Underway off Cape Henry, Virginia, (36 55'N; 75 45'W) with two SNJ training planes on her flight deck, 6 October 1943. Photographed by a blimp of squadron ZP-14, out of NAS Weeksville, N.C.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-87113).

At anchor in harbor, February 1944.

Lieutenant Commander Edward C. Outlaw, Commander Fighting Squadron 32 and Air Group 32, with other VF-32 pilots in flight quarters after a sweep over Truk, 29 April 1944. Note steward serving drinks, status boards on the bulkhead and ventilator on the overhead.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-233487).

Captain Wallace M. Dillon, CO, USS Langley (CVL-27), pictured on the flight deck of his ship with Fighting Squadron (VF) 32 pilot, Lieutenant (junior grade) Don "Dagwood" Reeves, May 1944. LT(JG) Reeves claimed four Japanese planes during the Truk raid, 29 April, but was lost, 11 June, over Saipan.

Photo courtesy of the National Naval Aviation Museum.

An F6F "Hellcat" fighter landing "high" during flight operations in the vicinity of the Nansei Shoto, 10 October 1944. Task Force 38 carriers hit Japanese targets in the Okinawa area on that day.

Scene on the flight deck, looking forward, as the carrier shoots down a Japanese plane during air attacks on Task Force 38 off Formosa, 14 October 1944. The falling plane is visible directly ahead of the ship.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-700447).

Anchored in Ulithi harbor, Caroline Islands, on 31 October 1944, following the Battle of Leyte Gulf. USS Hornet (CV-12) and many other ships are in the background.

Task Group 38.3 enters Ulithi anchorage in column, 12 December 1944 [see Note below], while returning from strikes on targets in the Philippines. Ships are (from front): Langley (CVL-27); Ticonderoga (CV-14); Washington (BB-56); North Carolina (BB-55); South Dakota (BB-57); Santa Fe (CL-60); Biloxi (CL-80); Mobile (CL-63) and Oakland (CL-95).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-301351).

Task Group 38.3 beginning to reform a column formation after making a simultaneous turn to port. The ships are entering Ulithi Anchorage on December 12, 1944 [see Note below] after strikes against the Japanese in the Philippines. Ships visible in this photo are: Langley (CVL-27); Ticonderoga (CV-14); Washington (BB-56); North Carolina (BB-55); South Dakota (BB-57); Santa Fe (CL-60); Biloxi (CL-80); Mobile (CL-63) and Oakland (CL-95).

Note: There is a problem with the official date of the photos above (NS022712 and NS015655: Task Group 38.3 arrived in Ulithi on December 2, 1944 after strikes against the Philippines; departed Ulithi again on December 11 to support General MacArthur's landings on Mindoro Island; was at sea, en route to the Philippines, on December 12; launched strikes against Japanese targets, December 14–16; endured Typhoon "Cobra," December 17–18; refueled and picked up survivors until December 21; and returned to Ulithi on December 24.

(Thanks to David Stubblebine, who pointed out the discrepancy).

USS Remey (DD-688) alongside USS Langley (CVL-27), circa 1944. From the Milton W. Volkens Collection, via the Tailhook Association.

USS Langley (CVL 27) rolling sharply as she rides out a Pacific storm.  Photographed from USS Essex (CV 9).  The original photograph is dated 13 January 1945, but Morison's, "History of U.S. Naval Operations in World War II", Vol. 13, captions this view as having been taken during the "Great Typhoon" of 18 December 1944.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-305484).

USS Langley (CVL-27) underway with a task force in the Pacific, 27 March 1945. Photographed from USS McCord (DD-534).

USS Langley (CVL 27) undergoes reactivation at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Pennsylvania, in January 1951. She was later transferred to the French Navy.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-425966).

Model of USS Langley (CVL-27) as she appeared during World War 2.

Model of USS Langley (CVL-27), as she appeared during World War 2, on display at the National Naval Aviation Museum, Pensacola, Florida. Photos taken on 13 June 2008.

Raising of the French national flag, as the ship was formally transferred to France in ceremonies at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Pennsylvania, 2 June 1951. Note U.S. Navy bandsmen in the center foreground.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-429464).

French Aircraft Carrier La Fayette (R 96), formerly USS Langley (CVL 27).  Photographed 11 September 1951, probably at Toulon, France. Courtesy of Captain H.H. Smith-Hutton, USN, (Retired), via Captain Paul B. Ryan, USN, 1975.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph (# NH 81901).

Note: The original photo comes from the Marius Bar collection, reference A07730.

Ceremonies on board, at Toulon, France, 11 September 1951, commemorating her entry into service after she was transferred to the French Navy by the U.S. Navy. Among those present:

Vice Admiral Nomy (at microphone), Chief of French Naval General Staff. In Whites, behind VAdm. Nomy (right to left): Captain Rieu; Vice Admiral Pothnau, Commander, French Fleet; Vice Admiral Jozan, Commander, Carriers; and Vice Admiral Sala, Prefet Maritime, Toulon. Officers in Blues are: Captain H.H. Smith-Hutton, USN, Naval Attache; Rear Admiral Peries, French Navy, Deputy Chief of Staff for Air; Captain Kaufmann, USN; Commander Sannoner and two aides.

Courtesy of Captain H.H. Smith-Hutton, USN (Retired), via Captain Paul B. Ryan, USN, 1975.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph (# NH 81902).

Ceremonies on board, at Toulon, France, 11 September 1951, commemorating her entry into service after she was transferred to the French Navy by the U.S. Navy. Those present, in foreground, are:

Vice Admiral Pothnau (in Whites), Commanding French seagoing forces; Rear Admiral Peries (in Blues), Deputy Chief of Staff for French Naval Air; Vice Admiral Sala, Prefet Maritime, Toulon; Captain H.H. Smith-Hutton, USN, Naval Attache; and Captain Kaufmann, USN, (partially hidden).

Courtesy of Captain H.H. Smith-Hutton, USN (Retired), via Captain Paul B. Ryan, USN, 1975.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph (# NH 81904).

Date and location unknown. She is carrying SK-2 and SP radars.

Undated photo of La Fayette (ex-USS Langley, CVL-27), whilst underway. French Navy, official.

Photo and text from "Jane's Fighting Ships, 1958–1959."

La Fayette circa 1952, location unknown.

An F6F-5 Hellcat as it takes off from La Fayette (ex-USS Langley, CVL-27) as part of an airstrike in support of French ground forces. Photo French Navy.

From Aircraft Carriers, by Norman Polmar.

Two French Aéronavale SB2C-5 Helldivers from the light aircraft carrier La Fayette (ex-USS Langley) over Tonkin to seek out the enemy. French Navy photo.

From Aircraft Carriers, by Norman Polmar.

French Aircraft Carrier La Fayette (formerly USS Langley, CVL-27) prepares to launch a French Navy TBM-3E Avenger (USN Bureau # 85684) from her starboard catapult, during the 1950s.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph (# NH 92501).

La Fayette during war operations in Indochina, March–June 1953. Photo taken from La Fayette's helicopter.

Georges was aboard, working with aircraft catapults.

La Fayette steaming from Toulon to Indochina, March 1953.

Photo from the official album given to members of the crew. Georges's is number 471.

Cap Saint Jacques, Indochina. Loading bombs for Hellcats and Helldivers.

Photo from the official album given to members of the crew. Georges's is number 471.

French warships off Nha Trang, Vietnam, during Operation Meknes and Atlas, 15-19 April 1953. The carrier La Fayette is at right. Colonial sloop in center may be Savorgnan de Brazza. The two aircraft tenders at left are Paul Goffeny and Commandant Robert Giraud.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph (# NH 79383).

End of the operation. Arrival in Saigon, May 1953.

Photo from the official album given to members of the crew. Georges's is number 471.

Catapult-launching a Hellcat.

Photo from the official album given to members of the crew. Georges's is number 471.

Aviation officer guides planes in for recovering aboard La Fayette.

Photo from the official album given to members of the crew. Georges's is number 471.

French Aircraft Carrier La Fayette (R 96), formerly USS Langley (CVL 27) in Indo-china waters (Vietnam), 1953.

Circa 1954.

Circa 1954.

La Fayette entering Valletta Harbour, circa 1956. Photo A. & J. Pavia.

Photo and text from "Jane's Fighting Ships, 1956–1957."

At Toulon in October 1956 along with other French and British warships while preparing for the Suez operation. Ships are from top to bottom: the AA cruiser De Grasse, the aircraft carrier Arromanches (ex-HMS Colossus), the light cruiser Georges Leygues, the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle, the fleet oiler RFA Tiderange and Lafayette.

La Fayette, date and location unknown. Note lattice mast supporting an SPS-6 radar antenna between the pairs of funnels.

La Fayette (ex-USS Langley, CVL-27) underway in the early 1960s through the Suez Canal. Note both lifts are lowered, probably to ventilate the hangar.

Port bow oblique aerial view of La Fayette (R96)—ex-USS Langley (CVL-27)—underway circa 1961, location unknown. Note Piasecki (Vertol) HUP (later UH-25) Retriever helicopter forward of bridge and some of her aircraft complement parked aft with wings raised. Photo French Navy, Official.