USS Saratoga (CV-3) Special Feature

NavSource Naval History

USS Saratoga (CV-3) Special Feature

The Harold C. Cassar Photo Collection


Captions in italics are taken from the back of each photo.

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Sara at Sea
USS Saratoga (CV-3) 116k "Sara on Manuvers followed by destroyer"

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Rabaul
(November 1943)


"Then, on 5 November, in response to reports of Japanese cruisers concentrating at Rabaul to counterattack the Allied landing forces, Saratoga conducted perhaps her most brilliant strike of the war. Her aircraft penetrated the heavily defended port and disabled most of the Japanese cruisers, ending the surface threat to Bougainville. Saratoga, herself, escaped unscathed and returned to raid Rabaul again on 11 November". (DANFS, Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Vol. 6, page 341).

Saratoga's Air Group 12 was led by CDR Caldwell, whose Avenger returned badly shot up.

ADM Halsey said: "My utmost admiration for your brilliant performance during recent operations. Your strike was another shot heard round the world. When the Saratoga is given a chance, she is deadly".

USS Saratoga (CV-3) 89k "Navy ace fighter pilot Commander Caldwell (right) speaking to Rear Admiral Sherman about Rabaul raid"

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Tarawa
(November 1943)


"Saratoga and Princeton were then designated the Relief Carrier Group for the offensive in the Gilberts; and, after striking Nauru on 19 November, they rendezvoused on 23 November with the transports carrying garrison troops to Makin and Tarawa. The carriers provided air cover until the transports reached their destinations, and then maintained air patrols over Tarawa". (DANFS, Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Vol. 6, page 341).

USS Saratoga (CV-3) 93k "This is one Jap plane that will not fly again. Destroyed by USS Saratoga pilots on the raid on Tarawa."

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USS Saratoga (CV-3) 113k "The remains of a Jap plane that took a direct hit by one of the USS Saratoga pilots on Tarawa."

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USS Saratoga (CV-3) 108k "A scene of the damage done by USS Saratoga pilots on Tarawa."

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USS Saratoga (CV-3) 106k "A bunker demolished on Tarawa by Saratoga pilots. Blasted/twisted re-bar supports gone..."

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USS Saratoga (CV-3) 128k "Another bunker destroyed by USS Saratoga pilots on island of Tarawa."

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USS Saratoga (CV-3) 96k "Another bunker destroyed on Tarawa by USS Saratoga pilots."

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USS Saratoga (CV-3) 112k "An inspection party assessing some of the damage done on Tarawa by USS Saratoga pilots."

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USS Saratoga (CV-3) 97k "An inspection party looking over some of the damage done on Tarawa by USS Saratoga pilots."

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USS Saratoga (CV-3) — The Harold C. Cassar Photo Collection
To Additional Pages Of Saratoga Images

Feature Main Page

Page 1 — At Sea; Rabaul; Tarawa     Page 2 — Kamikaze Attack
Page 3 — The Aftermath (part 1)     Page 4 — The Aftermath (part 2)

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