USS Yorktown (CV-10) at NOB, 1943

This a rare color World War II photograph of  the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV-10) at Naval Operating Base Norfolk.  This picture was taken shortly after being finished at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry-dock Company in early 1943.  Sailors are loading F6F Hellcats from Carrier Air Group 5.

Soon after this picture was taken, Yorktown left for the West Indies for training.  After that, she headed to the Pacific where she earned ten battle stars and a Presidential Unit Citation.

The ship can still be seen today at Patriots Point in South Carolina.