"The introduction of the first of the twenty-four Essex-class aircraft carriers in 1943 set a new standard for the exercise of American sea power. Andrew Faltum traces the evolution of these versatile carriers and the developments in United States naval aviation that accompanied their long service. Between the commissioning of the USS Essex, on the last day of 1942, and the retirement of the USS Lexington in 1991, the Essex carriers made the transition from propeller to jet aircraft, and they were improved by the introduction of the steam catapult and the angled flight deck." "Considering the importance of the Essex carriers to naval history, surprisingly little has been written about them. The Essex Aircraft Carriers provides a comprehensive operational history of these ships and depicts life aboard. This book is illustrated with photos, maps, and plan and profile drawings. It also includes four appendixes with technical data, historical profiles of each vessel in the class, and a complete bibliography and index."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved