Picture of the day.

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[syscom3]

An F6F-3 Hellcat of Fighting Squadron (VF) 15 launches from the hangar deck catapult of USS Hornet (CV-12) during training in Chesapeake Bay, 12 February 1944.
The early Essex-class carriers had been built with a hangar-level catapult, called the HIVA catapult (actually, H-4A) that shot planes out of the starboard forward hangar deck. Since the aircraft could not benefit from the ship steaming into the wind, these catapults were deemed unpractical, and replaced with a second flight deck catapult. They were removed during refits in 1944 because they didn't get a lot of use. Hornet was the only carrier to keep her HIVA hangar-deck catapult until the end of the war.

 

[Wurger]

 

[Snautzer01]

An F6F-3 Hellcat of Fighting Squadron (VF) 15 launches from the hangar deck catapult of USS Hornet (CV-12) during training in Chesapeake Bay, 12 February 1944.
The early Essex-class carriers had been built with a hangar-level catapult, called the HIVA catapult (actually, H-4A) that shot planes out of the starboard forward hangar deck. Since the aircraft could not benefit from the ship steaming into the wind, these catapults were deemed unpractical, and replaced with a second flight deck catapult. They were removed during refits in 1944 because they didn't get a lot of use. Hornet was the only carrier to keep her HIVA hangar-deck catapult until the end of the war.

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Blessed mother of accelaration, dont fail me now....

 

[michaelmaltby]

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[syscom3]

Battle off Cape Engaño, 25 October 1944 — Arming a Torpedo Squadron 51 (VT-51) TBM torpedo bomber on USS San Jacinto (CVL-30). Probably taken before the squadron's planes attacked the Japanese carrier force. Torpedo is a Mark 13, fitted with wooden water-entry shrouds around its nose and tail.

 

[SaparotRob]

I really admire those pilots flying those big airplanes off those short flight decks.

 

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[Glider]

I really admire those pilots flying those big airplanes off those short flight decks.

I really admire those pilots landing those big airplanes back onto those short flight decks.

 

[SaparotRob]

You got that right.

 

[michaelmaltby]

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[syscom3]

A plane director spots a TBF Avenger in the exact position for catapulting on the flight deck of USS Independence (CV-22). Photograph, 30 April 1943

 

[MIflyer]

 

[at6]

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I'm sure it was over here somewhere.

 

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[michaelmaltby]

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[syscom3]

B-17G 42-38078 of the 2nd BG, 429th BS after direct hit by flak over Debreczen, Hungary. 21 Sep 1944 Amendola, Italy. The waist and tail gunners were killed. Surprisingly, this aircraft was repaired to fly again. But ultimately destroyed by fire after a crash landing in Jan 1945.