view of USS Independence (CV-22) off Mare Island Navy Yard on 13 July 1943. Navy photo # 5103-43.

[Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives (# 19-N-48269)]

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-74433).

Another view, as above.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-74436).

Burial at sea, Battle of Tarawa, Nov. 22, 1943.

Twelve sailors were killed and five missing in action as result of torpedo Nov. 20, 1943.

One of many violent rolls during typhoon in the Pacific, Oct 4, 1944.

"The ship went through at least 6 heavy weather episodes including the worst of all on 17/18 Dec. 1944, when a bomb magazine broke loose and all its bombs nearly destroyed us." (Don Labudde).

"I was in charge of the bomb magazine at the time. Those bombs would just tumble end over end. I would jump up, grab an I beam overhead, lift my legs, and let the bombs roll by. When it stopped on one side momentarily, I would tie one or two down. Then I would grab hold the I beam again and hang up there like a monkey until the bombs rolled to the other bulkhead and I could secure a couple more. I could hear the speakers telling the crew to make ready to abandon ship. So I was down there doing my job and thinking to myself, if this thing blows up, I'm going to die anyway so it don't make any difference where I am." (Herman Backlund).

Hornet (CV-12) and Independence (CVL-22) together, Jan. 25, 1945, as seen from Lexington (CV-16). National Archives.

Afire aft, soon after the "Able Day" atomic bomb air burst test at Bikini on 1 July 1946. The bomb had exploded off the ship's port quarter, causing massive blast damage in that area, and progressively less further forward.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-627502).

View of the ship's port quarter, showing severe blast damage caused by the "Able Day" atomic bomb air burst at Bikini on 1 July 1946. Photographed at Bikini anchorage on 23 July 1946.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-627471).

"Last list — Starboard gun tubs of the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Independence (CVL-22) etched against the Pacific sky as she starts her death throes off the Central California coast. The bow is nearest camera (left). She sank after a weapons test Friday morning. The "Mighty I" was a veteran of two years of war in the Pacific and a target ship in the Bikini atomic bomb tests. (Official Navy photo)."