Thursday, April 2, 2009

HMS Illustrious at Norfolk Naval Shipyard 1941

This is the 23,000-ton British aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious (R87) at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in January 1941. While at the time officially neutral in World War II, the United States gave the British significant material support in their fight against Axis powers. Great Britain had brought the aircraft carrier to Hampton Roads to have battle damage repaired in a safe port. On January 10, 1941, Italian SM.79 and German Stuka dive bombers hit the carrier with eight bombs causing significant damage. The Yard returned her to full duty in May 1942.

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