Antietam (CV 36) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 19 text:

Last minute rush of preparation leaves little time for thoughts of emotions con- nected with War. Four hours after An- tietam joins TF-77, she must launch her first strike. Plane checks, spotting for launch, briefings, all go surpris- ingly smooth. It is apparent that the real thing is just like any of the end- less rehearsals had heeng only ord- nancemen and pilots feel a real differ- ence. They know the guns are loaded. VETERAN PILOTS from Skyraider squadron look nonchalant as they receive preliminary map orientation. WARNING SIGN KEYNOTES GENERAL FEEL

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- ' ' ' . The Hrst blow at the enemy will be MESSAGES OF GREETING are exchanged with .flagship marked top pI'10f1fY . I , Essex, but almost immediately are superseded bylbusmesslike launched today. MOUDUHIHSIID b3Ckgr0?Hd, 1221123125 Covered messages, terse series of numbers and innocent femmine names, by overcast, fO1'm Part Of Jagge Coast me 0 ' RENDEZVUUS WITH TASK FORCE 77 Three days, steaming has brought Antietam to the Sea of Japan, crossing the 38th parallel. At dawn on October 15, many of the crew line the Hight deck, shiver in the chill damp Wind. Youngsters sensing adventure stand beside old timers, anticipating only increased work There they are grey spots on the horizon slightly darker than the slate sky-a carrier battlewagon, cruiser, half a dozen destroyers the rest ofthe team that will become so fam1l1al 1n the next half yea1 The moment has arr1veo at which nine months of tedious labol and feveush t1a1n1ng po1nted All the questlon marks Will soon be answeied Antletam Wlll soon know Whether she 1S piepared ANTIETAM S AIRCRAFT loaded on flight deck await first strike over Korea

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S eff 1 , 'WWW N- READY ROOM is the focal point of all the pilots' activities: briefing, debriefingg dressing, undressingg relaxing and Waltlrlg. WEATHER FORECASTS are among the many preparations necessary for a launch. Here Rawin weather balloon is released' data recorded will show Wind velocity and direction aloft. 9 l SQUAWK BOX N is avy s primary internal communication system Here the squadron duty officer in the ready room ac knowletles a Pilots man you planes from Primary Fly I i AIR INTELLIGENCE OFFICER prebriefs the flight leaders on anti-aircrafu fire expected over the target. Other AIO's complete the briefing for eacli 5 squadron. V k I PILOTS ARE READIED 0500 is an early hour to schedule a flight, but two hours before that flight, and two hours before every flight, pilots gather in the ready rooms for briefing. Air Intelligence Officers assimilate all the information necessary for the hop and provide the pilots with weather data, target in- formation, opposition expected, code signals, activity of friendly aircraft and ships, passwords, and other perti- A nent information. PILOTS HELP each other with Poopy Suits These wa tertight exposure suits are nec essary in the icy water Over the exposure suit goes a mae west survival gear pistol cartridge belt knife etc Pilots have to be prepared for crash landing over land or over water ' ee - ,, . - . , l . ,, ,,,, -...,,,,. 9 3 3 ' 3 ' ' - . 3 3 ' ec - ,, . 3 1 1 mi.- .