The USS Langley (CVL-27) was an Independence-class aircraft carrier of the United States Navy during World War II. It was the first aircraft carrier to be converted from a cruiser, originally known as the USS Fargo (CL-85). The ship was named after Samuel Pierpont Langley, an American aviation pioneer. Commissioned in August 1943, the Langley participated in various operations in the Pacific Theater, including supporting the invasions of the Marshall Islands and the Mariana Islands. It also played a crucial role in the Battle of Leyte Gulf and the liberation of the Philippines. The USS Langley was equipped with a flight deck and hangar deck to accommodate and launch aircraft. It had a top speed of over 30 knots and a complement of around 1,100 officers and enlisted personnel. The carrier carried a mix of fighter, bomber, and reconnaissance aircraft to support naval operations. After the war, the Langley was decommissioned in 1947 and eventually sold for scrap in 1964. The USS Langley's service demonstrated the importance of aircraft carriers in modern naval warfare and their ability to project power over vast distances. The ship's conversion from a cruiser to an aircraft carrier showcased the Navy's adaptability and innovation during the war. The Langley's contributions to key battles in the Pacific highlighted the crucial role of naval aviation in securing victory in the conflict.

This description has been generated using GPT-3.5-TURBO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.