TBF Ready To Trap
Thu Aug 14, 2008 8:44 pm
The CVE's deck looks a bit on the small side
Sat Aug 16, 2008 2:15 am
maybe, but those true heros operated TBM's off those postage stamps in vertical seas in the Atlantic for a long time, my hat is off to them for A) finding that cute little potato (no e) chip in a blender, then B)deciding 'hey, why not" Brave dudes!! as were the sailors on those tubs-
Sat Aug 16, 2008 2:24 am
The Inspector wrote:maybe, but those true heros operated TBM's off those postage stamps in vertical seas in the Atlantic for a long time, my hat is off to them for A) finding that cute little potato (no e) chip in a blender, then B)deciding 'hey, why not" Brave dudes!! as were the sailors on those tubs-
Yup. Amazing. Oh, btw - the Royal Navy and the Royal Netherlands Navy chose to do the same job with open cockpit Swordfish off of even smaller 'carriers' - some American built - in the Atlantic. Escort carriers and MAC Ships - Merchant Aircraft Carriers.
The Dutch land on - note radar could be fitted, but not a canopy.
MV Empire MacKendrick
There are few limits to courage.
Sat Aug 16, 2008 11:59 am
OK, who's going to post a photo of the RN launching a Sopwith off of a barge? And who's gonna top that with a photo of one of the 'car top' airshow routines? Ely off the Pennsylvanias turret? THe CONVAIR XFY vertifighter concept?
Lets get small----
Lets get small----
Sat Aug 16, 2008 9:46 pm
That's the USS Marcus Island in the picture (CVE-77). She was one of the carriers in Taffy 2, which assisted in the defense of Taffy 3 in the Battle Off Samar. One of her TBMs scored a torpedo hit on a Japanese heavy cruiser, most likely the Chikuma . Other planes from her airgroup strafed battleships and scored multiple bomb hits on another cruiser.
The two airgroups that were embarked on Marcus Island were VC-21, from 7/1/44 to 2/6/45 and VC-87, 2/14/45 - VJ day. I'm not familiar enough with the markings to know which group (if this TBM was actually from Marcus Island) came from.
The two airgroups that were embarked on Marcus Island were VC-21, from 7/1/44 to 2/6/45 and VC-87, 2/14/45 - VJ day. I'm not familiar enough with the markings to know which group (if this TBM was actually from Marcus Island) came from.
Sat Aug 16, 2008 9:56 pm
The Inspector wrote:OK, who's going to post a photo of the RN launching a Sopwith off of a barge?
Good idea - Don't have a lighter-launch photo, but how's about these?
http://www.navy.gov.au/spc/history/avia ... camel.html
Incidentally, some guys just didn't re-find their launch ships. Lost at sea. What a way to go.
Apologies for the thread drift.
Sun Aug 17, 2008 12:43 am
..and were earlier versions of the guys who flew the HURRICATS