Navy pilots in flight gear cross the wooden deck of the escort carrier USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80) past parked FM-2 Wildcat fighters during World War II. Escort carriers like Petrof Bay provided close air support, anti-submarine patrol, and combat air patrol for amphibious operations throughout the Pacific campaign, operating smaller air groups of Wildcats and Avengers from decks far shorter than the Navy's fleet carriers. Project: 218449