Lexington (CV 16) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 132 text:

p A i fuk wririror ANNOUNCES Frvia Moms TO coME E6ME Late in the afternoon, and Without any apparent reason or provocation, we again get buttoned up with tension. lt is strange how quickly a mood generates and spreads on a ship. Our patrol planes remain up as long as there is enough daylight for them to carry on visual observation. When We get ready to land them the Lex takes a course in line with the wind which means We will now travel in an opposite direction to that of the task force. A destroyer follows us and takes up a Watch- ing position astern. Our planes drop into the landing circle, but because ofthe poor light the landings are unusually slow. There are numerous vvaveofls, the l f personne o air control is visibly irritated, the Captain grovvls when one flyer takes three consecutive vvaveofls. Some of the last planes to approach turn on their landing lights, then don't douse them immediately after landing, and get a vigorous bawl- ing out. A quartermaster mutters, This is the nuts for any snooping lap dive bombers I keep on photographing, make longer exposures, hope there is still enough daylight to pro- 120

Page 131 text:

.qfqf g., ,sm- i'64xnfwEi iQ SUBMARINE PATROL PLANES FL Y LOXV OVER TASK FQRCEMREMAIN UP UNTIL DARK

Page 133 text:

+i2+:'efsaa s any twig, :Vx K .pig X 1 , - --- a Q Y I, ,..,m,x. - G kv:-O 'J 1 -b ,L l -gang, 1 Q 1- ' 53.-. 37' A - Ag, ,s U ' -'13 '.. - - 99- , .,.' 1'8-1o-f-- av V Q, T xii'-Qg-. .I -g. A - L! ' ' 'A A ' .c..x'T'.- 'l'lll' l.lXS'li Pl..XXlT NIAKIIS APPROACH-LANDS duce printable images on the film. The Captain calls air control. asks how many more planes to comeg Comdr. WVorkman signals with open hantl. tive. 'lihe faces of air group commantler Snowclen and of air officer Sutherland and stall plainly register their concern. Nothing that has happened on the ship, up to this time. has seemetl as interminable as this business of getting those last tive planes home. Une after the other they Hy clown our port beam. make a long sweeping turn astern, then come up on the approach. The signal otlicer is apparently not taking chances, and unless the pilot's approach is perfect he is given a waveotl. When the last plane finally hits the tleck the Captain goes into the wheel-house, the Lex begins to swing, does a tighter turn than I have seen her tlo before. XVe use flank speed to catch up with the task group. The deck crew sails into the job of respotting the planes on the deck. Now that the Lex has caught up with the task group again the Captain relaxes. asks: How about some supperP,' In the excitement of the surprise attack by the lap torpetlo bombers at noon, I forgot about lunch. 121