Ship History
President Taft attended the ceremony when Jupiter's keel was laid down on October 18, 1911 at Mare Island Naval Shipyard. Launched on August 14, 1912 and commissioned April 7, 1913. In 1920, the oiler USS Jupiter (AC-3) was converted to an aircraft carrier.

Jupiter embarked a USMC detachment at San Francisco and reported to the Pacific Fleet at Mazatlán Mexico, 27 April 1914, bolstering strength on the Pacific. Remained on the Pacific coast until she departed for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 10 October. En route the collier steamed through the Panama Canal on Columbus Day, the first vessel to transit it from west to east.

World War I
Prior to America's entry into World War I, she cruised the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico attached to the Atlantic Fleet Auxiliary Division. The ship arrived Norfolk, Virginia, on 6 April 1917, and, assigned to NOTS, interrupted her coaling operations by two cargo voyages to France in June 1917 and November 1918. The first voyage transported a naval aviation detachment of 7 officers and 122 men to England. Jupiter was back in Norfolk 23 January 1919 whence she sailed for Brest, France, 8 March for coaling duty in European waters to expedite the return of victorious veterans to the United States. Upon reaching Norfolk 17 August, the ship was transferred to the west coast.

Converted to an aircraft carrier was authorized July 11, 1919, and steamed to Hampton Roads on December 12 where she decommissioned March 24, 1920.

Converted as the first U.S. aircraft carrier for the purpose of conducting experiments in seaborne aviation. On 11 April 1920, her name was changed to USS Langley and she was given hull classification symbol CV-1. Recommissioned March 20, 1922.

Wartime History
At the outbreak of World War II, Langley was anchored off Cavite, in the Philippines. She departed 8 December and proceeded to Balikpapan, Borneo, and Darwin, Australia, where she arrived January 1, 1942. Until 11 January Langley assisted the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in running antisubmarine patrols out of Darwin. She was then assigned to American-British-Dutch-Australian forces assembling in Indonesia to challenge the Japanese thrust in that direction.

Sinking History
Departed Fremantle, Australia, February 22, 1942 in convoy, and left the convoy 5 days later to deliver 32 P-40s to Tjilatjap, Java carrying 32 USAAF P-40s earmarked for the defense of Java.

On February 27, rendezvoused with escorts Whipple and Edsall. At 11:40am bombed by Takao Kokutai G4M1 Betty bombers 75 miles south of Tjilatjap and 16 crewmembers were killed. Irreparably damaged, the Langley was scuttled by destroyer Whipple (DD-217) on February 27, 1942.

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Last Updated
October 17, 2009