Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War

United States Navy — Aircraft carrier

USS Monterey (CVL-26) — service history

This is the full service history. For the vessel's particulars, photograph and specifications, see the entry.

In the words of the US Navy. The account below is reproduced verbatim from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, compiled by the Naval History and Heritage Command — a work of the United States Government, in the public domain, and the only text on this site not written here.

Second World War 1939–1945

1941

Dayton (CL‑78) was laid down on 29 December 1941 at Camden, N.J., by the New York Shipbuilding Corp.; reclassified as an aircraft carrier, CV‑26, on 27 March 1942; renamed Monterey on 31 March 1942; launched on 28 February 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Patrick N. L. Bellinger, wife of Rear Adm. Patrick N. L. Bellinger, Chief of Staff to Adm. Ernest J. King, the Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet; and commissioned on 17 June 1943, Capt. Lester T. Hundt in command.

1943 Philippine Sea

USS Monterey (CVL-26)
Naval Historical File Photo 80-G-173719: (Oct. 24, 1943) – Group photo of ship’s gunnery officers aboard the fast aircraft carrier USS Monterey (CVL 26). Pictured second from right in first row is Lt. Gerald R. Ford Jr., who later became the 38th President of the United States (1974-1977). Ford received his commission as an Ensign in the U.S Naval Reserve on April 13, 1942 and later participated i US Navy — http://www.ford.utexas.edu/images/avproj/pop-ups/AV82-203-15.html — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons

Reclassified as a small aircraft carrier, CVL‑26, on 15 July 1943, less than a month after commissioning, Monterey departed Philadelphia following her shakedown, sailing for the western Pacific. She reached the Gilberts on 19 November 1943, in time to help secure Makin Island. She took part in strikes on Kavieng, New Ireland, on 25 December, as part of TG 37.2, and supported the landings at Kwajalein and Eniwetok until 8 February 1944. The small carrier then operated with TF 58 during raids in the Carolines, Marianas, northern New Guinea, and the Bonins from February through July 1944. During this time she was also involved in the Battle of the Philippine Sea on 29 and 30 April.

1944

USS Monterey (CVL-26)
The U.S. Navy light aircraft carrier USS Monterey (CVL-26) at anchor in the Ulithi Atoll, Caroline Islands, on 24 November 1944. Note F6F-5 fighters of Carrier Air Group 28 (CVG-28) parked aft on her flight deck. U.S. Navy, photographed from USS Wasp (CV-18) — Official U.S. Navy photo 80-G-290628 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command and Navsource.org — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons

Monterey then sailed to Pearl Harbor, T.H., for overhaul, departing once again on 29 August 1944. She launched strikes against Wake Island on 3 September, then joined TF 38 and participated in strikes in the southern Philippines and the Ryukyus. October through December 1944 were spent in the Philippines, supporting first the Leyte, and then the Mindoro landings.

Though enemy planes had been unable to damage Monterey, she did not complete her first full year of service unscathed. On 18 December 1944, the Third Fleet (Adm. William F. Halsey, Jr., commanding) steamed into the path of a typhoon. At the height of the storm, which lasted two days, several planes tore loose from their cables, causing several fires on the hangar deck. Monterey arrived at Bremerton, Wash., for overhaul at the Puget Sound Navy Yard in January 1945. She rejoined TF 58 and supported Okinawa operations by launching strikes against Nansei Shoto and Kyushu from 9 May through 1 June. She rejoined TF 38 for the final strike against Honshu and Hokkaido from 1 July to 15 August.

1945

USS Monterey (CVL-26)
Ships of the U.S. Pacific Fleet steam toward the Panama Canal, while en route to the Navy Day review scheduled for 27 October 1945, photographed on 10 October 1945. Among the ships present are: USS Enterprise (CV-6), USS Idaho (BB-42), USS Mississippi (BB-41), USS New Mexico (BB-40), USS Washington (BB-56), USS North Carolina (BB-55), USS Bataan (CVL-29), USS Monterey (CVL-26), and USS Portland (C U.S. Navy — Official U.S. Navy photo 80-G-701165 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons

She departed Japanese waters on 7 September 1945, having embarked troops at Tokyo, and steamed home, arriving at New York City on 17 October. Monterey left behind an impressive and enviable war record. Her planes sank five enemy warships, and damaged others. She was responsible for the destruction of thousands of tons of Japanese shipping, hundreds of planes, and vital industrial complexes. She was assigned Magic Carpet duty, and made several voyages between Naples, Italy, and Norfolk. She was decommissioned on 11 February 1947, and was assigned to the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Philadelphia Group.

Korean War period 1950–1953

1950

With the outbreak of hostilities in Korea in June 1950, Monterey was recommissioned on 15 September 1950. She departed Norfolk on 3 January 1951, and proceeded to Pensacola, Fla., where she operated for the next four years under the Naval Training Command, training thousands of naval aviation cadets, student pilots, and helicopter trainees. Between 1 and 11 October 1954, she took part in a flood rescue mission in Honduras. She departed Pensacola on 9 June 1955, and steamed to rejoin the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Philadelphia Group. She was decommissioned on 16 January 1956.

Cold War 1954–1963

1959

Reclassified AVT‑2 on 15 May 1959, Monterey was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 June 1970 and remained berthed at Philadelphia until removed for scrapping in May 1971.

Other photographs

Held for this vessel, and not tied to any part of the account above.

USS Monterey (CVL-26)
"Activities aboard USS Monterey (CVL-26) . Navy pilots in the forward elevator well playing basketball., ca. 06/1944" Jumper of the left is future U.S. President Gerald Ford [ 1 ] [ 2 ] Victor Jorgensen — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Monterey (CVL-26)
This is a photograph of the entry page 48 for month of December 1944 in USS Monterey logbook. President Gerald Ford served on the Monterey as a Navy Lieutenant during World War Two. There is an entry that notes man overboard. General Services Administration. National Archives and Records Service. Office of Educational Programs. Education Division. ?-4/1/1985 — This file was contributed to Wikimedia Commons by National Archives and Records Administration as part of a cooperation project. The donation was facilitated by the Digital Public Library of America , via its partner Digital Public Library of America . Record in source catalog DPLA identifier: 692168b203fd2c487571ad068a1f5bc3 National Archives Identifier: 35810536 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Monterey (CVL-26)
Navy Day Fleet Review, New York Harbor, 27 October 1945: Ships of the review fleet anchored in the Hudson River, with New York City's Riverside Drive and the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial in the foreground. The George Washington Bridge is in the distance. Ships present are (from left to center): USS Augusta (CA-31); USS Boise (CL-47); USS Columbus (CA-74); and USS Monterey (CVL-26). An escort carr Unknown author — U.S. Navy photo 80-G-K-16473 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Monterey (CVL-26)
The U.S. Navy light aircraft carrier USS Monterey (CVL-26) at Eniwetok on 6 September 1944. She is painted in Camouflage Measure 33, Design 3D. U.S. Navy — U.S. Navy photo from the U.S. National archives NARA RG-313-Box320 available at usndazzle.com — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Monterey (CVL-26)
Independence class aircraft carrier#USS Monterey (CVL-26) underway in the Delaware River, circa June 1943, soon after she was commissioned. US Navy — Official US Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Monterey (CVL-26)
The U.S. Navy light aircraft carrier USS Monterey (CVL-26) at Eniwetok on 6 September 1944. She is painted in Camouflage Measure 33, Design 3D. U.S. Navy — U.S. Navy photo from the U.S. National archives NARA RG-313-Box320 available at usndazzle.com — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Monterey (CVL-26)
Gilberts Operation, November 1943: U.S. Navy ships of Task Force 50 en route to the Gilberts and Marshalls to support the invasions of Makin and Tarawa, 12 November 1943. Ships are (l-r): USS Alabama (BB-60); USS Indiana (BB-58), in the distance, wearing dazzle camouflage; and USS Monterey (CVL-26). Photographed from USS Lexington (CV-16) — Official U.S. Navy photo 80-G-204917 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Monterey (CVL-26)
The U.S. Navy light aircraft carrier USS Monterey (CVL-26) underway in the Gulf of Mexico, 29 January 1953, with her crew on her flight deck spelling out "MARDI GRAS 53". Note that all her guns have been removed. She was then serving as training carrier, operating out of Pensacola, Florida (USA), a duty she performed from January 1951 until June 1955. US Navy — Official U.S. Navy photograph NH 97452 , now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Monterey (CVL-26)
USS Monterey (CVL-26) maneuvers to recover planes during operations in the Bismarcks-New Guinea area, March 1944. Photographed from USS Santee (CVE-29) . Bow of USS Erben (DD-631) is in the foreground. Note details of her forward 5"/38 gun mount and crewmen lounging on her foredeck. US Navy — Official US Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Monterey (CVL-26)
The U.S. Navy light aircraft carrier USS Monterey (CVL-26) maneuvers to recover planes during operations in the Bismarcks-New Guinea area, March 1944. The photo was taken from the escort carrier USS Santee (CVE-29). The bow of the destroyer USS Mertz (DD-691) is visible in the foreground. Note the details of her forward 5/38 gun mount and crewmen lounging on her foredeck. Note: the destroyer in th Unknown author — U.S. Navy photo 80-G-247064 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Monterey (CVL-26)
The U.S. Navy light aircraft carrier USS Monterey (CVL-26), circa in 1943. She is painted in Camouflage Measure 22. Unknown author — U.S. Navy photo NH 67623 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Monterey (CVL-26)
View of the U.S. Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington (USA), in 1945. Identifiable ships include (left to right): the battleship USS California (BB-44) in drydock No. 5. She arrived at the yard on 15 February after a kamikaze hit. the battleship USS Alabama (BB-60). She entered drydock on 18 January 1945, and she remained there until 25 February. Shipyard work continued until 17 March 1945 U.S. Department of the Navy. Thirteenth Naval District. Office of the Commandant. — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Monterey (CVL-26)
View of the U.S. Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington (USA), in 1945. Identifiable ships include (left to right): the battleship USS California (BB-44) in drydock No. 5. She arrived at the yard on 15 February after a kamikaze hit. the battleship USS Alabama (BB-60). She entered drydock on 18 January 1945, and she remained there until 25 February. Shipyard work continued until 17 March 1945 U.S. Department of the Navy. Thirteenth Naval District. Office of the Commandant. — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons

References

Every work this entry draws on. There are no numbered markers in the text above: what we hold is the provenance of the page — this history, this article, these photographs.

  1. History Monterey III (CVL-26) Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Naval History and Heritage Command. A work of the United States Government, in the public domain — the only text on this site reproduced verbatim.
  2. Facts USS Monterey (CVL-26) Structured facts only — dates, dimensions, armament and fate. No wording is taken from it. Harvested 1 August 2026.
  3. Photograph USS Monterey (CVL-26) in Gulf of Mexico Photographed by Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida. — http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/h97000/h97451.jpg — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  4. Photograph USS Monterey (CVL-26) at anchor in Ulithi Atoll on 24 November 1944 U.S. Navy, photographed from USS Wasp (CV-18) — Official U.S. Navy photo 80-G-290628 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command and Navsource.org — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  5. Photograph Group photo of ship’s gunnery officers aboard the fast aircraft carrier USS Monterey include Gerald Ford US Navy — http://www.ford.utexas.edu/images/avproj/pop-ups/AV82-203-15.html — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  6. Photograph Gerald Ford playing basketball on USS Monterey 06-1944-Darkened Larger Victor Jorgensen — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  7. Photograph Photograph from the USS Monterey Logbook - DPLA - 692168b203fd2c487571ad068a1f5bc3 General Services Administration. National Archives and Records Service. Office of Educational Programs. Education Division. ?-4/1/1985 — This file was contributed to Wikimedia Commons by National Archives and Records Administration as part of a cooperation project. The donation was facilitated by the Digital Public Library of America , via its partner Digital Public Library of America . Record in source catalog DPLA identifier: 692168b203fd2c487571ad068a1f5bc3 National Archives Identifier: 35810536 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  8. Photograph US Pacific Fleet ships steam toward the Panama Canal in October 1945 U.S. Navy — Official U.S. Navy photo 80-G-701165 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  9. Photograph USS Augusta (CA-31), USS Boise (CL-47), USS Columbus (CA-74) and USS Monterey (CVL-26) anchored in the Hudson River, 27 October 1945 (80-G-K-16473) Unknown author — U.S. Navy photo 80-G-K-16473 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  10. Photograph USS Monterey (CVL-26) at anchor at Eniwetok on 6 September 1944 U.S. Navy — U.S. Navy photo from the U.S. National archives NARA RG-313-Box320 available at usndazzle.com — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  11. Photograph USS Monterey (CVL-26) at Delaware River US Navy — Official US Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  12. Photograph USS Monterey (CVL-26) at Eniwetok on 6 September 1944 U.S. Navy — U.S. Navy photo from the U.S. National archives NARA RG-313-Box320 available at usndazzle.com — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  13. Photograph USS Monterey (CVL-26) during Gilbert-Operation Photographed from USS Lexington (CV-16) — Official U.S. Navy photo 80-G-204917 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  14. Photograph USS Monterey (CVL-26) her crew spelling out "Mardi Gras 1953" US Navy — Official U.S. Navy photograph NH 97452 , now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  15. Photograph USS Monterey (CVL-26) in Bismarcks-New Guinea area US Navy — Official US Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  16. Photograph USS Monterey (CVL-26) maneuvers to recover planes, in March 1944 (80-G-247064) Unknown author — U.S. Navy photo 80-G-247064 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  17. Photograph USS Monterey (CVL-26), circa in 1943 (NH 67623) Unknown author — U.S. Navy photo NH 67623 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  18. Photograph View of Puget Sound Navy Yard and Bremerton, circa in March 1945 (cropped) U.S. Department of the Navy. Thirteenth Naval District. Office of the Commandant. — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  19. Photograph View of Puget Sound Navy Yard and Bremerton, circa in March 1945 U.S. Department of the Navy. Thirteenth Naval District. Office of the Commandant. — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons