Flight Deck of American Aircraft Carrier Filled with Whirling Propellers

The flight deck crew prepares Grumman F6F Hellcat fighters of VF-16 and Douglas SBD Dauntless dive-bombers for launch from the USS Lexington (CV-16), en route near New Guinea during Palau air attacks (known as "Operation Desecrate One"), 30 March 1944. The Hellcats still sporting three tone camouflage and non-geometric tail patterns. At that day, the Japanese anchorage at Palau was attacked by F6F Hellcats, SBD Dauntless, TBF Avenger and SB2C Helldiver flown from carrier aircraft from Task Group 58. 1's USS Enterprise (CV-6), USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24) and USS Cowpens (CVL-25), TG 58. 2's USS Bunker Hill (CV-17), USS Hornet (CV-12), USS Monterey (CVL-26) and USS Cabot (CVL-28) and TG 58. 3's USS Yorktown (CV-10), USS Lexington (CV-16), USS Princeton (CVL-23) and USS Langley (CVL-27). The picture was taken by LIFE photographer J.R. Eyerman

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