Record Group 80: Series: General Photographic File Of the Department of the Navy, 1943-1958

Fair to say I’m more interested than most people in old photos.

There are amazing collections of old photos in various US government archives, but they’re not always easy to find or sort through online.

Somehow I stumbled on this US Navy photographic archive.

“Pilot Tells of Dive-Bombing Wake Island in ready room of USS Yorktown (CV-10), 10/1943” is the title of that one.

“Pin-up girls at NAS Seattle, Spring Formal Dance. Left to right: Jeanne McIver, Harriet Berry, Muriel Alberti, Nancy Grant, Maleina Bagley, and Matti Ethridge.”, 04/10/1944″

“Sign on Tarawa illustrates Marine humor and possible lack of optimism as to duration of war., 06/1944”

“Much tattooed sailor aboard the USS New Jersey, 12/1944”

“Crewmen aboard USS Yorktown (CV-10) dash to stations as general quarters sound., 05/1943”

“Filipinos with their ‘bancas’ loaded with wares, paddle out to anchored destroyer to trade with crew., 06/1945”

“Personnel of USS LEXINGTON celebrate Christmas with make-shift decorations and a firefighting, helmeted Santa Claus., 12/1944”

“Graves of U.S. Marines who died taking Tarawa, before headstones were prepared. In background are the first tents put up after occupation of the island., ca. 11/1943”

“Marines installing telephone lines under fire on Peleliu. In the background is seen part of famous Bloody Nose Ridge, scene of the fiercest fighting on Peleliu., 09/1944”

“Sailor asleep between 40mm guns on board the USS New Jersey (BB-62)., 12/1944”

“F6F taxies into position after landing on board the USS Lexington (CV-16)., ca. 11/26/1943”

“Sailor eating sandwich beneath propellers of torpedo being loaded aboard U.S. submarine at New London, Connecticut., 08/1943”

“Children in Naples, Italy. Little boy helps one-legged companion across street., 08/1944”

“Torpedomen relaxing beneath rows of deadly torpedoes in torpedo shop., ca. 05/1945”

Lord knows what you’d find if you dig through the archives in person.  This is just what’s digitized and online.

Happy Memorial Day, errboddy.