Scene on the flight deck of USS Essex (CV-9) during the Japanese air attack on TF 38 (Fast Carrier Task Force), October 24, 1944. A Japanese plane is burning on the water in the background. The Battle of Leyte Gulf is considered to have been the largest naval battle of WWII and a contender for the title largest naval battle in history, with over 200,000 naval personnel involved. It was fought in waters near the Philippine islands of Leyte, Samar, and Luzon, from October 23-26 1944, between combined American and Australian forces and the Imperial Japanese Navy. (cropped and cleaned)
Crédito:
Album / Science Source / U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command