Jersey Tough - The USS Princeton Eighty Years Ago - (Thursday) February 25th, 1943, the Philadelphia Navy Yard: The USS Princeton, a Light (Escort) Aircraft Carrier, is commissioned into the United States Navy. Although brand new, she has had a unique history thus far. She was built by the New York Shipbuilding Company right here at home in Camden, New Jersey. But she wasn't always a carrier. She began her life when her keel was laid down on June 2nd, 1941. She was to become a Cleveland-Class Light Cruiser, the USS Tallahassee (CL-61). However, as the war changed priorities, she was changed mid-construction. She was redesignated as a a light-carrier on February 16th, 1942, renamed Princeton on March 31st, and launched October 18th. (These incredible photos, 2-5, show her before, during, and after her launch and commissioning). Now, she’ll undergo a "shakedown" cruise in the Caribbean to train her new crew. After that, she and her Sailors and Flyers will be ready to roll and take the fight to the enemy. She is destined for very heavy combat against the Japanese. We will cover her incredible story as we continue our day by day look at the 80th Anniversary of World War II. 🇺🇲🇺🇲 ** Please Like & Follow "Sandy Hook History" on Facebook & Instagram for more amazing maritime and military histories of the Garden State and New York Harbor as well as a review of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle Of The Atlantic and World War 2** 🇺🇲🇺🇲 Photos: Navsource.org #visitmonmouth #newjerseybuzz #thejournalnj #locallivingnj #journeythroughjersey #centraljerseyexists #discovernj #yesnj #newjerseyhistory #newjerseyforyou #sandyhookbeach #sandyhooknj #sandyhookhistory #forthancockhistory #forthancock #ussprinceton #aircraftcarrier #lightaircraftcarrier #escortcarrier #independenceclass #therealindependenceclass #unitedstatesnavy #usnavy #princetonnj #camdennj #camdenhistory #njhistory #jerseypride #jerseystrong #jerseytough (at Fort Hancock, New Jersey) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpIc_46gtL1/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=