#cv-1

USS Langley

Launched August25, 1912, USS Langley. Built as a collier and named Jupiter (Collier # 3), she was the first surface ship propelled by electric motors. Conversion to an aircraft carrier authorized, and design work completed, in July 1919. Converted into the first US aircraft carrier at the Norfolk Navy Yard. Renamed Langley, 21 April 1920. Reclassified as an aircraft carrier and redesignated CV-1. Converted to a seaplane tender at the Mare Island Navy Yard (25 October 1936-26 February 1937). Redesignated AV-3, 21 April 1937. Fate: Bombed by Japanese aircraft, 27 February 1942, and scuttled by her escorting destroyers, about 75 miles south of Tjilatjap, Java.

A Langley radio operator (likely Claud Hinds Jr.) waxes philosophical after his ship suffers 5 direct bomb hits, 5 near misses, and 20mm machine gun fire raking her deck. "NERK” was an odd shorthand prefacing messages about air raids, and would be transmitted many times on February 27, 1942.

USS LANGLEY (CV-1) with fleet.

The USS Langley’s mission to deliver badly-needed P-40 Warhawks and other supplies to Java required that it arrive in Tjilatjap early in the morning, to avoid daytime attacks from unopposed Japanese air forces. However, Allied political maneuvering and meddling from Dutch Admiral Helfrich had forced her to zigzag between rendezvous points all night long, putting her well behind schedule. As a result, the Langley and her escorting destroyers Edsall and Whipple found themselves on open ocean, in broad daylight, in range of Japanese air bases. They were quickly spotted by a Japanese scout plane, and 6 hours later Langley would slip beneath the waves of the Indian Ocean.

The brave and historic USS Langley (CV-1)