With America waging war on two fronts, one of the most unusual ships in the U.S. Navy’s history emerged—USS Wolverine. Originally a luxury cruiser on the Great Lakes, this side-wheel steamer ...

It had a 550-foot flight deck, about a long as modern-day guided missile cruiser. USS Wolverine lying at anchor in Lake Michigan on 6 April 1943. US Navy National Museum of Naval Aviation ...