Operational records, August 16, 1943–75

This series consists of records created in the process of performance of the ship’s official operations. The series is broken into two parts: a sub-series arranged by record type and function, such as personnel management and correspondence; and a sub-series arranged by ship’s department.

Much of the material in the first sub-series may have originated with X Division. Of especial interest in this sub-series is a file of Executive Officer Cdr. L.E. Levenson’s memoranda and the ESO [Educational Services Officer] Memorandum File. Both provide insight into high-level personnel management and training on board. The Instructions are also of note as they cover a wide variety of subjects and are easily searchable.

In the second sub-series arranged by department or squadron, the majority of records are from the late 1960s and early 1970s. The highest-volume department is Engineering, and the Engineering Department records give a comprehensive picture of both the department’s activities in the ship’s last active years and of the ship’s inactivation process. Other departments with records of note are the Air Department, Gunnery Department, and Navigation Department. The Air Department records series includes two files of memoranda exchanged with Naval Air Engineering Facilities and the contents of a series of binders of reference material relevant to the ship and to the Air Department specifically. Gunnery Department records include memoranda, forms, logs, and personnel management records. The Navigation Department records series, which also contains bridge records, includes deck logs and quartermaster’s notebooks that detail the daily activities and events on the ship. This sub-series also includes material pertaining to squadrons embarked on Intrepid.