[Servicemen extinguishing fire from crashed Vought F4U Corsair aircraft]

Photograph of U.S. Navy servicemen extinguishing a fire from a crashed Vought F4U Corsair aircraft, USS Essex (CV-9) circa 1943-1945. The caption information notes that the Corsair skidded on the wet deck during takeoff.

Inscription on verso: "Essex / F4U taking off at dawn slipped on the wet deck and crashed into catwalk. Pilot was picked up by destroyer / D09."

Caption on verso: "F4U taking off, 0600 deck, wet deck -- skid -- over side -- fire -- Pilot picked up by destroyer."

Part of a disassembled album containing materials related to Paul J. Madden's service with the U.S. Navy during World War II, circa 1940-1945.