by Fliger747 » Sun Apr 18, 2021 9:11 pm
One of your photos above shows a Grumman "Duck" amphibious observation plane parked on Hornet's deck. An unusual aircraft in that it was a true amphibian and could operate off of land or water, and astonishingly was fitted with a tail hook as well! I'd guess she was being ferried somewhere for a cruiser, Marblehead operated them during the war in her Atlantic operations.
The Seafire was indeed a comely aircraft, which kept it's development right through the long war. The Spit family being amongst the best looking warplanes of the era. As a deck lander, perhaps not so much of a success. During one of the amphibious landings off the West coast of Italy the escort carriers lost fully 50% of them due to deck crashes the first day.
The 1.1 photo (very interesting) would have been from John Ford's film group, as JF was actually on Midway Island during the battle. Naval History and Heritage has a good recollection of the battle by him
https://www.history.navy.mil/research/l ... idway.html
Lovely continuing work! Tom
One of your photos above shows a Grumman "Duck" amphibious observation plane parked on Hornet's deck. An unusual aircraft in that it was a true amphibian and could operate off of land or water, and astonishingly was fitted with a tail hook as well! I'd guess she was being ferried somewhere for a cruiser, Marblehead operated them during the war in her Atlantic operations.
The Seafire was indeed a comely aircraft, which kept it's development right through the long war. The Spit family being amongst the best looking warplanes of the era. As a deck lander, perhaps not so much of a success. During one of the amphibious landings off the West coast of Italy the escort carriers lost fully 50% of them due to deck crashes the first day.
The 1.1 photo (very interesting) would have been from John Ford's film group, as JF was actually on Midway Island during the battle. Naval History and Heritage has a good recollection of the battle by him
https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/oral-histories/wwii/battle-of-midway/john-ford-remembers-filming-battle-of-midway.html
Lovely continuing work! Tom