USS Langley (CVL-27) was an 11,000-ton Independence-class aircraft carrier that served the United States Navy from 1943 to 1947, and French Navy as the La Fayette from 1951 to 1963. Named for Samuel Pierpont Langley, American scientist and aviation pioneer, Langley received nine battle stars for World War II service. CVL-27 carried on the name and tradition of USS Langley (CV-1)(and was assigned hull classification symbol AV-3 on 11 April), the first US Navy aircraft carrier, which had been sunk on 27 Feb 1942.