This "photo album" examines the rich history of the ships that bore the name "SARATOGA." This page highlights CV-3, the USS Saratoga of World War II.

When the Saratoga and the Lexington operated together, which they did often, pilots flying from them had a problem. The ships looked so much alike it was difficult to tell which one was home and which was not. In the days before widespread use of radios and navigation aids, positive sight identification was critical. To solve the problem, the Sara's crew painted a broad, black vertical stripe on her stack; the Lex had a smaller, horizontal stripe at the top of her stack. Unless one could see different types of aircraft on deck or the smaller numbers painted on the flight deck and visible from only overhead, the stack stripes were the only means of telling the ships apart.

Note CV-3's deck-mounted 5-inch anti-aircraft guns. These replaced the more impressive looking 8-inch guns, which were of little use in air warfare.

"Boeing F4B-3 Over USS Saratoga" depicts the first aircraft carrier to bear the name. Oil by R.G. Smith.

"Felix Leaves Sara" This 1989 oil by James Dietz shows an F4B-4 taking off from CV-3. Felix the Cat was the mascot of VF-6, a squadron which was aboard Saratoga from 1932-36.