The “least American” of U.S. aircraft carriers to serve in the United States Navy during World War II was a ship that technically never existed. The USS Robin, while commanded by the United States, was crewed with British sailors.
In fact, the ship wasn’t a U.S. vessel at all and was actually the British HMS Victorious (plus an array of American naval gadgets) in disguise. Negotiated at the highest level, the British carrier’s loan was one of the most valuable and unusual components of the American-British partnership in the Pacific theater...