USS Saratoga CV-3 at sea.
| 23 July 1996 Mr. John J.J. Attwood writes: Your SARATOGA at sea illustration intrigues me. Obviously it is after the January 1942 refit, but how much later is not readily apparent to my eye. The ship has gunnery and search radar, twin 5", and single 5"/38 in the old gun galleries on the port side. She appears to be painted dark grey overall, or possibly navy blue. I point out that the port galleries are uncluttered of 20mm and 40mm gun tubs and the tophamper relatively clear of electronics, which suggests to me that the picture is of 1942 vintage. No other ships show in the frame, and relatively few aircraft are on the flight deck; I believe I can spot a TBF AVENGER with wings folded on the starboard quarter, and some of those sitting aft with wings extended look to be F4F WILDCATs of some kidney rather than the huskier F6. The bridgework also looks pre-1943. My guess is that we are seeing SARATOGA in a rear area after completing that first repair and reconstruction, but my hunch it is after her gallop to get out in time for Midway as described in Clarke Reynolds' THE FAST CARRIERS, and yet before the Guadalcanal landings. All the clues taken together, I would guess the picture was taken off Hawaii or just possibly in the South Pacific, in June or July of 1942. I might add that I don't think I have seen this view before.
1 October 1996 This photo is of CV3 in 1942. The fellow who identified this photo was mostly right but NO TBFs were in fleet service until the beginning to middle of June 1942. I have seen this photo before and I believe that it was taken following her second torpedo hit in fall 1942.
11 October 1996 The aircraft carrier USS SARATOGA (CV-3) seen underway on 17 September 1942, headed for repairs at Pearl Harbor after having been torpedoed by the Japanese submarine I-26 on 31 August 1942 while operating in the Solomons. Aircraft arranged on the flight deck aft include F4F Wildcats, TBF Avengers, and SBD Dauntlesses. A drill exercise is apparently in progress; several personnel are lying prone on the flight deck. The 31 August torpedoing hit the ship on her side bulge aft on the starboard side, flooding the aftermost fireroom. It was the second time SARATOGA had been torpedoed in the war; she had already taken a torpedo hit from I-16 on 11 January 1942. Official U.S. Navy photograph, U.S. National Archives collection.
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