Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: NH 50946 USS Salt Lake City (CA-25) Fires her after 8"/55 guns while bombarding a Japanese-held island in February 1942. This view has long been identified has a scene from the 24 February bombardment of Wake. However, it may have been taken on 1 February, during the bombardment of Wotje, in the Marshall Islands. Note Curtiss SOC "Seagull" floatplane in the foreground, with the cruiser's after stack and aircraft crane immediately to the right. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 91KB; 740 x 595 pixels
Photo #: 19-N-29299 USS Indianapolis (CA-35) Closeup view of her well deck area, from the port side, at the Mare Island Navy Yard, 19 April 1942, following overhaul. Note her forward smokestack, catapults, and Curtiss SOC Seagull aircraft. USS Raleigh (CL-7) is in the background. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. Online Image: 129KB; 740 x 615 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.
Photo #: 80-G-7403 Battle of the Coral Sea, May 1942 Destroyers alongside USS Lexington (CV-2) to assist in the carrier's abandonment, after she had been mortally damaged by fires and explosions during the afternoon of 8 May 1942. Photographed from a cruiser (probably USS Minneapolis). Note SOC scouting plane, with a damaged wingtip, on the cruiser's port catapult. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 84KB; 740 x 610 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.
Photo #: 19-N-30725 USS Quincy (CA-39) View on board, looking forward over the boat deck from the secondary conn, while the ship was at the New York Navy Yard after her last overhaul, 29 May 1942. Crude # "1" in white circle (center) marks the location of the 5"/25 loading practice machine. Other notable items include: boats and boat cradle in foreground; four Curtiss SOC "Seagull" floatplanes atop the catapults; crated food piled by the after smokestack; and USS Marblehead (CL-12) at left. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. Online Image: 156KB; 740 x 615 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.
Photo #: 80-G-470115 Curtiss SOC "Seagull" scout-observation aircraft On the catapults of a Brooklyn class light cruiser, during operations in the south Pacific area, January 1943. Photographed by Lieutenant Charles Kerlee, USNR. Note details of the plane's catapults, crane and hangar hatch cover Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 90KB; 655 x 675 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.
Photo #: 80-G-256278 USS Omaha (CL-4) Photographed from USS Philadelphia (CL-41), during the landings in Southern France, August 1944. In the distance are (from left to right): a French Navy destroyer, a French light cruiser, and USS Augusta (CA-31). Note SOC seaplanes on Philadelphia's starboard catapult and hangar hatch cover. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 61KB; 740 x 605 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.
Photo #: 80-G-361985 USS Saint Louis (CL-49) Crewmen fight fires in the cruiser's hangar, after she was hit by a "Kamikaze" off Leyte on 27 November 1944. Note wrecked SOC floatplane in the left background, and hangar hatch cover thrown atop the port catapult, at right. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 81KB; 740 x 575 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.
Photo #: 80-G-495711 USS San Francisco (CA-38) Off the coast of Korea, 28 September 1945. She is flying from her mainmast a U.S. Ensign that flew over the Capitol Building, in Washington, D.C., during the debate of the United Nations Treaty. Note that she still carries SOC seaplanes. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 96KB; 740 x 610 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

For views of SOC floatplanes on board ship prior to 1942, see:

Curtiss SOC Scout-Observation Floatplanes -- On Board Ship (Part I)

For additional views of SOC aircraft, see:

Curtiss SOC "Seagull" Scout-Observation Planes.

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 may 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 higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

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Page made 21 April 2001
Coding updated 7 May 2009