Leyte (CV-32) slides down the ways into the James River, at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company. She was christened on Thursday, 23 August 1945, by the ship's sponsor, Mrs. James M. Mead, wife of U.S. Senator Mead (D-New York).

Date and location unknown (maybe a base in Japan, during the Korean War?).

Philip D. Eakins, FISC Yokosuka Det Sasebo, comments: "[P]hoto numbered NS023201 was indeed taken while Leyte was anchored in Sasebo harbor. [...] The small building on the hillside located behind the ship is located at the Akasaki Fuel Terminal, although it can’t be seen from the harbor now because of trees that have grown over the past 50+ years."

Photo of USS Leyte (CV-32), dated 13 March 1946. BuAer photo from Hampton Roads NAS, # 41379, taken at an altitude of 200 feet (approx. 60 meters). Location is Hampton Roads. Other ships in photo are not identified.

Deck edge elevator at flight deck level, looking forward. Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company, 10 April 1946.

Deck edge elevator, main deck level, broadside, 10 April 1946.

A Sikorski HO3S-1 helicopter flies beside the carrier during the Second Task Fleet's Operation Frigid, November 1948.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-K-9496).

Underway in the North Atlantic, during Operation Frigid, 20 November 1948. Photographed by PH1 B.T. Teigan.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-416025).

Caloosahatchee (AO-98), Leyte (CV-32), and Samuel B. Roberts (DD-823) conducting an underway replenishment during Operation Frigid, 20 November 1948. US Navy photo.

Ensign Jesse L. Brown (left, front) and Ensign R.G. Rider play a game of backgammon (or "acey-ducey") in the Fighter Squadron 32 ready room, on board USS Leyte, 12 April 1949. Other squadron pilots are relaxing in the background.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-377908).

Note: Midshipman Jesse L. Brown was designated a Naval Aviator in October 1948, the first African-American to achive this status, and received his commission as Ensign in April 1949. He was killed in action on 4 December 1950, while on a close air support mission near the Chosin Reservoir. Ensign Jesse LeRoy Brown was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the escort ship USS Jesse L. Brown (DE-1089, later FF-1089) was named in his honor.

Ensign Jesse L. Brown, USN, takes the oath of office on board USS Leyte (CV-32), 26 April 1949. Administering the oath is the ship's Commanding Officer, Captain William L. Erdmann. Lieutenant Commander E.D. Williams (center) is witnessing the ceremony.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (#80-G-707201).

Ensign Jesse L. Brown, USN, in the cockpit of an F4U-4 Corsair fighter, circa 1950. He was the first African-American Naval Aviator, and flew with Fighter Squadron 32 (VF-32) from USS Leyte (CV-32).

Official U.S. Navy Photographs, now in the collections of the National Archives (#80-G-708014 and 030318-N-0000X-002).

(See also NS023211, NS023224 and USS Jesse L. Brown.)

USS Leyte underway and about to launch two Grumman F9F Panthers, circa the early 1950s. Location unknown.

Group of Marine fighter pilots of VMF-223 aboard USS Leyte on a Mediterranean cruise, September 6, 1949-January 26, 1950. Captain Rex Wilson is 4th from left, seated.

Crewmembers swimming over the carrier's side, using her deck edge elevator as a diving platform, at Augusta, Sicily, 27 May 1950.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-415936).

At anchor in Sasebo harbor, Japan, in November 1950, during a break in her Korean War combat operations. Photographed by AFC O.H. Wilson.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-434496).

USS Leyte (CV-32) underway in Korean waters. The photo was taken on 15 November 1950, three days before Ensign F. C. Weber, flying an F9F-2 Panther from VF-31 assigned to Leyte, shot down a North Korean MiG-15 (photo # USN-421908).

Moored off Naval Operating Base, Yokosuka, Japan, during a break from Korean War operations, 1 December 1950. Note old fortification in the left background.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-424599).

USS Leyte (CV-32) steams around the end of Naval Air Station, North Island, as she arrives at San Diego, California, after the end of her Korean War combat tour. The scene is partially framed by the tail of a PBM-5 patrol bomber (Bureau # 84771). Photograph is dated 3 February 1951.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. (# NH 97296).

May 1952, Quonset Point Rhode Island. Official USN image.

The ASW aircraft carrier USS Leyte (CVS-32) underway, date and location unknown, with ZPG-2 aloft and unidentified destroyer in attendance (USN photo.)

Grumman S2F-1 Anti-submarine Aircraft "... gets a 'go' signal from USS Leyte flight deck 0fficer as she is launched for anti-submarine patrol during LANTPHIBEX. The specially-designed aircraft were kept flying around the clock during the overseas transit of the amphibious force, and combined with sonar-equipped helicopters and Navy blimps, provided effective protection against four marauding 'Enemy' subs." Quoted from the original caption, which was released by USS Leyte (CVS-32) under date of 1 November 1955.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. (# NH 97297).

USS Leyte (CVS-32) off Vieques Island, Puerto Rico, while embarking Marines prior to the "invasion" of the Panama Canal Zone, during amphibious exercises in 1957. She has thirteen HRS and two HUS helicopters of Marine Air Group 26 on her flight deck. Photo was released by the Department of Defense on 2 July 1957.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. (# NH 97298).

Grumman S2F-2 Tracker Anti-submarine Aircraft landing aboard USS Leyte (CVS-32) during an anti-submarine exercise. The photograph was received by the Naval Photographic Center in February 1958.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph (# USN 1034039).

USS Leyte (CVS-32) operating with a ZPG-2 blimp and an unidentified destroyer of Destroyer Squadron Twenty, during anti-submarine exercises in February 1958.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph (# USN 1034040).