Photographed on 10 June 1944 by a plane from Naval Air Station, Alameda, California. She has 21 F6F fighters, 20 SBD scout bombers and two J2F utility planes parked on her flight deck. The ship is painted in camouflage Measure 32, Design 9a.

Displacement 7,886 Tons, Dimensions, 492' (oa) x 69' 6" x 25' 6" (Max).   Armament 1 x 5"/38AA 8 x 40mm, 12 x 20mm, 31 Aircraft.  Machinery, 8,500 BHP; Diesel Engine, 1 screw.  Speed, 16 Knots, Crew 970.

Long Island departed San Diego 8 July 1942 and arrived Pearl Harbor the 17th. After a training run south to Palmyra Island, the ship loaded two squadrons of Marine Corps aircraft and got underway for the South Pacific 2 August. Five days later, the marines, while landing on Guadalcanal, encountered stiff opposition and needed more air support than could be provided by the handful of carriers available during the early months of the war. Touching Fiji Islands 13 August, Long Island then steamed to a point 200 miles southeast of Guadalcanal and launched her aircraft. These planes, the first to reach Henderson Field, were instrumental in the liberation of Guadalcanal and went on to compile a distinguished war record. Her mission was accomplished in an outstanding fashion.

Page last revised 01/09/2007