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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORY AND HERITAGE COMMAND
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # 80-G-59314:  F6F fighters landing on USS Enterprise, February 1944

Online Library of Selected Images:

"ICONIC" NAVAL IMAGES --
American Revolution through the Cold War
-- Overview and Special Image Selection


This Online Library section provides convenient access to a modest number of specially selected historical images of broad potential interest. All are taken from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command's Photographic Section. Users should be aware that there are frequently other pictures on the same subjects, in some cases very good pictures, in our own collections and in those of other institutions.

The text provided places pictures in their historical context. Taken as a whole, these written materials constitute a very brief overview of important and defining elements of the United States Navy's history. Within the extensive literature on U.S. Naval history there are many other sources providing similar information in far greater depth and sophistication.

NOTE: This page, and those linked from it, are "works in progress". They are currently incomplete and subject to considerable revision.

This page features a selection of iconic naval images from the American Revolution through the Cold War, with further links to a broader selection of such views.


  • The link at the top of each picture's entry connects to a page providing additional selected images concerning the chronological period represented.

  • In each entry, click the small photograph to prompt a medium-resolution view of the same image, the words "hi-res" to bring up a high-resolution JPG reproduction, and the words "Picture Data" to access the Picture Data Sheet for that image.


    THE NAVY'S FIRST YEARS, 1775-1815:

     The War of Independence,
    1775-1783
    .


    Battle between Continental Ship Bonhomme Richard and HMS Serapis, 23 September 1779.
    Picture Data
    HI-RES

     Establishing the U.S. Navy,
    1783-1812
    .



    Decatur boarding the Tripolitan Gunboat,
    3 August 1804
    Picture Data
    HI-RES

     The War of 1812,
    1812-1815
    .



    U.S. Frigate Constitution captures HMS Guerriere,
    19 August 1812
    Picture Data
    HI-RES


    THE NAVY MATURES, 1815-1865:

     The Navy in Peace and War,
    1815-1861.



    Sailing frigate Congress and steam frigate Susquehanna at Naples, 1857
    Picture Data
    HI-RES

     The American Civil War,
    1861-1865.



    USS Monitor engages CSS Virginia, 9 March 1862. The first battle between armored steam-powered warships
    Picture Data
    HI-RES


    THE NAVY FROM POVERTY TO RICHES, 1865-1917:

      The Post-Civil War Navy,
    1865-1886.



    Old Sailors "Spinning a Yarn" on board USS Enterprise, circa 1890

    Picture Data
    HI-RES


     The "New Navy" and the Spanish-American War,
    1886-1898.



    Crew members pose by the forward twelve-inch guns on USS Iowa, 1898
    Picture Data
    HI-RES

     Growth of a Battle Fleet Navy, 1898-1917.


    USS Connecticut, flagship during the "Great White Fleet"'s World cruise, 1907-1909
    Picture Data
    HI-RES


    THE NAVY IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR AND THE INTER-WAR ERA, 1917-1941:

     World War I, 1917-1918.


    USS George Washington brings President Woodrow Wilson home from the World War I peace conference
    Picture Data
    HI-RES

     Between the World Wars,
    1919-1941.



    Vought O2U-2 aircraft flies past USS Saratoga while preparing to land on board, circa 1930
    Picture Data
    HI-RES


    THE NAVY IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR, 1941-1945:

     World War II in the Atlantic.


    Troops wade ashore on Omaha Beach, during the Normandy landings, 6 June 1944
    Picture Data
    HI-RES

     World War II in the Pacific.


    F6F "Hellcat" fighters landing on USS Enterprise after strikes on Truk, February 1944
    Picture Data
    HI-RES

     World War II at Home.


    WAVES aircraft mechanics working on an SNJ training plane, circa 1943-1945
    Picture Data
    HI-RES


    THE NAVY IN THE COLD WAR, 1945-1991:

     The Cold War Begins,
    1945-1953.



    USS Pickerel surfaces at a 48 degree up angle, 1 March 1952. Picture Data
    HI-RES

     The Korean War, 1950-1953.


    Snowy flight deck of USS Valley Forge, operating off Korea circa early 1951
    Picture Data
    HI-RES

     The Cold War Matures, 1953-1970.


    Nuclear-powered task force operating in the Mediterranean Sea, 18 June 1964
    Picture Data
    HI-RES

     The Southeast Asian War,
    1964-1975.



    UH-34 helicopters lift off from USS Princeton to land Marines ashore in the Republic of Vietnam, 26 March 1966
    Picture Data
    HI-RES

     The Cold War's Final Decades,
    1970-1991.



    Admiral Elmo Zumwalt meets with Sailors at Yokosuka, Japan, 2 July 1971
    Picture Data
    HI-RES




    NOTES:

  • To the best of our knowledge, the pictures referenced here are all in the Public Domain, and can therefore be freely downloaded and used for any purpose.

  • Some images linked from this page bear obsolete credit lines citing the organization name: "Naval Historical Center". Effective 1 December 2008 the name should be cited as: "Naval History and Heritage Command".


    If you want other reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


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    Page In Work 4 June 2009