Lexington (CV 16) - Naval Cruise Book

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I DEPART attack. The fighters will be catapulted on the turn into 'the wind. Everything that was a tentative plan the night before now is reality. The first fighter leaves the deck as the sling shot sends him soaring into the air. The second follows directly and the third and fourth, until the floating airfield is left empty. The noise of the propellers has taken to the sky and the robust excitement of the men on the air strip van- ishes with the deckload. As our planes joined with other units of the fast Carrier Task Force they returned to circle above the fleet formation. For a brief while, hundreds of planes blanketed the sky above and gave each man a thrill of power. Then the Combat Air Patrol is sent out against the bogies, and the first strike leaves for the target. Soon we hear that the incom- ing raid has been broken up. Permission to remove flash gear. The radar screen is free of strangers. Meanwhile the deck is again being spotted to launch the second strike. Time passes rapidly and in a few hours the same scene is again enacted. The second strike is launched shortly before the first one returns to home base. By this means, the target is saturated with continuous strikes. Our own Combat Information Center informs us that Lexington planes are nearing base and are ready to orbit over ship. l'Prepare to land aircraft. Again groups of men wait patiently at their posts to bring the returning strike safely aboard. The landing signals officer rogers g his team of men is ready. Land planes. The first plane drops from the waiting flight and circles in for a landing. The Landing Signals Offi- cer creates a picturesque statue as he stands on his platform on the port side of the stern. The two flags held firmly in his hands guide the planes onto the strip. Metal cables across the width of the deck are elevated to a high enough level to catch the tail hooks of the landing planes. There are many haazrds that exist during a landing. Frequently the enemy leaves his mark and the planes return badly shot up. At times the wheels have been shot off, or the tail hook, or the flaps, or the pilot has been injured. C.l.C. reports that plane No. 18 has lost his wheels and the pilot requests permission to come aboard. The Air Boss consents but tells the radio operator to inform the pilot he will land last. The men on the flight deck speculate as the last plane orbits above andithen rounds the circle to approach. ffl? 1

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IR DEPART Fire fighters and various crews are standing by for a crash. The pilot brings the plane in for a beautiful belly landing. The barriers stop the skidding plane from crashing headlong into the planes spotted on the bow. The switches are cut promptly and fire ig prevented. Throughout the day such events recur. The air- dales have become so adapted to the routine that they accept an l8-hour day filled with such events as Hjust another day. Throughout this day each division had concen- trated on its own special task: V-l's plane handlers, directors and repair crew had spotted the deck, launched the flights, and controlled the taxiing pilots after they landed aboard. - V-2's aircraft maintenance men saw that each plane was ready, assisted the pilot, and received his report of performance at the end of the flight. Cn them depended the flyability of l03 compli- cated aircraft. V-3 manned the radars, the eyes of the ship. They guided friendly planes and warned of enemies. Radarmen have watched some of the greatest air battles in history take place before their eyes. ln addition, they can warn of land, clouds, ships and other obstructions. xt I! li , :....., ' -nnli if --..I 1 ,Q V-4 had the Yeomen who manned the battle phones and transmitted messages from station to station during G.Q. , the aerographers whose weapons were their delicate instruments and sensi- tive gauges: and the photographers who spotted targets and recorded performance by their pictures, V-5 were the ordnance men who placed the 2000- pound bombs and rockets safely in the bomb-bays and under the wing tips. V-0 had arresting gear gangs, who manned the barriers and the metal cables that grasp the tail hooks, the catapult gang, who sent the planes soar- ing into the air, and the gasoline gang who gassed the planes for the launch and degassed them after the landing. Air Control is a little blister on the island struc- ture, three decks above flight level. From here the Air Boss conducted the flights, drew up the plans, and administered an over-all supervision. Air Offi- cers we will always remember are: Commander B. Wright, Commander L. B. Sutherland, Commander T. A. Ahroon, Commander P. P. Barrick and Com- mander R. E. Steiler. Their judgment and experi- ence made possible the efficient operation of the whole organization. Under their watchful eyes, such scenes of skill and coordination as that we have described were a daily commonplace on the Blue Ghost. f , ,ww fi Z . i,--V ...uni U44 . V-7 Shops -r