| USS Saratoga’s (CV-3) aircraft prepare to take off during a Presidential Review by United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt (January 30, 1882 – April 12, 1945). As President Roosevelt watched from USS Indianapolis (CA-35), 90 ships passed by, led by USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) flying the 4-star flag of Admiral David F. Sellers (February 4, 1874 – January 27, 1949), Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet. Note 1 of Saratoga’s 2 destroyer plane guards (upper left corner). Saratoga broke out the flag of Rear Admiral John Halligan Jr. (May 4, 1876 – December 11, 1934), United States Navy, Commander, Aircraft, Battle Force. From the Aircraft Year Book of 1935: “The carriers Saratoga, USS Lexington (CV-2), and USS Langley (CV-1) accompanied the Fleet to New York, and during the Presidential Review, launched twelve full squadrons from their decks. The total of 174 planes of various types flew past the President’s cruiser, Indianapolis, in formation and then carried out their various tactical operations, including laying smoke screens, and both diving and horizontal bombing attacks. Foreign official observers who witnessed the demonstration said they had never seen such an impressive display of efficiency in Fleet aviation tactics.” USS Saratoga survived the war, despite multiple torpedo attacks and 5 kamikaze hits in a single day. She was a target for the atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll and sank there, where she is a popular dive site. | |
| Image Filename | wwii2173.jpg |
| Image Size | 903.85 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 2872 x 2188 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | United States Navy |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | May 31, 1934 |
| Location | |
| City | New York |
| State or Province | New York |
| Country | United States |
| Archive | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Record Number | NWDNS-80-G-462893 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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