Antietam (CV 36) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 107 text:

SUDDEN POWER FAIL- URE causes Corsair to crash into Water. This picture was snapped a second before it hit. Helicopter was already speed- ing to scene. LONG SHADOWS cast by late afternoon sun signal end of another day's flying for helicopter. Rotor blades are tied down to prevent Wind damage. PILOT WAS PICKED UP from icy Waters in less than a minute, re- ...- turned to the ship seconds later. He suffered only slight shock, was fly- ing again in a few days. I

Page 106 text:

AS RETURNING FLIGHT ap- proaches overhead, helicopter pre- pares to take off. Almost without exception, it was in air during all launches and recoveries. RESCUE, FREIGHT AND PASSENGERS Helicopter drags pilots from icy water, carries priority mail, supplies and passengers One aircraft aboard the Antietam holds the undisputed record for iiying most hours during cruise. It is the helicopter operated by the Helicopter Unit. Because of the danger involved in taking off and landing on a car- rier, the helicopter flew as a plane guard every time a Hight left or re- turned to the ship. In cold Waters of the Sea V of Japan, a pilot must ' be rescued immediate- ly-or not at all. An- tietamis helicopter bat- W ted a 1.000 average in the combat zone, by saving several pilots. At other times, sup- plies Were needed for emergency repairs of an aircraft, and they Weren't available on board. Minutes later the helicopter returned with the parts from a nearby ship. There Was a shortage of Chaplains Within the Task Force and the helicopter came to the rescue by shuffling them back and forth-bringing Divine Services to thousands of men. HELICOPTER BRINGS MAIL. HELICOPTER HOVERS NEAR SHIP WHILE PLANES LAND y p ..i.. i . . I . , .,. ,, ,,., s , g 4

Page 108 text:

l WITH FIGHTER PLANE IN BACKGROUND, CHAPLAIN CONDUCTS GENERAL WORSHIP SERVICES ON HANGAR DECK i I I L l l I l E 1 Q. VVORSHIP AT SEA The Antietam had only one Chaplain - a Catholic priest and Naval Reserve Officer, recalled to active duty from his parish in Houston, Texas. Chaplain Paul C. Pieri said daily Catholic lVlass and also conducted General Worship Services each Week for men of the Protestant Faith. Vlfhenever possible, Chaplain Pieri would Hy by helicopter to another ship to say lVlass, While a Protestant Chaplain would return to the An- tietam for Protestant Worship Services. The Junior Dental Officer Q opposite pagel acted as Lwmriamvus - W-If W , , .1 ,-ff f w-51,-.vw w1- gh Rabbi and conducted Weekly services for men of the Jewish Faith. The Latter Day Saints and the Christian Scientists also conducted Weekly services in the creW's library. By tradition in the Navy, whenever a inan makes a complaint of any nature, the standard retort is, uTe11 it to the Chaplain.77 lVlen of the Antietani did just that, as Chaplain Pieri counseled nearly l,2O0 men. ln ad- dition to that, the Chaplain made numerous visits to men who were in sick bay or the brig. rw r nf, rai:.'H .. .1 r . it it . 1-1. 1 .4 rf' Silva ,ffl ,,1?.f:i' ..1.',,,'L'f,1,.wfi5.ffitll!imWi. 1. rr. I V. ,s,a,.r,...,,..,-..-...uE.,...... wr-