Calling all USS Enterprise CV-6 fans

[Michael Vorrasi]

HELP!
I have been reading through this long post without finding what I need. I still hope some of your might know what I need

I am flying an WWII airsim in which we can fly and make campaigns. Right now I am trying to recreate a historical reinactment of the US navys raid on Wake at the 24 of February 1942.
I am trying to find prof of use of IFFF (Identiication Friend or Foe).

I know that the the CXAM-1 experimental radar system was installed in USS Enterprise CV-6. Date unknown but installation of the CXAM started in october 1940. From that I extrapolate that it was installed by february 1942.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CXAM_RADAR)


What I need to know is if the USN aircraft onboard of Enterprise CV-6 had IFF!?

I know that US Navy had an I.F.F. named ABK (US Army name SCR 595) at the time, but was an IFF build into Enterprise's aircraft!?

The Enterprise had a CXAM-1, which was the production unit, not experimental (a bit of semantics as all radar at that time was more or less experimental). Enterprise had her CXAM-1 installed at least as early as November 1941, as the Life photo series taken then show it clearly. It might have been installed as early as June 1941, but the copy of photo K-14254 I have is just too fuzzy to say for sure. It was not there in spring 1941 as we have the Dive Bomber movie photos to confirm this. Note that there was a CXAM and a CXAM-1 set. CXAM (no-1) was the pre-production series. The CXAM had a lighter bed spring and sat in a frame that allowed tilting. CXAM-1 was a heavier bed spring and was at a fixed vertical angle, it could not be tilted. Six CXAM sets were made, and CV-5 and later CV-8 had one installed - in Hornet's case right after Midway. It came from donor battleship California, then laid up for repairs. I believe that IFF systems were in place on all US carriers and combat aircraft by early 1942. The Santa Cruz action report merely makes mention of the fact that the FD fire control radar could not pick it up. OTHER systems could pick it up, namely CXAM and CXAM-1, SC and SA series radars. The report merely mentions that the 5 inch gun controllers had a problem in that the FD radar that they used for fire control could not, at that point, pick the IFF equipped planes out. But the search sets could. Most likely, in early 1942, it was the IFF Mark II transponder, ABD or ABE (aka SCR 535 in Army parlance). The CXAM and SC radars in use at that time had responsors that could interrogate ABE, ABD Mk II. Check this page out:http://www.history.navy.mil/library/online/radar-13.htm

[Jimmy Conway]

I have some question please to all USS Enterprise Cv-6 fans, what are these 2 raised panels: windscreen protection or crash-barriers?

This is wonderful model of Jeroen Zuiderduin .





Thank you very much: Jimmy

[Devin]

Windscreens, to break up the wind flowing over the flight deck and tied-down aircraft.

[Jimmy Conway]

Hi Devin, thank you very much.

[Tracy White]

Often referred to as Palisades.

[Devin]

Thanks, Tracy. I couldn't remember that name.

[rtwpsom2]

If you watch this video at around the 1:28 point you can see the palisades in use on the Saratoga. They were erected to block the wind in order to prepare a relatively light biplane to be readied for launch then lowered to allow it to launch.

[pbudzik]

What portholes in the hull were eliminated by late '42. Is is just the lower original portholes or were there others. I can not seem to find any clear photos.

Paul

[Michael Vorrasi]

What portholes in the hull were eliminated by late '42. Is is just the lower original portholes or were there others. I can not seem to find any clear photos.

Paul

All portholes below the hangar deck level were plated over. This was prompted after Midway, when Yorktown's list was nearly to the hangar deck and it was realized that portholes even that high could compromise survivability. Yorktown and Enterprise had two decks full of portholes below hangar deck level pre-war. Most of their portholes below hangar deck level were plated over before hostilities, reducing the portholes to be similar to what Hornet was completed with. Some remained amidships one deck below hangar level on all three ships. Enterprise and Hornet had all remaining portholes below the hangar deck plated over with circular plates in their post-Midway refits. Photos of Enterprise returning from Eastern Solomons and Hornet at Santa Cruz clearly show the round plug plates.

[pbudzik]

Thanks Mike

[Spacecraftfilms]

Was the tape made by parking a video camera in front of the flat bed film projector and was it a professional grade or consumer grade camera or was it done from the floor reference tape on the dubbing deck?

This is from some time ago, but I just ran across it.

FYI - all of the Aircraft Films DVDs were created by getting the PRESERVATION copy out of the archives and having one of the approved archives labs do a film to tape transfer on a telecine. In this case Bono Film and Video. Nothing we ever did was from the reference copies. Those are in terrible shape with no controls over color or resolution.

If you have any other questions about any of the video, let me know.

[pbudzik]

Hypothetical small launch:

I do not want to put a full air group on the flight deck. So maybe 4 - 6 of the types that were operational during time period from Santa Cruz - Feb 43 (F4F, SBD, TBF) What would seem "logical" and how would they be spotted?

Paul

[Michael Vorrasi]

Hypothetical small launch:

I do not want to put a full air group on the flight deck. So maybe 4 - 6 of the types that were operational during time period from Santa Cruz - Feb 43 (F4F, SBD, TBF) What would seem "logical" and how would they be spotted?

Paul

Hi Paul,
No hard and fast rule would apply. If the ship was not cocked and locked with a strike deck load, she would be conducting normal air ops, which would include periodic launches of F4F's of the CAP, cycling for refueling and pilot rotation throughout the day, and the inner CAP comprised of SBD's (and occasionally TBF's) for anti-sub patrols at low level. She would also be launching periodic air searches for some distance out around the Task Force comprised of scouting SBD's. All these would be launching and recovering in small groups throughout the day. The only logic would be takeoff or landing spotting, but not both at the same time.

[pbudzik]

Thanks Mike, I guess that leaves it pretty open.

[john53]

I picked up the Revell 1/1200 Enterprise, repopped by ROG. I haven't done an aircraft carrier in at least 20 plus years.
I am guessing that from the box art it is in 1944 dazzle scheme. What I am puzzled about is the aircraft. What are they
suppose to represent? I am guessing either a Dauntless or Avenger? They definitely are not Wildcats , Hellcats, or Devastators.
I also am not sure of the decals. Would the yellow 6 be on the deck with the dazzle scheme? I want to fix the aircraft up a bit.
I can find pictures of the Avenger with folded wings but none of the Dauntless with wings folded, or didn't they?---Thanks---John

[Elvis965]

Would the yellow 6 be on the deck with the dazzle scheme? I want to fix the aircraft up a bit.
I can find pictures of the Avenger with folded wings but none of the Dauntless with wings folded, or didn't they?

I'm not sure about the aircraft she carried when she wore dazzle, but the 6 on the flight deck would be black, not yellow, and Dauntless wings did not fold.

Bob

[Rich Mathsen]

ENTERPRISE had Air Group 20 embarked between August and November 1944, when she wore dazzle paint. The aircraft were F6F-5 in gloss sea blue and TBF-1C and SB2C-3 in tri-color. SHe also carried a detachment of 4 F6F-3N night fighters from VF(N)-78, which were later incorporated into VF-20. All aircraft carried a white equilateral triangle on the vertical stabilizer as an air group identifier. (But I wouldn't want to attempt that level of detail in the super-braille scale of 1/1200, LOL!)

Regards,
Rich

[Guest]

Thanks for the information. The planes that come with the kit look more like Dauntless
or Avengers which were on board October 1942 to May 1943. I guess I will change to
measure 11 scheme for that time frame. What would be the color for the aircraft during
Santa Cruz or Guadalcanal?---Thanks---John

[Tracy White]

Be careful; Enterprise probably had the Measure 11 that was with Navy Blue and not Sea Blue.

[Rich Mathsen]

Tracy's probably right about the nvy blue version of Ms 11. For the late 1942 to August 1944 time frame, Ms 21, which is definitely navy blue 5-N, was used by CV-6. During the late 1942 time frame, carrier aircraft were painted in the blue-gray over light gray scheme, with national insignia (white star in blue circle) in six positions; top and bottom of both wings and on the sides of the aft fuselage. By the way, the SBD and TBF were also flown with Air Group 10 in their second tour aboard the Big E following her big refit at Bremerton. They were aboard from January through June of 1944, including raids on Truk, Marshall Islands invasion and the Phillipine Sea battle. Their aircraft were in the tri-color scheme, by the way. Hope that helps.

Regards,
Rich