Keywords: USS Princeton (CVL-23) after 2nd explosion.jpg The U S Navy light cruiser USS Birmingham CL-62 at left and a destroyer pull away from the light aircraft carrier USS Princeton CVL-23 following the big explosion that destroyed the carrier's stern at about 1523 hrs on 24 October 1944 This blast killed over two hundred men aboard Birmingham which was alongside Princeton fighting fires Note the light smoke over Birmingham ' s midships and stern areas Princeton ' s stern and a good deal of her after superstructure has been blown off Official U S Navy photo http //www history navy mil/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nara-series/80-g/80-G-270000/80-G-270553 html 80-G-270553 from the U S Navy http //www history navy mil Naval History and Heritage Command 1944-10-24 US Navy PD-USGov-Military-Navy USS Princeton CVL-23 USS Birmingham CL-62 Battle of the Sibuyan Sea 1944-10-24 Burning ships |