Floyd A Heidelberger Sr

My father lied about his age to get in the Navy. He was 16 years old when he joined.

Floyd A Heidelberger

Floyd A Heidelberger

Seaman first class

USS Essex

photo gallery part 2

Photo Gallery 3

Task Force 58 heads away from Japan on 18th February 1945. USS Essex CV-9 steams off the starboard bow of USS Astoria CL-90.

USS Essex CV-9. Scene on the flight deck, looking aft from the carrier's island during her shakedown cruise, 20th March 1943. Planes parked on deck are F6F-3 fighters (in foreground, with wings folded) and SBD-4 scout bombers.

Two U.S. Navy Curtiss SB2C-4 Helldiver dive bombers of Bombing Squadron 83 (VB-83) fly against the backdrop of ships of Task Group 38.3 operating off Okinawa. VB-83 operated from USS Essex CV-9, (pictured in foreground) during the period March-September 1945. In the background are the Battleship USS Washington BB-56, a long-hull Essex-class carrier and an Independence-class light carrier, May 1945.