Lake Champlain (CVS 39) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 34 text:

X .!'s,44,s, gs W tr, KVYWY QQ , xl, X, V N... WN- V Sfmgyf . 0 Q55 x . 1' s X ff' X V 5 if 'Ti ' i, One level below the flight deck, just a few feet from the color of takeoff and touchdown, are the unsung heroes of the Air Depart- ment-the hangar deck crew. This is V-3 Division. A group of 55 men who have the rugged assignment of loading and unloading aircraft on and off the elevators which transport them to and from the flight deck. These men cover some 60,000 square feetlof hangar deck space, and can actually govern the pace of launching and recovery aboard ship. Planes can't takeoff until V-3 gets them there, nor can they land until the flight deck has been cleared of other aircraft.

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omg Z if t X Q ff ,, In iw, X , C , , ff f f, ' f V 1 it V ,, i wi, . . t. 1 , ,, Z fl V . 3 My V , , ,,, I ,J n if ff K A wo ff ,gn ,iz Q , W 2 ,. f , f If , , 1 7? t., 1' X f X l f f f fy' 7? ggi, , af The thin, moaning voice of pressure pumps suddenly rises to a scream. Gauges flicker into life and then snap to attention This is the signal that the Cat is ready. After a moment's pause, comes an explosive hiss of cables . . . another plane is airborne, thanks to V-2 Division. Responsibility for the catapults is only half of V-2's job-the other is operating the arresting gear which snaps the planes to a screeching halt upon touchdown. - When not operating their machinery, the guys in green, spend many long hours checking and maintaining it to assure sate takeofls and recoveries the next time flight quarters is sounded. l

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N2 2 I , .... ,,,...,,wwf..v,,m....,,.,.....,:..,....--M,mm1.....mf.,,.W.1,,....m..fN.f,,.M...-1.-.M-....1.,,.M......i.,f,m..,f,...........,..,,,m.....,.,..q. ...,,...........-,.......,....-.........,........s.........,.. P f f ,ff MW Z 'W , ,f 7 f W X' I QM.. A ' 41:24 , X ff f 4 k f K is A ,, 4 5 , ,, X, 0 f 1 -my If W, 1 5. QC ff f ' ,iq M 2 , 6-ww! MW , Now the smoking lamp is out throughout the ship while re- fueling aircraft. When these familiar words are passed, it means the red- shirted men of V-4 Division are once again on the move. Stored far below decks, the AV-gas is routed topside through a complex system of pipes, valves and regulators. Various fueling stations located in the hangar bay and flight deck, feed- the gas-gu1ping aircraft. During 24-hour flight operations, V-4 supplies about 30,0130 gallons of fuel to the squadrons on board the Champ. It is, of course, during air ops that V-4 is the busiest. At that time-While the smoking lamp is out-you can watch their steam and smoke. fy.. l l t 1 i , I l l 1 tl 1 t w r