Changing Carrier Planes
- Thread starter denny
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Thumpalumpacus
Major
The pilots are trained ashore, then do carquals on a training carrier, and then train as a unit to operational standards. The carrier returns to port to pick up the new squadron and planes, and then the new squadron conducts exercises on the way to theater in order to acclimate to the ship and operational environment. Older squadrons are also rotated back with some pilots going to instructor duty and others remaining to be cadre in one or another squadron.
In 1943 the F6F went to the new air groups working up in the USA and preparing for service on the new carriers (Essex & Independence classes) or those completing refit (Enterprise). The only exception was the Saratoga where Air Group 12 replaced Air Group 3 while she was down in the Solomons. Then the pattern was generally as stated above.
In times of great pressure the procedure was varied. For example
In summer 1942 when Wasp CV-7 was sent to the Pacific, she swapped her Vindicator dive bombers from service in the Atlantic for SBD Dauntless when she arrived at San Diego. Same with TBD for TBF. Same squadrons and pilots but new aircraft.
In Dec 1944 when it was decided to increase the fighter complement on the carriers, USMC F4U squadrons joined existing carrier air groups while the ships were at Ulithi Atoll.
By mid/late 1944, the USN policy became one of swapping out the entire air group every 6 months or so. That would be done when a carrier was in for refit or repair. Sometimes the new air group would be transported to a forward base like Pearl Harbor or Guam and the swap would happen there.
In times of great pressure the procedure was varied. For example
In summer 1942 when Wasp CV-7 was sent to the Pacific, she swapped her Vindicator dive bombers from service in the Atlantic for SBD Dauntless when she arrived at San Diego. Same with TBD for TBF. Same squadrons and pilots but new aircraft.
In Dec 1944 when it was decided to increase the fighter complement on the carriers, USMC F4U squadrons joined existing carrier air groups while the ships were at Ulithi Atoll.
By mid/late 1944, the USN policy became one of swapping out the entire air group every 6 months or so. That would be done when a carrier was in for refit or repair. Sometimes the new air group would be transported to a forward base like Pearl Harbor or Guam and the swap would happen there.
- Thread starter
- #4
FLYBOYJ
"THE GREAT GAZOO"
I keep bringing up the old book "Jolly Rogers" By Tom Blackburn. He details how VF-21 went from flying the Wildcat and then transitioned to the F4U, how they got carrier qualified and mastered the F4U.
Good question and the reason it's good to stay with one supplier, transitioning from the wildcat to the hellcat would have simplified the process because the planes came from the same company.
GregP
Major
Not too sure I follow that logic. The landing gear mechanisms were different, the engine and prop were different, the system were different. One is low wing and one is mid-wing. Nothing about the Hellcat is like the Wildcat except maybe they are both conventional landing gear and have a similar control stick and windscreen.
But the numbers for best climb, dive, maneuvering speed, etc. are seemingly unrelated.
Greg,
How similar is the cockpit layout of the F4F and F6F? I think the F4F has manual folding wings and the F6F has powered fold?
Cheers,
Biff
GregP
Major
Hellcats were manual wing fold. I've never seen one with power wing fold.
It's still from the same manufacturer, it would be easier going from an F4F to an F6F than to a corsair, seafire etc.
cvairwerks
Staff Sergeant
Something else to remember about an aircraft change is the amount of spare parts and backshop equipment that has to be switched too.
GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
The F4F and F6F had the "sto-wing" manually rotating wing.
I beleive the TBF/M was the first with powered folding wings.
I beleive the TBF/M was the first with powered folding wings.
