The Charles H. Sorensen World War II U.S. Naval Aviation Collection contains textual and photographic materials related to the World War II Pacific Theater naval service of pilot Charles H. Sorensen, who served aboard the U.S.S. Essex. Most materials are dated between 1941-1944, although some items pertain to post-war dates and Sorensen's reserve service. Due to its small size, the collection has been organized alphabetically.

The bulk of the collection is textual materials, including Sorensen's wartime and post-war military records, such as orders and training materials, including instructional cartoons; certificates and citations earned in service, correspondence and memorandums, clippings and articles, and aeronautical charts and maps used for active service missions, including two aerial survey photographs. Locations present on the charts include Marcus Island, Peleliu Airfield, Saipan, and Wake Island.

A small amount of printed ephemera is also present and includes a "sympathy chit" as well as three Japanese language items, including a newspaper that provides wartime news and updates, a flier with a 6-panel cartoon on one side and possible propaganda on the reverse, and a "military postal savings passbook."

There are also 12 black-and-white photographs. Nine prints show Sorensen receiving a military pin from an officer, one image is a collage of 24 identified pilots in cockpits, including Sorensen, and another print features four aircraft, likely Grumman TBF Avengers, in flight formation. Also present is a June 1945 group portrait of Torpedo Squadron 37, Sorensen's assigned squadron, as well as a "U.S.S. Essex track chart of operations" which includes a collage of carrier-related images and a map. Thirteen 35mm film strip negatives without corresponding prints are also present and include images of military aircraft and personnel. Photographs vary in size, although the majority are 8x10-inches. Very few include identifying stamps or contextual information, such as names, dates, or locations.