In the annals of naval history, few events are as poignant as the sinking of the USS Langley, the first aircraft carrier of the United States Navy.
On the day of February 27, 1942, the Japanese warplanes, with a touch of assistance from American destroyers, managed to sink the carrier, taking with it all 32 of its aircraft.
The USS Langley was initially a navy collier (coal transport ship) named Jupiter, launched in 1912. After World War I, the Jupiter was transformed into an aircraft carrier and christened the USS Langley in honor of aviation pioneer Samuel Pierpont Langley. It was also the first electrically propelled ship in the Navy, capable of reaching speeds of 15 knots. On October 17, 1922, Lt. Virgil C. Griffin piloted the first aircraft, a VE-7-SF, off the decks of the USS Langley, marking a momentous occasion in naval aviation history.
After 1937, the Langley was converted into a seaplane tender, serving as a mobile base for squadrons of patrol bombers. This transformation saw the removal of 40% of the forward flight deck.
December 8, 1941, as the Japanese invaded the Philippines, the USS Langley was part of the Asiatic Fleet stationed there. The carrier promptly made its way to Australia, arriving on January 1, 1942. As February 22, hit, the USS Langley, led by Commander Robert P. McConnell, departed as part of a convoy to the Dutch East Indies to aid the Allies in their fight against the Japanese. The carrier carried 32 Warhawk fighters.
On February 27, the USS Langley left the convoy and headed directly for the port in Tjilatjap, Java. Approximately 74 miles south of Java, the carrier met with two American escort destroyers. The Langley requested fighter cover from Java, but none could be spared. The first two Japanese bomber runs failed as they flew too high.
However, on the third attempt, the Langley’s luck ran out, and it was hit three times, causing the planes on her flight deck to catch fire. The carrier began to list. Commander McConnell lost control of the ship. He ordered the crew to abandon the Langley, and the two escorting destroyers were able to rescue them. Only sixteen of the 300 crew members were lost. The destroyers then successfully sank the USS Langley before the Japanese could capture it.
The loss of the USS Langley was a significant blow to the United States Navy. Its sinking serves as a testament to the bravery and sacrifice of the men who served on her, as well as a reminder of the perils of war.
