| Original caption: “A Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat fighter taking off from USS Ranger (CV-4) to attack targets ashore during the invasion of Morocco, circa 8 November 1942. Note United States Army observation planes in the left middle distance; Loudspeakers and radar antenna on Ranger’s mast.” Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat fighter The original photo, uncropped, shows a crewman directing the plane up the deck to be spotted; all activity on the flight deck appears geared to recovering, not launching, planes, notably the “asbestos joes” – men wearing protective clothing – by the island, the crewman with the chocks at right. USS Ranger (CV-4) was the flagship of Task Group 34.2 under United States Navy Rear Admiral Ernest D. McWhorter (September 23, 1884 – January 31, 1950). USS Ranger carried Fighting Squadron 11 (VF-41) equipped with 27 Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat fighters; Fighting Squadron 9 (VF-9) equipped with 27 Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat fighters; Scouting Squadron 41 with 18 Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless dive bombers. 1 Grumman TBF-1 Avenger was available for Lieutenant Commander David B. Overfield (May 8, 1906 – December 14, 1950), Commander of Ranger’s Air Group. This Air Group operated with USS Ranger from October 3, 1942, to November 24, 1942, during Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of North Africa. There were 72 aircraft on USS Ranger during Operation Torch; 16 were lost to accident or combat; 43 were damaged by French or Nazi German fire. USS Ranger, the Navy’s 1st purpose-built aircraft carrier, had the lead role in the Western Task Force’s naval aviation effort, which included 4 escort carriers as well. With Captain Calvin T. Durgin in command, Ranger had many responsibilities: neutralizing French aviation assets, attacking French surface ships, and providing cover to landing forces in the vicinity of Fedala and Casablanca. These respective missions kept Ranger’s crew fully engaged throughout November 8. Beginning at 0615 Hours and from some 30 miles northwest of Casablanca, 18 of Fighting 9’s F4F-4s took off and were soon engaging French Vichy planes on the ground and in the air at the Rabat-Salé airport. At 0635 Hours, 17 SBDs launched with a mission of bombing submarine and surface ships in or near Casablanca’s harbor. 1 of the Ranger’s pilots’ most critical contributions to the overall battle occurred just after 0820 Hours. A group of Fighting 9 andFighting 41 Wildcats had already completed their primary attack on grounded French aircraft and then began “look[ing] for trouble” before having to return to the deck. With fuel starting to run low, the Wildcats spotted several vichy destroyers heading northward to the American transports at Fedala. “Pouring in the lead from all six guns,” the pilots completed devastating strafing attacks that killed or wounded many of the French vessels’ officers and crew members. The naval aviators’ action, along with effective fire from United States surface ships, helped turn back the French threat to the transports and landing parties. By the end of the day, Ranger’s 3 aviation squadrons’ 22 separate flights, involving 203 aircraft sorties, had neutralized their opponents’ land-based aircraft threat and contributed to the destruction of much of the French surface fleet in and around Casablanca. Over the course of 3 days they had also supported landings in multiple locations and ended with 496 combat sorties. Fighting 9 claimed 6 certain kills and 4 probables in the air, as well as 49 planes on the ground. Scouting 41 claimed 2 aircraft destroyed on the ground and significant damage to the French battleship Jean Bart, the light cruiser Primauguet, and a destroyer. The Ranger Air Group also sank a submarine at her berth in the harbor. | |
| Image Filename | wwii0726.jpg |
| Image Size | 1.41 MB |
| Image Dimensions | 5017 x 3994 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | United States Navy |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | November 8, 1942 |
| Location | |
| City | Casablanca |
| State or Province | Casablanca |
| Country | Morocco |
| Archive | Naval History and Heritage Command |
| Record Number | 80-G-30244 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
Author of the World War II Multimedia Database