Antietam (CV 36) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 27 text:

. CORSAIRS LINE UP awaiting turn to take off. Fast handling of planes keeps launch moving without delay. PLANE CONTINUES takeoff run. By this time, next plane has moved into position, will start run in few seconds. TURNING OFF starboard bow, pi- lot clears flight deck of prop wash 21S soon as possible. FLIGHT DECK OFFICER ducks and braces himself against prop wash as he looks for next plane to launch. Man on right is directing next plane forward.

Page 26 text:

MAP BUNDLE IS HANDED TO A CORSAIR PILOT BY PLANE CAPTAIN. ' SPREADING THE GULL WINGS While parked aft, F4U pilot makes pre-flight checks. FIGHTERS TAKE UFF Most dependable all purpose aircraft the Navy has ever had is the FLLU Corsair. ln ten years of Hying for the Navy the F411 has been changed only slightlyg fundamentally it is the same plane that first saw service over Guadalcanal in 1942. Like the AD it is an all purpose plane, flying as a lighter or an attack bomber. The Corsair carries nearly 3,000 pounds of bombs, rockets and napalm, and is armed with fifty caliber machine guns. VF 713 flew over 10095 of their assigned missions in FLLUS for a total of 4,165 combat hours. Four F4Us, fitted with special equipment, were operated by Composite Squadron 3 on night heckler missions. MOVING UP to takeoff position, pilot spreads his f1ghter's wings. Plane director, near wing, directs pilot on to the next plane director.

Page 28 text:

PRCCESSION FORWARD starts after planes are launched. Like other flight deck operations, respotting is performed at top speed. HITCHING UP to Skyraider, tractor driver applies brakes only for a sec- ond. At destination there is no pause, tow bar is released by lever. FOR PLANE CAPTAINS, A FEW MINUTES ON THE SIDELINES AFTER LAUNCH The strike safely launched, furious action is re- placed by slower but equally efficient movement. Planes aft on the flight deck are moved forward to clear deck for landing, or below to hangar deck, or planes on the hangar deck are brought topside. Ordnancemen and maintenance person- nel tackle their aircraft, arresting gear is checked, plane pushers and directors are at their busiest. But for plane captains whose aircraft are some- where over Korea, an hour or two of relaxation is possible. ORDNANCEMEN utilize the relatively quiet interval to trundle up more rockets, bombs. They are loaded on carts below, brought up to flight deck on elevator.