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Post by svenfromsweden on Apr 23, 2016 8:57:50 GMT -5
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Post by volkssturm on Apr 26, 2016 12:43:12 GMT -5
I suspect these are photos of P-40's being transported by the Navy. It was a not uncommon practice to ship fighters on carriers and fly them off to land at newly captured or constructed airfields. The island of Malta was reinforced with Spitfires flown off carriers. I think they did it for the invasion of North Africa as well. Escort carriers, like the one in the photo, were often used for this. The advantage of doing this was the fighters arrived ready to go to work. They had to be partially disassembled if they were sent by freighter.
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Post by volkssturm on Apr 26, 2016 15:11:26 GMT -5
I think I found where these pics came from. This was the 33rd Fighter Group in the Operation Torch landings near Casablanca. www.ww2incolor.com/us-air-force/USSChenango33FG.html"Description Launching of the USS Chenango(CVE-28), The picture is of the 33rd FG taking off from the Chenango as it was off of Casablanca on November 10th, 1942. This is most likely a plane from the 60th FS since they were the first off of the carrier. They landed at Port Lyautey. The take offs were halted due to damaged runways and resumed the next day.(rudeerude)" The giveaway was the American flag painted on the fuselage. I don't think I've ever seen that in other pictures. But in North Africa they made a point of displaying the US flag in hopes that the Vichy French wouldn't be inclined to fight us.
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Apr 26, 2016 17:50:58 GMT -5
The paint schemes and insignia are definitely NOT naval. Only one of the pictures shows an aircraft equipped with a tailhook indicating it was equipped to perform a carrier landing. I agree with Volksstrum that these were Army AirCorp, land based aircraft heading for airfields in support of the Torch landings in North Africa.
The P40 was still in widespread use at that time.
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Post by volkssturm on Apr 26, 2016 19:50:27 GMT -5
I don't think that's a tailhook. Pics 1,7, 15, and 16 show something behind the tail wheel, but the planes are on the catapult. Not sure what it is, but I suspect it has something to do with the catapult. Maybe to help keep the plane pointed straight again.
Interesting pics, though. Must have been a real sphincter tightening experience for an Army pilot to catapult launch from an escort carrier.
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Apr 26, 2016 21:09:25 GMT -5
"It is said that the three most exhilarating experience in life are landing on the deck of an aircraft carrier, an orgasim and a good healthy dump. A night carrier landing in choppy seas on a moonless night is your best chance to experience all three simultaneously.". This quote was written on the bulkhead outside the flight briefing room on the USS Oriskany during the Vietnam War.
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