USS Balsawood

[Duggy009]

What I have so far
In 1950, the Navy contracted a Delaware firm to conduct flight tests and sea trials of an SNJ and a Piper PA-11 equipped with water skis (later called hydroskis). The purpose was to make it possible to take off from and land on a 120-foot-long raft made of balsa (dubbed the U.S.S. Balsawood). Although not necessarily practical, the tests were successful.
Below taken in the Chesapeake Bay the aircraft were from "All American Airways" ??






Does anyone know why ??

Thanks in advance.
Regards Duggy.

[JohnB]

Wild guess, as a temp airstrip for use in the Pacific. Might come in handy until the SeaBees could do their thing....a bit like the Brodie system for the L-Birds.

[Chris Brame]

Although not necessarily practical, the tests were successful.

In other words, to invert Bob Diemert's famous quote: It wasn't a good idea, but it worked!