USS Princeton (CVL-23) burning, but still underway, about twenty minutes after she was hit by a Japanese air attack, 24 October 1944. Photographed from USS South Dakota (BB-57).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-287962).

Smoke rises after a massive explosion in Princeton's hangar deck, shortly after she was hit by a Japanese bomb while operating off the Philippines on 24 October 1944. A destroyer is visible at right.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-270546).

Smoke rises from an explosion in Princeton's hangar deck at 1000.5 hrs. on 24 October 1944, shortly after she was hit by a Japanese bomb while operating off the Philippines. Photographed from USS South Dakota (BB-57).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-287969).

Princeton burning soon after she was hit by a Japanese bomb while operating off the Philippines on 24 October 1944. This view, taken from USS South Dakota (BB-57) at about 1001 hrs., shows the large smoke column passing aft following a heavy explosion in the carrier's hangar deck.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-287970).

Princeton suffers another tremendous explosion, soon after she was hit by a Japanese bomb while operating off the Philippines on 24 October 1944. Photographed at about 1003 hrs. from USS South Dakota (BB-57), with USS Reno (CL-96) passing by closer to the camera.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-287972).

USS Princeton (CVL-23) afire at about 1004 hours on 24 October 1944, soon after she was hit by a Japanese bomb during operations off the Philippines. This view shows smoke rising from the ship's second large explosion, as USS Reno (CL-96) steams by in the foreground. Photographed from USS South Dakota (BB-57).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-287974).

The burning Princeton seen from USS Birmingham (CL-62), during the effort to save the carrier on 24 October. She had been hit by a Japanese air attack while operating off the Philippines. Note Princeton's buckled flight deck and other damage resulting from explosions in her hangar deck.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-270395).

USS Reno (CL-96) comes alongside the burning USS Princeton (CVL-23) to assist in fighting fires, 24 October 1944. Princeton had been hit by Japanese air attack earlier in the day.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-270430).

USS Reno (CL-96) fighting fires from alongside the port quarter of the burning USS Princeton (CVL-23), 24 October 1944. Princeton had been hit by Japanese air attack earlier in the day.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-270431).

USS Reno (CL-96) stands off the starboard quarter of USS Princeton (CVL-23), while fighting fires on board the bombed carrier, 24 October 1944. Note Reno's forward 5"/38 twin gun mounts in the foreground, with local fire control sights on top.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center (# NH 63439).

USS Birmingham (CL-62) comes alongside the burning USS Princeton (CVL-23) to assist with fire fighting, 24 October 1944.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-281660-2).

USS Birmingham (CL-62) shown on October 24, 1944 helping fight fires aboard the USS Princeton (CVL-23). The carrier exploded violently, shortly after this photo was taken, sealing her fate and grievously killing and injuring the Birmingham's topside crew and severely damaging the cruiser too.

Crewmen on USS Birmingham (CL-62) play fire hoses on the burning USS Princeton (CVL-23), as their ship comes alongside to assist in damage control measures, 24 October 1944.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-270357).

View of Princeton's after port side and flight deck, seen from USS Birmingham (CL-62) as she came alongside to help fight fires during the afternoon of 24 October 1944. Note aircraft elevator blown out of position and turned upside down, and flight deck buckled by the hangar deck explosions that followed a Japanese bomb hit. The ships were operating off the Philippines.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-270359).

View of Princeton's port midships area, showing her collapsed forward aircraft elevator and shattered flight deck, the results of explosions in her hangar deck following a Japanese bomb hit off the Philippines on 24 October 1944. Photographed from USS Birmingham (CL-62), which was coming alongside to assist with firefighting.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-270398).

Damage control parties standing on Princeton's forward port flight deck, during attempts to control her fires during the afternoon of 24 October 1944. Photographed from USS Birmingham (CL-62), which was assisting from alongside. Note the 40mm twin gun mount at left, whose shield has been torn off by Birmingham's Number Two gun turret as the two ships rolled and pitched while in close contact with each other. They were then operating off the Philippines.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-270375).

Princeton's port forward area, as seen from USS Birmingham (CL-62) during attempts to control her fires during the afternoon of 24 October. She had been hit by a Japanese air attack while operating off the Philippines. Note damage to Princeton's 40mm gun position and catwalk, caused by Birmingham's Number Two 6"/47 gun turret as the two ships grind together. Also note flight deck tractor partially hung up on Princeton's deck edge, F6F and TBM airplanes parked forward, floater nets and life rafts on Birmingham's gun turret.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-270437).

USS Princeton (CVL-23) alongside USS Birmingham (CL-62) in the vicinity of the cruiser's 5" gun mount No. 3. This picture was recorded by the Mare Island Navy Yard (photo # 7309-44) when CL-62 was repaired there.

View from the foredeck on USS Birmingham (CL-62) as she stood alongside Princeton to help fight her fires, during the afternoon of 24 October. The carrier had been hit by a Japanese air attack while operating off the Philippines. Note fire hoses on Birmingham's deck and details of the underside of her Number Two 6"/47 gun turret.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-270453).

Another view from USS Birmingham (CL-62). This picture was recorded by the Mare Island Navy Yard (photo # 7308-44) when the light cruiser was repaired there.

Damage control party examines Princeton's shattered hangar, after she was ripped by explosions following a Japanese bomb hit off the Philippines on 24 October. Note the burned out airplane inside the carrier's hangar, and the top of her hull blister in the lower foreground. Photo taken from USS Birmingham (CL-62), which was alongside to assist with firefighting, and recorded by the Mare Island Navy Yard (photo # 7307-44) when the light cruiser was repaired there.

Heavy explosion aft on USS Princeton (CVL-23), with USS Birmingham (CL-62) alongside, 24 October 1944.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-281663-3).

USS Birmingham (CL-62), at left, and a destroyer pull away from USS Princeton (CVL-23) following the big explosion that destroyed the carrier's stern at about 1523 hrs. on 24 October 1944. This blast killed over two hundred men aboard Birmingham, which was alongside Princeton fighting fires. Note the light smoke over Birmingham's midships and stern areas. Princeton's stern, and a good deal of her after superstructure, has been blown off.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-270553).

USS Princeton (CVL-23) blows up after being torpedoed by USS Reno (CL-96) on 24 October 1944. Princeton had been fatally damaged by Japanese air attack earlier in the day, and was scuttled by torpedoing to permit U.S. forces to clear the area.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-47305).

Princeton survivors jumping from a motor whaleboat to swim to USS Cassin Young (DD‑793), 24 October 1944.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-281662-6).

Plaque and letter of appreciation exhibited on board USS Reno (CL-96). They were presented by the Commanding Officer of USS Princeton (CVL-23) in recognition of fire fighting assistance and survivor care rendered by Reno on 24 October 1944, when Princeton was fatally damaged by Japanese air attack.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center (# NH 98471-A).