Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Barnes (ACV-20, later CVE-20 and CVHE-20), 1943-1959

USS Barnes, a 7800-ton Bogue class auxiliary aircraft carrier, was built at Tacoma, Washington, and commissioned in February 1943. She was reclassified as an escort aircraft carrier on 15 July 1943 and redesignated CVE-20. During World War II, Barnes mainly served as an aircraft transport and training carrier in the Pacific. She also operated in a combat role during the invasion of the Gilbert Islands in November 1943. Following the Pacific War's end in August 1945, Barnes served on occupation duty in the Far East. She returned to the United States in March 1946 and was decommissioned in August of that year. The ship saw no further active service. While laid up in June 1955, she was reclassified as an escort helicopter aircraft carrier (CVHE-20). USS Barnes was sold in October 1959.

This page features the only views we have concerning USS Barnes.

Photo #: NH 97124 USS Barnes (CVE-20) With Grumman TBF "Avenger" aircraft parked on her flight deck, 8 January 1944. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, Naval History and Heritage Command collection Online Image: 101KB; 740 x 615 pixels

The following images were taken on board USS Barnes:

Photo #: 80-G-202611 Grumman F6F-3 "Hellcat" fighter Goes over the side of USS Barnes (CVE-20), 22 October 1943, after the pilot attempted to regain flying speed after receiving the "Cut" signal from the Landing Signal Officer. The pilot, Ensign Olinyock, A-V(N), and a crew member, F1c Olin Victor Bulgrin, were killed in this accident. Several other crew members were injured. Note triangular flight deck crash barrier supports partially extended below the plane. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, National Archives collection. Online Image: 168KB; 740 x 615 pixels Reproductions may be available at National Archives.

Image formerly presented on this page: Photo # NH 97123, which had been featured on this page since 1999, was removed in January 2010 after it was conclusively demonstrated that the ship seen is not USS Barnes, but rather the British escort aircraft carrier HMS Tracker.

In addition to the images presented above, the National Archives appears to hold other views of USS Barnes. The following list features some of these images:

The images listed below are NOT in the Naval History and Heritage Command's collections.
DO NOT try to obtain them using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions"

For higher resolution images see: Obtaining Photographic Reproductions

To the best of our knowledge, the pictures referenced here are all in the Public Domain, and can therefore be freely downloaded and used for any purpose.