| Original caption: “‘Murderers’ Row’ is the title that the Navy has given to this picture of six of its largest aircraft carriers lined up off the shores of Ulithi, the big base in the far Pacific.” United States Navy 3rd Fleet aircraft carriers at anchor in Ulithi Atoll, during a break from operations in the Philippines area. The carriers are, from front to back: USS Wasp (CV-18), USS Yorktown (CV-10), USS Hornet (CV-12), USS Hancock (CV-19) and USS Ticonderoga (CV-14). Wasp, Yorktown and Ticonderoga are all painted in camouflage Measure 33, Design 10a. The other Essex-class carrier painted in sea blue Measure 21 is USS Lexington (CV-16). “Murderers’ Row” was the nickname for the baseball teams of the New York Yankees in the late 1920s, widely considered some of the best teams in history. The nickname is particularly used for the 1st 6 hitters in the 1927 team lineup: Earle B. Combs (May 14, 1899 – July 21, 1976, Mark A. Koenig (July 19, 1904 – April 22, 1993), George H “Babe” Ruth (February 6, 1895 – August 16, 1948), H. Louis Gehrig (June 19, 1903 – June 2, 1941), Robert W. “Bob” Meusel (July 19, 1896 – November 28, 1977), and Anthony M. “Tony” Lazzeri (December 6, 1903 – August 6, 1946). The term mimicked the name applied to a section of the Tombs prison in New York City. In boxing, a “Sunday Punch,” is a knockout blow. With the Essex class carriers, the aircraft complement, which reached a 100 aircraft, was nicknamed the “Sunday Punch,” as in “knocked him into next Sunday.” With the ability of Grumman F6F Hellcats to carry up to 2,000 pounds (900 kilograms) of bombs and General Motors TBM Avengers able to carry 900 pound (225 kilogram) bombs or 1 Mark 13 torpedo. Curtiss SB2C Helldiver dive bombers could carry 2,000 pounds of bombs. All 3 could carry 5 inch (127 millimeter) rockets. This was a substantial increase in firepower compared to the Air Groups of just a few years earlier. Lieutenant Commander Edward J. Steichen (March 27, 1879 – March 25, 1973) who ran the United States Navy’s Photographic Unit, selected this view for his “Power in the Pacific” exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in July 1946. Some sources credit him with taking this photo. | |
| Image Filename | wwii1647.jpg |
| Image Size | 1.53 MB |
| Image Dimensions | 5653 x 4528 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | United States Navy |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | December 8, 1944 |
| Location | |
| City | |
| State or Province | Ulithi Atoll |
| Country | Carolines |
| Archive | Naval History and Heritage Command |
| Record Number | 80-G-294131 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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