Wed Nov 22, 2006 2:29 pm
Yes, different aircraft, but from same group and same carrier. The one you originally posted is 28 and that one is 29 (paint on the wheel hub)
Wed Nov 22, 2006 2:31 pm
Ooh, this is good! Time for a little trivia:
How many times did Army fighter squadrons fly off of carriers in the Pacific?
(Yes, I know the answer; Doolittle raid didn't include fighters; Operation Torch was in the Mediterranean)
Answers later this afternoon...happy hunting!
How many times did Army fighter squadrons fly off of carriers in the Pacific?
(Yes, I know the answer; Doolittle raid didn't include fighters; Operation Torch was in the Mediterranean)
Answers later this afternoon...happy hunting!
Wed Nov 22, 2006 3:22 pm
it's been several years, and I was just a highly impressionable child at the time, but I seem to remember the pilot of the CAF's P-47N pointing out a mounting hole on the gear legs that he said was for a cat lead. He told us that that plane had been built with the invasion of Japan in mind, and was supposed to be shot off the carrier to a captured field durin Operation Olympic. I believe that's the plane in the Cavanaugh flight museum now. This was back in the 80's when he told us that, and my memory is kinda fuzzy. This was the first warbird I was around close at start up for, and I still can't get enough round engine sounds(or oil)!
Wed Nov 22, 2006 3:37 pm
I'm going to take a wild stab at the question of the number of times Army Air Force Fighter Launched off carriers in the Pacific.
Since I am still at work, this is a total guess, but I'm going to say 6 times. That includes some P-51's I believe.
Jerry
Since I am still at work, this is a total guess, but I'm going to say 6 times. That includes some P-51's I believe.
Jerry
Wed Nov 22, 2006 3:46 pm
I thought they might have hooked the CAT to the pilots gonads! 
PBS Warplanes just did an episode on the JUG and covered this. Pretty cool stuff.
PBS Warplanes just did an episode on the JUG and covered this. Pretty cool stuff.
???
Wed Nov 22, 2006 4:30 pm
but I'm going to say 6 times. That includes some P-51's I believe.
No P-51s.
Here's a hint P-39s, P-40s & P-47s.
and another central pacific & the Solomans.
Re: ???
Wed Nov 22, 2006 4:56 pm
Jack Cook wrote:Not true at all. Catapults (hydraulic) were very much in use during WWII and in this photo! In fact the first US carrier was equipted with one around 1936. All carriers in the Essex class and the Enterprise and first
Hornet and Yorktown all had 3 cats. 2 on the forward flight deck and one on the hanger deck.
Jets needed a more powerful shot and with the advent of the steam catapult this was achieved.
I knew that, it must be a brain fart anticipating a fine turkey dinner. Sorry.
Re: ???
Wed Nov 22, 2006 4:57 pm
Jack Cook wrote:but I'm going to say 6 times. That includes some P-51's I believe.
No P-51s.
Here's a hint P-39s, P-40s & P-47s.
and another central pacific & the Solomans.
There were also L-5's in there.
Wed Nov 22, 2006 5:50 pm
Brain fart #2, Skymstr...the quiz is fighters only!
I can't keep you guys from the stuffing and cranberry sauce any longer. Here's what I've got:
February, 1941: Curtiss P-36's delivered to Hawaii from San Diego
June, 1942: P-40's of the 73rd FS to Midway
December, 1943: P-39's of the 45th FS to Canton
December, 1943: P-39's of the 72nd FS to Makin
June, 1944: P-47's of 19th FS to Saipan
June, 1944: P-47's of 73rd FS (again!) to Saipan
June, 1944: P-47's of 333rd FS to Saipan
I'm taking somebody else's word for it, but apparently the P-39 launch to Makin was also via catapult. Anybody out there have photos??
I can't keep you guys from the stuffing and cranberry sauce any longer. Here's what I've got:
February, 1941: Curtiss P-36's delivered to Hawaii from San Diego
June, 1942: P-40's of the 73rd FS to Midway
December, 1943: P-39's of the 45th FS to Canton
December, 1943: P-39's of the 72nd FS to Makin
June, 1944: P-47's of 19th FS to Saipan
June, 1944: P-47's of 73rd FS (again!) to Saipan
June, 1944: P-47's of 333rd FS to Saipan
I'm taking somebody else's word for it, but apparently the P-39 launch to Makin was also via catapult. Anybody out there have photos??
Wed Nov 22, 2006 6:12 pm
Fascinating pic!
Wed Nov 22, 2006 6:15 pm
The F-4 Phantom also used a "yoke" similar to this - but it attached to hard points near the leading edge of the wings as oppossed to direct to the landing gear.
Tom P
Tom P
???
Wed Nov 22, 2006 6:22 pm
You missed one Dan.
Early Dec. 1942 6 P-40F Warhawks of the 44th FS launched off the USS Nassau
and flew to Bauser Field on Efate. The squadron soon after went up to Guadalcanal. The pilots were Capt Sam Hitchcock, Capt Ken Taylor, Capt Homer Forsyth, Lt Bob Westbrook, Capt Al Johnson & Capt John Little. 3 of these P-40Fs crashed on Erromanga a week later or so. One of them s/n 41-14112 is being restored to flying condition by judy Pay.
Capt Ken Taylor launches from the jeep carrier Nassau.
Early Dec. 1942 6 P-40F Warhawks of the 44th FS launched off the USS Nassau
and flew to Bauser Field on Efate. The squadron soon after went up to Guadalcanal. The pilots were Capt Sam Hitchcock, Capt Ken Taylor, Capt Homer Forsyth, Lt Bob Westbrook, Capt Al Johnson & Capt John Little. 3 of these P-40Fs crashed on Erromanga a week later or so. One of them s/n 41-14112 is being restored to flying condition by judy Pay.
Capt Ken Taylor launches from the jeep carrier Nassau.
Wed Nov 22, 2006 7:02 pm
The immortal Jack Cook says I only missed ONE? Yippee! 
Wed Nov 22, 2006 7:10 pm
since usaaf aircraft landing gear wasn't built for the stresses of a cat launch as navy planes were, i'm surprised some of them didn't lose structural integrity upon wherever they were landing!!!
Thu Nov 23, 2006 1:17 am
Is that Gary Coleman flying that thing, or is the T-bolt a heck of a lot bigger than I remember?