The Snapshots in Time Collection

Gallery: Part 1

Photographs from the USS Petrof Bay collection follow the escort carrier through Pacific operations, from flight deck crews tending an FM-2 Wildcat and storm damage to a gun director, to aerial views of warships under fire during the Philippines campaign. Original Bureau of Aeronautics caption sheets and confidential stamps preserve the Navy's wartime documentation practice alongside the images themselves.

Distant View of a Casablanca-Class Escort Carrier Underway at Sea, Pacific Theater, World War II

Distant View of a Casablanca-Class Escort Carrier Underway at Sea, Pacific Theater, World War II

Caption Card, Official U.S. Navy Photograph No. 770-4 - 'Jap Plane Hitting U.S.S. Suwannee,' Taken Aboard USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), 25 October 1944

Caption Card, Official U.S. Navy Photograph No. 770-4 - 'Jap Plane Hitting U.S.S. Suwannee,' Taken Aboard USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), 25 October 1944

Possible Photograph of Japanese Kamikaze Aircraft Diving on USS Suwannee (CVE-27), 25 October 1944 - Taken from USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80)

Possible Photograph of Japanese Kamikaze Aircraft Diving on USS Suwannee (CVE-27), 25 October 1944 - Taken from USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80)

Official U.S. Navy Photo Caption Card - Japanese Aircraft Diving on USS Suwannee, October 25, 1944

Official U.S. Navy Photo Caption Card - Japanese Aircraft Diving on USS Suwannee, October 25, 1944

Flight Deck View of Distant Ship Under Attack, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80) Collection, WWII Pacific

Flight Deck View of Distant Ship Under Attack, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80) Collection, WWII Pacific

Distant Aircraft and Gun Crew, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), WWII Air Action

Distant Aircraft and Gun Crew, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), WWII Air Action

Bridge Watch Aboard USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), World War II

Bridge Watch Aboard USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), World War II

Aerial View of U.S. Navy Destroyer Laying Smoke Screen, Pacific Theater, WWII (Petrof Bay Task Group Collection)

Aerial View of U.S. Navy Destroyer Laying Smoke Screen, Pacific Theater, WWII (Petrof Bay Task Group Collection)

Aerial Photograph of Warships Underway Under Gunfire, Likely Battle off Samar, Leyte Gulf, October 1944

Aerial Photograph of Warships Underway Under Gunfire, Likely Battle off Samar, Leyte Gulf, October 1944

Distant Aircraft in Flight, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80) Collection, WWII Pacific Theater

Distant Aircraft in Flight, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80) Collection, WWII Pacific Theater

TBM/TBF Avenger Torpedo Bombers Spotted on Flight Deck with Engines Turning, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), World War II

TBM/TBF Avenger Torpedo Bombers Spotted on Flight Deck with Engines Turning, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), World War II

Flight Deck Crew Spotting a Single-Engine Aircraft Aboard USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), World War II

Flight Deck Crew Spotting a Single-Engine Aircraft Aboard USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), World War II

Aircraft Struck by Anti-Aircraft Fire Overhead, Photographed from Flight Deck of USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), World War II

Aircraft Struck by Anti-Aircraft Fire Overhead, Photographed from Flight Deck of USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), World War II

Aerial View of Warship Under Attack, Trailing Smoke and Oil Slick

Aerial View of Warship Under Attack, Trailing Smoke and Oil Slick

Flight Deck Crew Spotting TBM Avenger Aboard USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), WWII

Flight Deck Crew Spotting TBM Avenger Aboard USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), WWII

Caption Card, Official U.S. Navy Photograph No. 474, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), 16 April 1945 (Subject Unrecorded)

Caption Card, Official U.S. Navy Photograph No. 474, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), 16 April 1945 (Subject Unrecorded)

Damage Control Crew Clearing Torn Flight Deck Plating After Battle Damage, Escort Carrier, World War II Pacific Theater

Damage Control Crew Clearing Torn Flight Deck Plating After Battle Damage, Escort Carrier, World War II Pacific Theater

Verso Caption Card, Official U.S. Navy Photograph of USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), October 26 1944

Verso Caption Card, Official U.S. Navy Photograph of USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), October 26 1944

GMC CCKW Cargo Truck Overturned on 5-inch Gun Mount Aboard USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), WWII

GMC CCKW Cargo Truck Overturned on 5-inch Gun Mount Aboard USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), WWII

Verso/Reverse of Official U.S. Navy Photograph Print, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), Dated 21 August 1945

Verso/Reverse of Official U.S. Navy Photograph Print, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), Dated 21 August 1945

Escort Carrier Afire at Sea, Photographed from a Sister Ship's Flight Deck, WWII Pacific Theater

Escort Carrier Afire at Sea, Photographed from a Sister Ship's Flight Deck, WWII Pacific Theater

Verso of Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), Dated 26 October 1944, Marked CONFIDENTIAL

Verso of Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), Dated 26 October 1944, Marked CONFIDENTIAL

Burning Ship Viewed from Flight Deck of USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), WWII Pacific Theater

Burning Ship Viewed from Flight Deck of USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), WWII Pacific Theater

Verso of Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), Dated 26 October 1944, Marked CONFIDENTIAL

Verso of Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), Dated 26 October 1944, Marked CONFIDENTIAL

Explosion Aboard Escort Carrier Under Attack, Witnessed from a Sister Ship, WWII Pacific Theater

Explosion Aboard Escort Carrier Under Attack, Witnessed from a Sister Ship, WWII Pacific Theater

Flight Deck Crew Rushing to Aircraft, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), WWII

Flight Deck Crew Rushing to Aircraft, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), WWII

Verso of Official U.S. Navy Photograph, Date-Stamped 13 January 1945

Verso of Official U.S. Navy Photograph, Date-Stamped 13 January 1945

Wrecked FM-2 Wildcat Fighter Being Recovered by Flight Deck Crash Crane, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), WWII

Wrecked FM-2 Wildcat Fighter Being Recovered by Flight Deck Crash Crane, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), WWII

Verso of Official U.S. Navy Photograph, Date-Stamped 13 January 1945

Verso of Official U.S. Navy Photograph, Date-Stamped 13 January 1945

FM-2 Wildcat Caught in Crash Barrier During Landing Mishap, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), WWII

FM-2 Wildcat Caught in Crash Barrier During Landing Mishap, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), WWII

Jettisoned External Fuel Tank on Flight Deck Beside Aircraft, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), WWII

Jettisoned External Fuel Tank on Flight Deck Beside Aircraft, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), WWII

U.S. Navy FM-2 Wildcat Fighter No. 7 on Flight Deck, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), WWII

U.S. Navy FM-2 Wildcat Fighter No. 7 on Flight Deck, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), WWII

Verso of Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), Dated 16 April 1945, Marked CONFIDENTIAL

Verso of Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), Dated 16 April 1945, Marked CONFIDENTIAL

FM-2 Wildcat Overturned on Flight Deck After Crash Landing, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), WWII

FM-2 Wildcat Overturned on Flight Deck After Crash Landing, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), WWII

Verso of Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), Dated 16 April 1945, Marked CONFIDENTIAL

Verso of Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), Dated 16 April 1945, Marked CONFIDENTIAL

Flight Deck Crew Attending to FM-2 Wildcat Fighter Aboard USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80)

Flight Deck Crew Attending to FM-2 Wildcat Fighter Aboard USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80)

FM-2 Wildcat Fighter Parked Beneath the Island Superstructure, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80)

FM-2 Wildcat Fighter Parked Beneath the Island Superstructure, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80)

Verso of Official U.S. Navy Photograph Bearing 'CONFIDENTIAL' Security Stamp

Verso of Official U.S. Navy Photograph Bearing 'CONFIDENTIAL' Security Stamp

FM-2 Wildcat with Wings Folded, Flight Deck Crew at Work, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80)

FM-2 Wildcat with Wings Folded, Flight Deck Crew at Work, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80)

Grumman FM-2 Wildcat Fighter on Flight Deck of USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), WWII

Grumman FM-2 Wildcat Fighter on Flight Deck of USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), WWII

U.S. Navy Bureau of Aeronautics Photograph Caption Sheet, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), 16 April 1945

U.S. Navy Bureau of Aeronautics Photograph Caption Sheet, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), 16 April 1945

Storm or Combat Damage: Overturned Truck Atop Gun Director, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80)

Storm or Combat Damage: Overturned Truck Atop Gun Director, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80)

U.S. Navy Bureau of Aeronautics Photograph Caption Sheet, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), 21 August 1945

U.S. Navy Bureau of Aeronautics Photograph Caption Sheet, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), 21 August 1945

Close-Up Detail of Mechanical Component, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80) Collection

Close-Up Detail of Mechanical Component, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80) Collection

Verso of Official U.S. Navy Photograph – USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), Air Department, August 21, 1945

Verso of Official U.S. Navy Photograph – USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), Air Department, August 21, 1945

U.S. Navy Bureau of Aeronautics Photograph Caption Sheet, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), 21 August 1945 (Duplicate)

U.S. Navy Bureau of Aeronautics Photograph Caption Sheet, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), 21 August 1945 (Duplicate)

USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80) Crew Jettisoning Wrecked Aircraft Tail Section Overboard

USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80) Crew Jettisoning Wrecked Aircraft Tail Section Overboard

U.S. Navy Bureau of Aeronautics Photograph Caption Sheet: 'Tail of FM-2 Bu# 57002 in 20mm Sponson', USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), 18 December 1944

U.S. Navy Bureau of Aeronautics Photograph Caption Sheet: 'Tail of FM-2 Bu# 57002 in 20mm Sponson', USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), 18 December 1944

Project: 218467