Wasp (CV 18) - Naval Cruise Book

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274 We've unfolded our story...but it isn't over. lt's dark outside. The ship is sleeping. Chicago betore dawn...any city at liour A. lVl...that's the WASP in the early morning hours beffore air Operalillejsiissicooks are the First sign out activity as they prepare breakfast For all the men whdll ready and lily the planes. Communications messengers are delivering last minute dispatches concerning the day's operations. They carry the word to the Captain on the bridge, the men in the engine rooms who'll get the speed up For the launch, the A.l.'s who'll brieic the pilots, to all whdll control the planes once they're in the air. These are just a Few ol: the things that go on bemcore the rest of the ship awakens. These are the milk men, the bakers, the men who work beliore dawn so the rest of the city can sleep. lQeveille For all Flight quarters personnel, calls the boatswain's mate ot the watch. That's the alarm clock For a thousand men directly concerned with air ops. The morning bustle begins... dress, have breakfast, and a short walk to work. No long subway ride to the job oi: loading ammo, or watching a radar scope, or operating the catapults...this is a ship at sea. Topside in the taint glow ot dawn, the Flight deck crews can be seen moving planes into position, Fueling them, making the Final check on machines that will mean either lite or death to the pilots. Some oi: the crews in red jerseys, others in yellow, or green...each a certain job, much as any Football team driving toward the goal. No cheering section here, the work is done in calm quiet broken occasionally by the warning to stand clear ol: the deck-edge elevator. The Air Gps Officer presses the keys ot the squawk boxg his words go to all ready rooms, Pilots, man your planes. Loaded down in their Flight gear, the pilots ride up the escalator to the Flight deck. As they climb into their planes, the calmness ot the Flight deck disappears. Men are running to and Fro now. The bull horn is blaring orders, H Check wing lines, Firebottles, propeller clearances, and all loose gear about the deck...Stand clear ot jet intakes and tail pipes... Stand by to start engines, and a Few seconds later, H Start engines l Even as the words are still in the air, the First eerie whine of the jet engines is heard. It grows From a whine to a scream to a deafening roar as one by one the jets unite in a chorus oi H it's almost time to Fly. Suddenly the Force ot the wind across the deck makes it hard to stand. A glance att shoWS the churning white wake curved around in a semi-circle as the ship heads into the wind For the launch. Tiny drops out water sting the Face and glitter in the sunlight on the wings of the planes. The First plane moves onto the cat. White Flag shouts the bull horn over the steady drone of engines. The Catapult Qtticer, standing close to the wing tip ot the plane, waves his arm in a circle, bends down pointing iCorward...and swoosh, the First plane is airborne. The rest ot the Cougars, the Panthers, then the Banshees all move lithely into position. Last Q0 the AUS, big and bear-like, as they gather speed. ln a matter ol: minutes, the Flight deck is deaf- ,WS Qlllet OnCe more. The excitement, the tension, the strain of the launch subsides. lt s 0800 now. The boatswain's mate calls out, commence ship's work, and the men who donit HY the DlGf19S, WlWO dOn't Work on them, perhaps don't even see them very often Q0 about their lObS 'OPe'atlnQ the Ship that keeps the planes in the air...beginning another chapter in the U Stingefs Tale. f ggtr, .. ' rfifiz - ttf ,- ,

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ACKNCDWLEDGMENTS Editors Lt ig. Lawrence E. Wood Ltig. Grant N. Dean I-aY0'-ft Cartoons Ens. Roger W. Hill, Editor Lt, Leland E, Nelson Aft EUS- David W- Whitman, Ediwf Ens. James R. Modrall, Editor Ltjg. John B. Burlcmeyer Ltjg, Robert W, Dunlap John l..Culbert, ADC KAR- Ens. Keith H. Walker Thomas J. Weislce, JO3 Roster Typist Ens. James W. Barrett Rgnald Walsh, YN3 Engraving Miss and Mrs. Wasp Contest Ltjg. Milton E. Johnson, Editor Amgld Wein, PN3 Photography Business Robert Doughty, RHC, Director Frank H. Hall, RH2 Ronald D. Bennett, RH3 William T. Burliord, RH3 Warren l. Evans, RH3 Charles J. Reed, RH3 Virgil C. Van Relt, RH3 Conrad A. Strub, RHAN Advisory Board Cdr. John A. Ferguson Cdr. Edmund J. Ford Lt. Robert W. Radcliliiie Ltjg. Harold C. Wayte, Manager Clifton G. Bonds, YN2 Harold E. Turner, YN3 Richard F. Fowler, TDAN Ernest L. Uselton, TDAN Joe M. Fernandez, SN Kenneth S. Mathiason, SN Ltd. Rrinted by Toppan Printing Co., Tokyo, Japan