photo #2478204

The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea (CVA-43) at sea in 1955 during a deployment to the Mediterranean Sea between March and September 1955. Visible are the aircraft of Carrier Air Group 17 (CVG-17): McDonnell F2H-2 Banshee fighters of fighter squadron VF-172 Blue Bolts (painted dark blue), F2H-3 Banshees of VF-171 Aces on the catapults (painted light grey/white), and two North American AJ-1 Savage bombers parked on the port aft flight deck. On the ramp some four Douglas AD Skyraiders are parked. CVG-17's tailcode "R" is clearly visible. The destroyer in the background appears to be USS Borie (DD-704).1955 USN Image