Calling all Essex-class (WWII configuration) fans

[MM2CVS9]

This was common on the pre war and very early ESSEX class units. The designs called for the ability to

A- Launch aircraft over the stern while steaming in reverse. Note the hull design on some very early units had a "pointier" stern hull shape to allow for this.

B- Many photo's show the arresting gear arrangement (Essex is an example) with arresting gear and crash barriers on both the forward and stern areas of the flight deck to allow aircraft to be recovered from forward or aft.

The flight deck numerals on the bow end were often reversed so it would be read correctly for incoming aircraft. By mid war, often the flight deck had few visible markings at all, let alone numerals, as they had worn off the wood deck. Constant air operations gave little time to renew these markings. Often the markings were done in deck blue, black or dark gray, partly as they were less visible to the enemy and often because that was the only paint they had available at the time.


Like the atwartship hangar bay catapult on the early ESSEX class, These requirements were quickly determined to not be very useful and abandoned.

I do have some documentation for this. PM me if you would like further info.

EJ
Past ESSEX CVS-9 crewman

[keith hufnagel]

Yes I am aware of all the early devices and practices of Essex class carrriers. I was surprised by the pictures of Yorktown with inverted "10" for in all my research on this particular ship I had never read or seen anything stating or showing she had. I was hoping for somone to confirm the time frame of these shots. Thank you for the info.

[Tracy White]

I got nothing on an inverted 10 on Yorktown. Seen it on other ships, and seen some other oddities (Bunker Hill had a "17" on top of her #3 twin 5" mount for a time).

[MM2CVS9]

This is from the U S Navy National Museum of Naval Aviation.

Photo # 2003.143.005

CV10 - Yorktown - 1943.
Note the forward flight deck number is reversed.
15 Grumman F6F-3 Hellcats from VF-5 on deck.
Also - shows hangar deck catapult extensions.

EJ

[Tracy White]

Interesting; that's during her shakedown cruise, and other photos from the same cruise don't show that.

[MM2CVS9]

I was impressed with the quality of the photo as most of them of Yorktown in that time, at and after commissioning, seem to be of kinda poor quality or shots from the water that do not show the flight deck clearly.

EJ

[Dick J]

I wonder if the reverse direction numbers was related to the ability to land aircraft over the bow? Perhaps when that became less of an option, the numbers were realigned to match the primary direction of travel down the deck.

[MM2CVS9]

I wonder if the reverse direction numbers was related to the ability to land aircraft over the bow? Perhaps when that became less of an option, the numbers were realigned to match the primary direction of travel down the deck.

That's exactly the reason.

EJ

[keith hufnagel]

Thank you so much. That picture tells me what I wanted to know. Even about Yorktown 'there is always something' more to know.

[keith hufnagel]

Tracy, the additional photo that you posted seems to indicate the numerals were either not yet applied or removed during the period Yorktown conducted carrier qualifications for the SBC2-1 Helldiver (May 1943). I believe she went on shake-down without the numerals. In the book "Pacific Carrier" Ruben Kitchens mentions the Helldiver experience. Air Group 5, who had conducted the SB2C-1trials, came back aboard July 6 1943 and headed for Pearl. He mentioned something to do with painting numerals in preparation for the movie premier "Fighting Lady" but I'll have to dig a little deeper on that. I've always wanted to complete the paint job history of Yorktown and fill in the few blanks I still have. Thanks for the photo! Keith

[MM2CVS9]

Thank you so much. That picture tells me what I wanted to know. Even about Yorktown 'there is always something' more to know.

You're welcome.
A lot of the information I have collected comes right from the men that served. If you want to know about flight deck operations - talk to a flight deck officer that served in WWII. The Essex Assn still has a number of "Plank Owners" among our members as well as those that came aboard after commissioning. At the annual reunion, I try to collect as much information as I can, as the WWII generation is going fast. There is nothing more facinating to me than sitting with a 90 year old LSO, Boilerman or Aviationman and hear his first account stories. It is very difficult to document some of this stuff with photos or written accounts, but many times, the relatives of deceased ESSEX-men will pass along the personal photo albums and diaries of their parents to the association, so our history of ESSEX continues to grow, as well as the stuff collected in our "memorabalia room". I'm sure other ship's associations do the same.

EJ

[keith hufnagel]

You are absolutely correct for I spent an enjoyable afternoon at the 2005 Nats with a Marine who was on a 20MM battery in Yorktown during the last 2 years of the war. He showed me his gun and went on and on. I was in heaven. However I was also amazed at how appreciative he was when he saw my model of his old ship. He said it was like seeing his old home. (actually he said 'girlfriend'). First hand knowledge is the best. Thanks again, Keith

[Tracy White]

I am 90% certain this is CV-16 Lexington:
http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l? ... s%3Disch:1

Appears to be her forward starboard replenishment station, where the hangar deck catapult was on the earlier ships. The grated structure is a platform that could be lowered during operations to make the job easier. I've seen drop tanks stored on the catwalks before, but this is the first time I've seen photos showing a semi-permanent storage set up in this area.

[USN_Matt]

Starting a new conversation! also new to the forums

I am currently building a 1/700 Uss Yorktown CV-10 from what she looked like in 1944 .

Can anyone show me or tell me what the camo is supposed to look like underneath the flight deck? I haven't been able to find any picture or anything describing it.

[Tracy White]

Welcome aboard! Yorktown had two paint schemes in 1944, and I'm not sure which one you're planning on doing; but the January through May Measure 21 would have seen the same 5-N Navy Blue as the rest of the hull.

The Measure 33 / 10a usually called for counter shading underneath to help eliminate shadows (essentially white paint) but the photos I've seen of the island look like they carried the camouflage into the overhangs:

http://www.navsource.org/archives/02/021050.jpg

[EJM]

Quick question I've got: On average, How many arresting wires did an Essex carrier have for catching aircraft? I've read and/or seen pics of various numbers from 6 to 9? Were they all located near the back area of the flight deck? Or were there some placed in the middle of the flight deck area amidships?

[Cliffy B]

Quick question I've got: On average, How many arresting wires did an Essex carrier have for catching aircraft? I've read and/or seen pics of various numbers from 6 to 9? Were they all located near the back area of the flight deck? Or were there some placed in the middle of the flight deck area amidships?

Depends on the time frame but during WWII CV-10 in 1944 had around 17 wires along with 2-4 crash barriers all on the after part of the deck. They originally had wires throughout the length of the deck for over the bow landings but most lost those after a short while. Not sure if the simply removed them or moved them astern though.

Postwar they were drastically reduced until the standard 4 by the last parts of their careers. When they finally got angled decks I seem to recall some started out with 6 but were quickly reduced to 4.

Hope that helps!

[Tracy White]

Cliffy's sort of correct; when the forward lines were removed, they were just removed, and not moved back. Number depends on ship and year.

[USN_Matt]

Yes she is going to be in her Measure 33/10a scheme.

I shall do more research to find if the camouflage is carried underneath the flight deck as well

[USN_Matt]

I am currently building the Uss Yorktown CV-10 in her measure 33/10a scheme. I was wondering, does the camo continue on underneath the flight deck? I haven't found much infortmation on it and I am nearing completion.

Thank you.