The USS Midway (CVB-41) Launching

The USS Midway (CVB-41) is launched on March 20, 1945, in Newport News, Virginia. Midway was laid down 27 October 1943 in Shipway 11 at Newport News Shipbuilding Co., Newport News, Virginia; launched 20 March 1945, sponsored by Mrs. Bradford William Ripley, Jr.; and commissioned on 10 September 1945 (eight days after the Surrender of Japan) with Captain Joseph F. Bolger in command. Midway was the largest ship in the world until 1955, as well as the first U.S. aircraft carrier too big to transit the Panama Canal. She operated for 47 years, during which time she saw action in the Vietnam War and served as the Persian Gulf flagship in 1991's Operation Desert Storm. Decommissioned in 1992, she is now a museum ship at the USS Midway Museum, in San Diego, California, and is the only remaining inactive U.S. aircraft carrier that is not an Essex-class aircraft carrier.

Source :
National Archives and Records Administration 80-G-K-3515
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
https://www.flickr.com/photos/airandspace/albums/72157715574200936

A Flock of US Navy Douglas SBD Dauntless Dive Bombers Over the Pacific Ocean

A flock of US Navy Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers over the Midway Atoll during 1943. Serving primarily on the carriers Yorktown, Hornet, and Enterprise. They saw action in the Battle of Coral Sea, Battle of Midway (sinking 4 Japanese carriers) and worked side by side with TBD Devastator torpedo aircraft among many decisive battles

Source :
http://community.ratsun.net/topic/63908-airplane-porn-and-the-occasional-helicopter/page-3