From the
US Navy Historical Center Archives
USS Langley
CV-1
The US Navy's First Aircraft Carrier
From the |
USS Langley, a
11,500-ton aircraft carrier, started life in 1912 as the collier (coaling ship) USS Jupiter. The conversion took place at Newport
News starting in 1920, and she was re-commissioned USS Langley
CV-1 in March 1922. Langley was the U.S. Navy's first aircraft
carrier. During the 1920s and early 30s, the "Covered Wagon" was instrumental in
both the training of naval aviators and development of carrier aviation tactics.
The 30s saw the commissioning of larger, more modern carriers, so Langley was converted to a
seaplane tender (AV-3) in 1937. Sent
to the Far East in 1939, she was still there when the Japanese  attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Her wartime duties
included supporting seaplane patrols and transporting aircraft. While
carrying Army fighters to the Netherlands East Indies on 27 February 1942, Langley
was attacked by three waves of Japanese aircraft. The first two were unsuccessful, but the
third scored five bomb hits. Gasoline-fed fires broke out on the flight deck. She
lost steering and took on a 10 degree list. The situation hopeless, Langley
was abandoned and
escorting destroyers scuttled her with gunfire and torpedoes, another loss in the Battle
of Java Sea.USS Langley |
| USS Langley (CV-1) |
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 At Canal Zone, 1930 |
 Pearl Harbor, 1928 (great deck view) |
 Launching DT-2, 1925 |
 Very interesting hangar deck view, 1920s |
 With USS Somers off San Diego, 1928 |
 Langley with battleships in background, 1923 |
 Landing an Aeromarine 39-b, 1922 |
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| Seaplane Tender (AV-3) |
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 After conversion to seaplane tender, 1937 |
 Langley at Pearl Harbor, 1938 |
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| USS Jupiter (Collier #3) |
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 Fitting out at Mare Island, 1912 |
 Mare Island, 1913 |
 USS Jupiter at Mare Is., 1914 |
 USS Jupiter prior to WW1 |
