U.S. aircraft carrier Langley is sunk
On this day the U.S.Navys first aircraft carrier the Langley is sunk by Japanese warplanes (with a little help from U.S.destroyers) and all of its 32 aircraft are lost.The Langley was launched in 1912 as the naval collier (coal transport ship) Jupiter.
After World War I the Jupiter was converted into the Navys first aircraft carrier and rechristened the Langley after aviation pioneer Samuel Pierpont Langley.It was also the Navys first electrically propelled ship capable of speeds of 15 knots.On October 17 1922 Lt.
Virgil C.Griffin piloted the first plane a VE-7-SF launched from the Langleys decks.Although planes had taken off from ships before it was nevertheless a historic moment.
After 1937 the Langley lost the forward 40 percent of her flight deck as part of a conversion to seaplane tender a mobile base for squadrons of patrol bombers.On December 8 1941 the Langley was part of the Asiatic Fleet in the Philippines when the Japanese attacked.She immediately set sail for Australia arriving on New Years Day 1942.On February 22 commanded by Robert P.
McConnell the Langley carrying 32 Warhawk fighters left as part of a convoy to aid the Allies in their battle against the Japanese in the Dutch East Indies.On February 27 the Langley parted company from the convoy and headed straight for the port at Tjilatjap Java.About 74 miles south of Java the carrier met up with two U.S.escort destroyers when nine Japanese twin-engine bombers attacked.
Although the Langley had requested a fighter escort from Java for cover none could be spared.The first two Japanese bomber runs missed their target as they were flying too high but the Langleys luck ran out the third time around and it was hit three times setting the planes on her flight deck aflame.The carrier began to list.
Commander McConnell lost his ability to navigate the ship.McConnell ordered the Langley abandoned and the escort destroyers were able to take his crew to safety.Of the 300 crewmen only 16 were lost.
The destroyers then to sank the Langley before the Japanese were able to capture it.
