Civilian tanker SS Esso New Orleans homeward bound, date and location unknown.

Photo by former Chief Engineer Ernest G. Bornheimer.

Built as the civilian tanker Esso New Orleans, this ship was acquired by the Navy on 31 May 1941, assigned hull number AO-31 and renamed Chenango for a river, county and town in New York State (NS0302827–NS0302827a).

A previous US warship had borne the name:

1. A Civil War side-wheel steamer.

(Map NS0302827 and photo NS0302827a courtesy of Google Maps.)

USS Chenango as a Fleet Oiler (AO-31).

USS Chenango (ACV-28) being loaded with P-40s of the 33rd FG at the Norfolk Naval Station on 21 October 1942. NARA photo.

USS Chenango (ACV-28) loaded with P-40s of the 33rd FG at the Norfolk Naval Station, 21–22 October 1942. NARA photo.

USS Chenango (ACV-28) en route to North Africa in the Operation Torch convoy, November 1942, loaded with P-40Fs of the 33rd FG.

"Carrying 77 USAAF Curtiss P-40F Warhawks of the 33rd Fighter Group, Chenango sailed on 23 October [1942] with the Operation Torch assault force bound for North Africa and on 10 November, flew off her aircraft to newly won Port Lyautey, French Morocco."

(Quoted from DANFS.)

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo #80-G-30509.

NS0302814d: Plane numbered "90" on the lower cowling and named Janie was piloted by Lt. Robert J. Palenscar, Service # O-660187, 60th Fighter Squadron, 33rd Fighter Group. Just beyond it is 41-14365, Curtiss P-40F-5-CU Warhawk. (Source: Shark Squadron.)

NS0302814d1: Same as above, but cropped slightly differently.

USS Chenango (ACV-28) pulling into Casablanca Harbor, Morocco, after launching the P-40s of the 33rd FG on November 10th and 11th, 1942.

This picture was in the same group as the photos of the P-40s of the 33rd FG taking off from USS Chenango (ACV-28) in November 1942, and has often been identified as such in some books. However, it is dated December 1942 and the plane rather looks like a TBF-1 Avenger. At least two Avengers, both from squadron VGS-28, were lost in December 1942 while attached to Chenango, en route to Panama: BuNo 00582 on the 11th, and BuNo 01770 on the 12th.

USS Chenango (CVE-28), official US Navy photo, circa 1943. Off West Maui, Hawaii, just south of Lahaina (thanks to Mike Harrington).

Bow view of USS Chenango (CVE-28), circa 1943. Note rust.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-K-15263.

USS Chenango (ACV-28) at anchor in early 1943, shortly after being deployed to the Pacific for the invasion of the Gilbert Islands. Note the pair of twin 40-mm tub-mounted guns right at the stern and, further forward and below the overhanging flight deck, one of the two 5"/51s.

Naval History & Heritage Command photo, # NH 55103.

The escort carrier USS Chenango (ACV-28) at anchor off Noumea, New Caledonia, 20 January 1943. Aircraft on the flight deck include seven Douglas SBD Dauntless, four Grumman F4F Wildcats in a line on the starboard side beside the rear aircraft lift, and six Grumman TBF Avengers arranged around the rear aircraft lift.

Donor: P. Couvret.

United States National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-63677.

USS Chenango (ACV-28), a rest extension on the flight deck for the tail wheel of a plane. Photographed 19 February 1943.

NS0302838: U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-39399.

NS0302838a: U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-39400.

USS Chenango (ACV-28), a rest extension on the flight deck for the tail wheel of an SBD Dauntless . Photographed 19 February 1943.

NS0302838b: U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-39401.

NS0302838c: U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-39402.

"Stinky," official ship's mascot, with Carpenter Collins aboard USS Chenango (CVE-28) while at Havannah Harbor, Efate. Photographed by PHOM1/c W.D. Woods, 21 April 1943.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-264950.

"Stinky," official ship's mascot of USS Chenango (CVE-28) on top of a U.S. Navy jeep while at Havannah Harbor, Efate. Photographed by Ensign Adams, July 1943.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-264951 .

USS Chenango (CVE-28) crossed the Equator at 0800, 7 August 1943.

USS Chenango (CVE-28) on 22 September 1943, after a Mare Island refit. The ship is going down the Mare Island Strait to San Francisco Bay.

Photo from the files of the Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum.

USS Chenango (CVE-28) after a September 1943 Mare Island refit.

Photo from U.S. Aircraft Carriers: An Illustrated Design History, by Norman Friedman.

Battle of Tarawa, November 1943. Oblique of Bititu Island, Tarawa, during the invasion of U.S. Marines. Shown: South of taxi runway close to ammunition dump, bomb proof shelter in foreground still housing men. Photographed with K-20 camera by planes from USS Chenango (CVE-28), 22 November 1943.

U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-202838.

Battle of Tarawa, November 1943. Oblique of Bititu Island, Tarawa, during the invasion of U.S. Marines. Shown: Enemy stronghold in southern part of island under fire from Marines from north and U.S. cruiser to south. Enemy shown in foreground. Photographed with K-20 camera by planes from USS Chenango (CVE-28), 22 November 1943.

U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-202839.

Battle of Tarawa, November 1943. Oblique of Bititu Island, Tarawa, during the invasion of U.S. Marines. Shown: The southeast tip of the island is under fire from U.S. forces. The turret guns, tank and trunk revetments are still in enemy possession. Photographed with K-20 camera by planes from USS Chenango (CVE-28), 22 November 1943.

U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-202845.

Battle of Tarawa, November 1943. Oblique of Bititu Island, Tarawa, during the invasion of U.S. Marines. Shown: South west tip of island showing gun emplacements and trenches. Photographed with K-20 camera by planes from USS Chenango (CVE-28), 22 November 1943.

U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-202847.

Arthur "Harpo" Marx entertaining aboard USS Chenango (CVE-28), December 1943.

U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-322792.

USS Chenango (CVE-28) operating in the Pacific, circa 1944. She is painted in what may be Camouflage Measure 33, Design 10A.

Collection of Vice Admiral Dixwell Ketcham, USN (Retired).

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph (# NH 95703).

USS Chenango (CVE-28) operating in the Pacific, circa 1944.

Four SBD-5 Dauntless bombers fly over the northern part of Eniwetok Atoll, 18 February 1944. Large island below is Engebi, captured on 17–18 February. Photographed from a USS Chenango (CVE-28) plane.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-218609.

CDR Frank Malinasky was the Landing Signal Officer (LSO) aboard USS Chenango (CVE-28) from shortly after her commissioning until May 1944.

USS Chenango (CVE-28) refueling USS John Rodgers (DD-574), 24 June 1944. From mid to late June they both operated in Task Group 53.1, one of the amphibious troop sections intended to land on Guam. The Guam operation was postponed and in late June the vessels were brought back to Eniwetok. Air cover for that TG was alternately day to day from Chenango and USS Sangamon (CVE-26).

NS0557496: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-321638.

NS0557497: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-321639.

Fighting Squadron (VF) 35 patches (Walt Disney patches).

VF-35 derived from Composite Squadron (VC) 35 at San Diego in July 1943 and deployed to the Pacific only four months later. In one of the longest continuous assignments of WW II, VF-35 spent 13 months aboard USS Chenango (CVE-28)—October 1943–November 1944. The squadron flew F6F-3 and -5 Hellcats and was credited with nine victories, shared by 11 pilots. (Text adapted from U.S. Navy Fighter Squadrons in World War II, by Barrett Tillman.)

Natives from beach sent S.O.S. by mirror to a plane that relayed it, and they were picked up by destroyer. Photographed by USS Chenango (CVE-28), 22 July 1944.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-242178.

US Amphibious forces south of Agaps town, Guam, in the Mariana Islands. Photographed by USS Chenango (CVE-28), at approximately 1,000 feet, on 22 July 1944.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-242191.

Crew of TBM Avenger, the first American plane to land on Orote Peninsula, Guam, in Mariana Islands. Aboard USS Chenango (CVE-28). Left to right: ARM3C William E. Genry, USNR; Lieutenant Junior Grade E. Lerias, Jr.; ARM2C Clark T. Schoonmaker, USNR; Captain V.T. Wills, USNR. Photograph released 30 July 1944.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-248292.

USS Chenango (CVE-28) in January 1945, dry-docked in Seattle, still wearing camouflage 33/10A.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-322216.

USS Chenango (CVE-28) at anchor in January 1945. The only changes shown here are improved electronics (indicated by the circled mast area) and a whaleboat amidships. USN photo.

Photo and text from U.S. Aircraft Carriers: An Illustrated Design History, by Norman Friedman.

USS Chenango (CVE-28), 3-inch rocket motor stowage, released 12 May 1945.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-264872.

Japanese Surrender, August–September 1945. V-J Flag flying from USS Chenango (CVE-28). Photographed by crewmember of Chenango, released 19 October 1945.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-264868.

USS Chenango (CVE-28), APS-4 radar (air-to-air and air-to-surface search), port-side aft, released 27 August 1945.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-264873.

The escort carrier USS Chenango (CVE-28) at anchor in Buckner Bay, Okinawa, Japan, 31 August 1945. Grumman F6F Hellcats are parked on the flight deck. Chenango was used to carry liberated allied prisoners of war (POW) from Fukuoka No 2 Prisoner of War Camp at Nagasaki to Okinawa after the fall of Japan. Chenango left Nagasaki Bay 13 September 1945 and the POWs were disembarked on Okinawa on 18 October 1945.

Donor: P. Couvret.

United States National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-264877.

Japanese surrender, August–September 1945. Street scene in Tokyo, Japan, showing Ginza Street/Theatre. Photographed by USS Chenango (CVE-28), released 24 October 1945.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-264827.

Nagasaki, Japan, aerial view of the bomb damage from 9 August 1945. Altitude of 300'. Photographed by USS Chenango (CVE-28) aircraft on 15 October 1945.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-264930.

Nagasaki, Japan, aerial view of the bomb damage from 9 August 1945. Altitude of 300'. Photographed by USS Chenango (CVE-28) aircraft on 15 October 1945.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-264899).

"Ship's Victory Party. USS Chenango (CVE-28). Meadowbrook Gardens, Culver City, Calif. Nov. 26, 1945"

"Imperial Domain of Golden Dragon" Certificate for LT(JG) Hubert R. Cornwell, USNR (crossing the 180th Meridian, 5 November 1945).