Antietam (CV 36) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 24 text:

? 1' 4 is 591 , si 1-,, A FOREST OF FOLDED WINGS, Skyraiders and Corsairs jam the after flight deck waiting to take off. Engines are warmed up half an hour before takeoff. ATTACK BUMBERS ARE LAUNCHEIJ Attack Squadron 728 flies Douglas AD Skyraid. ers, the fleetis workhorses. These are the planes that carry the big punch-two 20mm Wing can- nons, rockets, up to 6,000 pounds of bombs, or deadly napalm. In this six-month tour of duty, the Skyraiders dropped over 5,000,000 pounds of destruction on troop concentrations and trans- portation facilities. The five AD's flown by composite squadrons ll and 35 have special functions to perform. They carry complex electronics gear for anti-subma- rine patrol, and night missions. One or two crew- me11 are carried to operate the electronics gear. PLANE CAPTAINS Qleftj wait signal to pull wheel chocks as pilots check full throttle performance just before takeoff. ' . ,QA .,-,2.f'vff'47g Q' ,- - N.,,qA'v4p '51 44 1' . J:-.1 v 1916- 5 f vgazia .:,. 956197 ' J.-X 5 f ,xxff,.f-j1j5f ,.?y f -' '. n j ' misfit? L .A ,, .gm-. if LP, , M 'fl Tiff' '. Q 3? V ' 'Zi-1325 Qfial. ,- I , 'I A , fi, ff fl il' - -, Arf ' I 47: ffgfg ' -3- 1.' -Q11-':' ,Qi .-f . '-44::44:-'g'r- , jf' g?l?J, -wa V U W kt. ...,ri NNXN M .W .K K x .iiti , X A x '?fi!'nBj,T-5 1 , 1 ,Z :Is ' 7' S !.Zjf'f --1 314. S U, X thT63-DI,H'lG- RUN 500 feet from the forward end of the flight k -' ' -,'l ' . . ' wa- - ' e S tall Wheel 0011168 up off deck quickly. Pilot has applied P0 20 before releasin br k A d 8 H CS an starting run. , . i. . ,. ,, ,. ..-A -f ii , 1. , ,,. E,gj'1 HM, y,'f,1,,,,ffg,gp,'.U,M,y iw, 1 , , ,H X: X V! I 1'1 ' v.- 1.,.,.,..,. nll

Page 23 text:

X , c THE CATAPULT Catapult launches require coordination of en- tire uCat7' crew. 11Abovej Planes have just been launched from both catapultsgt the one on the left was shot just six seconds after the one on the right. When plane has reached end of 124-foot track, plane has accelerated to speed required for take- off. Other planes are pulled forward into position, readied for launching. Catapult crews frightj stand ready to readjust holdback and release for the next jet, even as the first one is moving down the track. Catapult olhcer lfkneeling with arm raisedj signals jet on port catapult, While plane director moves 308 onto catapult. As jet clears the Hight deck lower rightj men brace themselves against blast of engine. Catapult operations take split-second timing, cool heads, and a full awareness of safety. www y 6 v i 51 N w

Page 25 text:

Because Skyraiders can gain flying speed in their 500 foot run, only in an emergency are catapults used to launch them. Less personnel are involved in their takeoff than in a jet launch. Plane captains handle the wheel chocks, check wing locks. Plane directors bring them into takeoff position, the Flight Deck Officer gives them the go signal. The engine is revved to a deafening 2,500 horsepower, brakes released, and the plane is gone. G-ATHERING SPEED Qleftj , plane races past deck edge elevator. Cock- pit is left open on takeoff for quick escape in case accident occurs. PAST THE ISLAND Qbelowj , past the forward gun mounts, this AD has attained full speed half Way through its run. LIKE AN AWKWARD BUT POWERFUL BIRD. A SKYRAIDER SPRINGS OFF THE CARRIER.