The original carrier, the Langley, was sunk early in the war off the Philippines. However, by that time, it was reclassified as a seaplane tender.
Glen, K9STH
Website: http://k9sth.com
--- On Mon, 11/1/10, J. Forster <jfor at quik.com> wrote:
Of the first eight US aircraft carriers, five were sunk in 1942 and four > reappeared in 1943 as Essex Class.