GROWTH OF U.S. AIRCRAFT CARRIER FORCE This photograph shows the growth of the U.S.

GROWTH OF U.S. AIRCRAFT CARRIER FORCE This photograph shows the growth of the U.S. aircraft carrier force from 1942 to 1945, when the Navy had 26 first-line carriers and 65 escort carriers. In the background picture a Curtiss Helldiver lands on the carrier's deck after a strike against Japanese shipping. Referring to the accelerated air campaign against Japan, President Harry S. Truman told the U.S. Congress in a message June 1, 1945: "The planes we are using and will continue to use against Japan will be larger in size and more powerful in action than our bombers in Europe." But the President also said: "Shifting our ground and air strength from Europe to the Far East presents transportation problems even greater and more complicated than those involved in the initial deployment of our forces to all parts of the world. Millions of men and millions of tons of supplies must be moved half way around the globe."