USS Essex (CVA-9)
Underway during her first Korean War deployment, circa August 1951-March 1952.
Two F2H-2 "Banshees" of Fighter Squadron 172 (VF-172) are flying by in the foreground, preparing to land. Nearest plane is Bureau # 124954. The other is probably Bu # 124969.
Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.