CV-17 was named for the Battle of Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775 which, in fact, was mostly fought on adjacent Breed's Hill. The battle was part of the siege of Boston during the Revolutionary War. General Israel Putnam was in charge of the revolutionary forces, while Major-General William Howe commanded the British forces. Although Howe's immediate objective was achieved, it did not affect the siege and the British suffered more than 1,000 casualties — British General Henry Clinton wrote in his diary that "A few more such victories would have surely put an end to British dominion in America."

The famous order, "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes" was allegedly given by an American officer and popularized by stories about Bunker Hill, but it is not certain who, if anyone at this battle, gave it.

NS021737. "The Battle at Bunker's [sic] Hill," drawing by Henry A. Thomas; published by C. Frank King, Boston, c.1875. Library of Congress reproduction # LC-USZ62-4430.

NS021737a. An illustrated map of the battle ground on Charlestown peninsula, encompassing Bunker and Breed's Hills, from "History of the Battle of Bunker's [Breed's Hill] on June 17, 1775," George E. Ellis; Boston, 1875.

USS Bunker Hill (CV-17), World War II.

Overhead plan and starboard profile meticulously drawn by John Robert Barrett. Available from Navy Yard Associates (if you decide to purchase artwork from them please indicate that you heard about their work from NavSource).

Bunker Hill (CV-17) afloat immediately after launching, at the Bethlehem Steel Company's Fore River yards, Quincy, Massachusetts, 7 December 1942. Several tugs are in attendance and a Navy blimp is overhead.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center (# NH 97290).

"This beautiful painting of the new aircraft carrier, Bunker Hill was done by artist Howard Grady, OS2c, USNR. It was presented to the Captain, J. J. Ballentine, at the commissioning ceremonies. Grady is well known for his portraits of prominent people."

From Our Navy magazine, mid-September 1943 issue.

This is believed to be a photo of USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) during her shakedown cruise in the summer of 1943. The key element is that the Air Group has a mix of Helldivers and Corsairs, still wearing pre-WW II-style markings, which appear to be "17" in the original photo.

A landing mishap of a Curtiss SB2C-1 Helldiver of Bombing Squadron (VB) 17 from Carrier Air Group (CVG) 17 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) in 1943. The SB2C suffered from a lot of design failures and required some 800 changes before becoming fully operational. The crews therefore gave the aircraft names like "The Beast" or "Son of a Bitch, 2nd class" (SB2C). Note that Bunker Hill seems to be equipped only with the SC radar and not yet with the SK-1. Photo from U.S. Navy Naval Aviation News, February 1969.

A U.S. Navy Curtiss SB2C-1 Helldiver of Bombing Squadron (VB) 17 pictured after losing its tail during recovery aboard USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) during operations in the Caribbean in 1943. The first squadron to recive the Helldiver, VB-17 experienced some growing pains with the type, losing numerous aircraft while operating from shore and aboard Bunker Hill during the carrier's shakedown cruise.

National Naval Aviation Museum, photo # 1996.253.292.

Interesting view of VB-17 SB2C-1's turning into the pattern to land aboard Bunker Hill after their raid on Rabaul, November 11th, 1943. Photo by Capt. Robert Wood.

USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) at sea while participating in strikes on the Palau Islands, 27 March 1944. She is painted in camouflage Measure 33, Design 6A.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-K-1560).

Note: Though this was originally a color image, the original "Aero Kodacolor" transparency has lost all colors but red and can now only be reproduced in monochrome.

Believed to have been taken at Majuro atoll, May 1944.

Battle of the Philippine Sea, June 1944 — USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) is near-missed by a Japanese bomb, during the air attacks of 19 June 1944. The Japanese plane, with its tail shot off, is about to crash, at left. Photographed from USS Monterey (CVL-26).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-366983).

Rear Admiral Alfred E. Montgomery pictured with Captain Thomas P. Jeter after presenting him the Legion of Merit for service as skipper of the carrier Bunker Hill (CV-17), 1944. Image is part of a scrapbook assembled by Commander Francis N. Gilreath during his service as Flag Secretary and Aide to Rear Admiral Alfred E. Montgomery.

Photo courtesy of the National Naval Aviation Museum.

A destroyer-escort (DE) dropping depth charges while searching for Japanese submarines in Ulithi anchorage on 20 November 1944, following the sinking of USS Mississinewa (AO-59). A Fletcher-class destroyer is steaming past in the foreground. Two light cruisers (CL) and several other ships are in the distance. Photographed from USS Bunker Hill (CV-17).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-270650).

Destroyer-escorts (DE) drop depth charges during the search for Japanese submarines in Ulithi anchorage, following the sinking of USS Mississinewa (AO-59), 20 November 1944. A Fletcher-class destroyer is in the left-center background, and an anti-submarine net is in the distance. Photographed from USS Bunker Hill (CV-17).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-270656).

A destroyer-escort (DE) drops depth charges while searching for Japanese submarines in Ulithi anchorage on 20 November 1944, following the sinking of USS Mississinewa (AO-59). A Cleveland-class light cruiser (CL) and other ships are in the distance. Photographed from USS Bunker Hill (CV-17).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-270659).

USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) underway on 19 January 1945 after her period in dock at the Puget Sound Navy Yard, four months before she was severely damaged. The ship has a new camouflage scheme (Measure 21); there are two additional 40-mm quad mounts on the port side at flight deck level, and also the usual three below the island on the starboard side. The two aft gun sponsons on the starboard side were extended outwards and an extra AA mount was fitted right at the stern. One of the three deck-edge masts was removed, and the hangar catapult was removed and replaced by a second flight deck catapult. US Navy photo.

Photo and text from Aircraft Carriers of the U.S. Navy, by Stefan Terzibaschitsch.

Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher, USN (right), Commander, Task Force 58, confers with his Chief of Staff, Commodore Arleigh A. Burke (at left), on board TF58's flagship, USS Bunker Hill (CV-17), during operations off Japan in February 1945.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-303981).

Task Group 58.3, under Rear Admiral Frederick C. Sherman, departs Ulithi on 10 February 1945. Seen from USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) are USS Cowpens (CVL-25), left, and USS Essex (CV-9), center.

Task Force 58 conducted attacks against the Tokyo area (16–17, and 25 February) both to neutralize the enemy's airpower before the landings on Iwo Jima (19 February) and to cripple the aircraft manufacturing industry.

USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) in a photo probably taken circa the spring of 1945.

USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) at sea in 1945 (although dated October 16, 1945 this picture is older, as the ship did not operate aircraft after May 1945). This photo has been autographed by Admiral Arleigh A. Burke, who served on board Bunker Hill in January-May 1945, while he was Chief of Staff to Admiral Marc A. Mitscher, Commander, Task Force 58.

Collection of Admiral Arleigh A. Burke, USN. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph (# NH 42373).

USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) underway in Puget Sound, Jan. 19, 1945. The ship was commissioned May 25, 1943, Capt. J. J. Ballentine in command. Launched 7 Dec. 1942 by Bethlehem Steel Co., Quincy, Mass. Redesignated CVS-17 Aug. 8, 1953.

At sea during strikes against targets on Kyushu, Japan, 18 March 1945. USS New Jersey (BB-62) is in the right distance. Photographed from USS Essex (CV-9).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-373737).

USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) burning as gas and ammunition explode after being attacked by Japanese suicide divers, as seen from USS South Dakota (BB-57), 11 May 1945.

USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) burning after being attacked by Japanese kamikazes, as seen from USS South Dakota (BB-57), 11 May 1945.

Afire after being hit by two Kamikaze suicide planes off Okinawa, 11 May 1945. Photographed from USS Bataan (CVL-29).

Scene on the carrier's flight deck, looking aft, while her crew was fighting fires caused by Kamikaze hits, off Okinawa on 11 May 1945.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-323712).

This widely known photograph was taken by Tony Faccone with a Kodak K-4 camera resting directly on the flight deck. The talker holding his huge helmet down over his ears is Art Volkema, who had served most of the war as a lookout in Air Aft, perched high up just behind the stack on the back side of the island, but had been transferred to the ship's bow the day before—every man at his old position was killed in the attack (Maxwell Taylor Kennedy, "Danger's Hour,", Simon & Schuster, New York, 2008, pages 295, 360–361).

Another view, similar to the one above, but closer to the island.

The hole in the flight deck and what was the deck-edge elevator. A destroyer is alongside, possibly USS English (DD-696) or USS Charles S. Sperry (DD-697).

Fighting fires on the flight deck.

Burning fiercely.

USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) burning after being hit by "Kamikaze" suicide planes during the Okinawa operation, 11 May 1945. A Cleveland class light cruiser is steaming nearby, at left.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-K-5274).

Port broadside view, 11 May 1945, of USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) burning at the height of the fires. USS Pasadena (CL-65) is in the foreground.

US Navy and Marine Corps Museum/Naval Aviation Museum, Photo No. 1983.046.010.043.

This image is part of an album of photographs collected by Captain Carlos W. Wieber during his command of the aircraft carrier Essex (CV-9) during 1944–1945. Image mounted on a piece of paper on which appears the original typewritten caption.

USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) being assisted in fighting fires aboard by USS Charles S. Sperry (DD-697) and USS Wilkes Barre (CL-103), 11 May 1945.

US Navy and Marine Corps Museum/Naval Aviation Museum, Photo No. 1983.046.010.144.

This image is part of an album of photographs collected by Captain Carlos W. Wieber during his command of the aircraft carrier Essex (CV-9) during 1944–1945. Image mounted on a piece of paper on which appears the original typewritten caption.

Burning after being hit by a Kamikaze attack while operating off Okinawa on 11 May 1945. Photographed from USS Wilkes Barre (CL-103), which appears to have received fire damage herself helping to fight the blaze from alongside the carrier. A destroyer is off Bunker Hill's port side.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-328618).

Casualties from Kamikaze hits are transferred to USS Wilkes Barre (CL-103) for medical care, off Okinawa on 11 May 1945. Photographed from Wilkes Barre's port side amidships, looking aft. Note SB2C aircraft (one with a burned wing) parked aft on Bunker Hill, smashed 40mm gun position on her starboard side, smoke from still-burning fires, and firefighting water streaming over her side. On Wilkes-Barre note the 40mm quad gun mount in the foreground and the electronic antenna above.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-328619).

A casualty from the Kamikaze attack is transferred to USS Wilkes Barre (CL-103). (See above.)

USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) afire, as USS The Sullivans (DD-537) steams in the foreground. The Sullivans promptly closed Bunker Hill to render assistance and picked up 166 men forced over the side by the fires that at one point ravaged the carrier.

National Archives photo # 80-G-274264.

USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) burned and melted aircraft and damaged aft elevator are in evidence after the Kamikaze attack of 11 May 1945.

Aircraft wreckage on the flight deck, after most fires were out following hits by two Kamikazes off Okinawa, 11 May 1945.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-259904).

USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) crewmen look over the bodies of their shipmates after the Kamikaze attack of 11 May 1945.

In the name of the President of the United States, the Commander, FIRST Carrier Task Force, Pacific, presents the BRONZE STAR MEDAL to

COMMANDER CHARLES JOSEPH ODEND'HAL, JUNIOR
UNITED STATES NAVY

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

"For meritorious achievement in connection with operations against the enemy while serving as Navigator and Officer of the Deck; and later as Executive Officer of a United States aircraft carrier in the vicinity of Okinawa on 11 May 1945. After his ship had been damaged by heavy enemy air attack, he resolutely continued with his duties as Navigator and Officer of the Deck, directing bridge activities and restoring communications. When the Executive Officer collapsed from wounds, he took over the duties of Executive Officer, capably and courageously supervising the activities of damage control, ship control, medical aid and ship's defense. His efforts contributed materially to the saving of his ship and his leadership was at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United Service."

FREDERICK C. SHERMAN
Vide Admiral, U. S. Navy.

USS Bountiful (AH-9) taking casualties on board from USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) on 12 May 1945, one day after the carrier was devastated by a kamikaze attack. USS The Sullivans (DD-537) is in the foreground. Photographed by PhoM2/c F. W. Pataye, USN of Commander Service Squadron 6.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-350765).

Puget Sound Navy Yard. Damage in action of 11 May 1945. Hit No. 2, looking fwd. from aft side of No. 2 elevator.

Seattle Branch of the National Archives photo.

Puget Sound Navy Yard, 12 June 1945. Aftermost damaged section at Fr. 180 looking aft.

Seattle Branch of the National Archives photo.

Puget Sound Navy Yard, 17 June 1945. Looking Forw'd and to port from fr.164 flight deck.

Seattle Branch of the National Archives photo (RG 181).

The covered lighter YF-273 alongside the aircraft carrier USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) at Puget Sound Navy Yard, 19 July 1945. After these repairs, Bunker Hill took part in Magic Carpet transport operations bringing home US military personnel from the Pacific area up until the end of her service life. US Navy photo.

USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) in a photo most likely taken in or after October 1945.

Ship's Bell, Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum ("Home of the Spruce Goose"), McMinnville, Oregon. (Note TBM-3E Avenger just behind the bell.)

"Welcome Aboard" pamphlet for USS Bunker Hill (CV-17), dated 1945.

Bunker Hill (CV-17) at North Island, California, circa 1947, after being mothballed. Photo Robert L. Lawson, from Carrier Air War in Original Color, by Robert Lawson and Barrett Tillman.

Ex-Bunker Hill moored off Point Loma, San Diego, after conversion to an electronics test hulk, date unknown.

Ex-USS Bunker Hill (ex-AVT 9) moored at North Island, San Diego, around 1968.

Ex-USS Bunker Hill (ex-AVT 9) tied up at Naval Air Station, North Island, San Diego, California, in October 1968.

The electronics test platform ex-USS Bunker Hill tied up [at] San Diego, California, on 25 June 1970. This photograph shows several special antennas on the island. One of the three quad mounts on the starboard side below the island has been removed, and the other "mothballed." Photo courtesy L. R. Cote.

Photo and text from Aircraft Carriers of the U.S. Navy, by Stefan Terzibaschitsch.

Ex-USS Bunker Hill (ex-AVT-9) tied up at Naval Air Station, North Island, San Diego, California, in October 1971. Though stricken from the Naval Vessel Register, she was still employed as a test platform for the Naval Electronics Laboratory Center.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph (USN 1150533).

This is a scan of a Polaroid of the ex-USS Bunker Hill taken in 1972 when she was at NAS North Island in San Diego.