Milestones in U. S. Naval Aviation

1921 - 1940

Year

Ships & Aircraft

Events

Battle

Political/Administrative action

1921

8 January: CC-1 Lexington keel laid

1922

20 March: CV-1 USS Langley commissioned

1 July: CC-3 Saratoga reordered as aircraft carrier

8 July: CC-1 Lexington reordered as aircraft carrier

December: HIJMS Hosho, Japan's first aircraft carrier, completed

1923

1924

1925

7 April: CV-3 Saratoga launched

3 October: CV-2 Lexington launched

1926

1927

16 November: CV-3 USS Saratoga commissioned

14 December: CV-2 USS Lexington commissioned

1928

1929

Year

Ships & Aircraft

Events

Battle

Political/Administrative action

1930

1931

26 September: CV-4 Ranger keel laid

1932

1933

25 February: CV-4 Ranger launched

3 August: CV-6 Enterprise ordered

1934

27 March: CV-7 Wasp authorised as replacement for CV-1 USS Langley

21 May: CV-5 Yorktown keel laid

4 June: CV-4 USS Ranger commissioned

16 July: CV-6 Enterprise keel laid

1935

1936

1 April: CV-7 USS Wasp keel laid

4 April: CV-5 Yorktown launched

3 October: CV-6 Enterprise launched

25 October: CV-1 USS Langley begins conversion to seaplane tender

1937

26 February: AV-3 USS Langley commissioned

30 September: CV-5 USS Yorktown commissioned

1938

12 May: CV-6 USS Enterprise commissioned

17 May: CV-8 Hornet authorised by the Naval Expansion Act

World War II begins 1 September 1939

1939

30 March: CV-8 Hornet authorised

1 April: CV-7 Wasp launched

25 September: CV-8 Hornet keel laid

3 September: Civilian liner SS Athenia is sunk by U-30, becoming the first ship sunk in WWII.

1940

25 April: CV-7 USS Wasp commissioned

3 July: CV-9 Essex ordered

14 December: CV-8 Hornet launched

Dedication

Milestones in U. S. Naval Aviation

1921 - 1940

World War II begins 1 September 1939