LANGLEY

The US Navy was the first Navy to experience takeoffs and landings on warships. However, the United States did not need to build aircraft carriers at the turn of the century by not engaging in naval combat during WWI. Anyway, in 1919, Congress approved the transformation of the Jupiter collier ship into a full-deck aircraft carrier, that was named as USS Langley CV-1. The works was carried out at the Norfolk Navy Yard from March 1920 to March 1922, when the ship was finally commissioned. The flight deck was supported by metal crossbar poles fixed to the sides of the main deck. Under the flight deck the ship maintained the aspect of a freighter with a small forward castle, followed by a superstructure that became a bridge. Then they were 4 holds, where the aircraft were stored, along with the elevator. And finally, another three-deck high superstructure followed. This is where the crew was staying and the infirmary was located. The machinery was maintained, and two funnels that could be lowered to the outside during takeoffs and landings were installed. From 1922 to 1925 the ship was used as an experimental ship for catapult’s trials and naval aviation training. Later. from 1925 to 1937, Langley became part of the fleet as an aircraft carrier, but in 1937, due to the old facilities, it was sent first to a seaplane support vessel and finally as an aircraft transport. She served in WWII with the Pacific Fleet and was sunk on 27 of February 1942 by its own escort after the damages received by a Japanese attack near Java island.

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