USS Monterey (CVL-26)

USS Monterey (CVL-26) was a that served with distinction in the United States Navy during World War II. Converted from a hull during construction, she was commissioned in 1943 and saw extensive action in the Pacific Theater of Operations. The ship is notably remembered as the wartime assignment of future U.S. President Gerald Ford, who served as her assistant navigator and gunnery officer. Following the war, Monterey was decommissioned and later reclassified as an auxiliary aircraft transport before being sold for scrap in 1971.

Construction and design

The vessel was originally laid down as the Dayton (CL-78) by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation in Camden, New Jersey. In response to the urgent need for additional aircraft carriers following the attack on Pearl Harbor, her construction was redirected in early 1942, and she was redesignated CV-26. She was one of nine ships converted into light carriers based on the Cleveland-class cruiser hull, a design choice that prioritized speed of production over specialized capability. The conversion involved installing a flight deck and hangar bay atop the existing cruiser hull, which resulted in a narrower beam and smaller aircraft capacity compared to larger ''Essex''-class fleet carriers. She was launched on 28 February 1943 and commissioned on 17 June 1943, with Captain Lester T. Hundt in command.

Service history

After completing her shakedown cruise in the Caribbean Sea and training exercises off the East Coast of the United States, Monterey transited the Panama Canal in late 1943 to join the U.S. Pacific Fleet. She was assigned to Task Force 58, the Navy's primary fast carrier task force under the command of Admiral Raymond A. Spruance. The carrier operated with various task groups throughout the war, providing crucial air support for major amphibious assaults and engaging in offensive strikes against Imperial Japanese Navy forces and installations. Her air group, Carrier Air Wing 30, initially consisted of F6F Hellcat fighters and TBF Avenger torpedo bombers.

World War II operations

Monterey participated in nearly every major naval campaign in the Central Pacific during 1944. Her combat debut came during the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign, providing air cover for the landings on Tarawa and Kwajalein. She subsequently supported operations in the Mariana and Palau Islands campaign, including the Battle of the Philippine Sea, where her aircraft helped defeat Japanese naval air power in the "Great Marianas Turkey Shoot." The carrier launched strikes against targets in the Bonin Islands and supported the Battle of Leyte and the Battle of Luzon in the Philippines. In December 1944, she was caught in Typhoon Cobra, which caused severe damage and nearly led to her loss; future President Gerald Ford was among the crew who helped control fires during the storm. After repairs, she returned to action for the final stages of the war, conducting raids on the Japanese archipelago and supporting the Battle of Okinawa.

Post-war service and fate

Following the Surrender of Japan, Monterey operated in Operation Magic Carpet, transporting American servicemen back to the United States. She was decommissioned and placed in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard on 11 February 1947. In 1950, she was redesignated as an auxiliary aircraft transport (AVT-2) but never returned to active service. After over a decade in reserve, her name was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 June 1959. The ship was sold to the Boston Metals Company of Baltimore in 1971 and subsequently dismantled for scrap.

Awards and legacy

For her World War II service, USS Monterey was awarded 11 battle stars and the Navy Unit Commendation. Her legacy is intertwined with the service of Gerald Ford, who often credited his experiences aboard the carrier, particularly during Typhoon Cobra, with shaping his character and leadership. The name was later revived for the USS ''Monterey'' (CG-61), commissioned in 1990. The ship's wartime history is documented in various naval archives and remains a subject of study for historians of the Pacific War.

Category:Independence-class aircraft carriers Category:Ships built in Camden, New Jersey Category:World War II aircraft carriers of the United States