Category:

Carriers

F 14 Last Cruise

On VF-31 Tomcatters F-14Ds for a 7-hour mission

by Till Daisd May 10, 2023

written by Till Daisd

The USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) aircraft carrier saw the F-14Ds from VF-31, the Tomcatters, and VF-213, the Black Lions, embark for the “last cruise” of the legendary Tomcat in support of OIF

The amusing video in this article, which was shot during the F-14 Tomcat’s final cruise, allows you to fly with the VF-31 Tomcatters aircrews on their F-14Ds during a 7-hour mission over Mosul, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).

During the “last cruise” of the legendary Tomcat, F-14Ds from VF-31, the Tomcatters, and VF-213, the Black Lions, boarded the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) for a Med/Gulf Deployment in support of OIR. This deployment lasted from September 1, 2005, to March 11, 2006.

ROVER (Remotely Operated Video Enhanced Receiver) III downlink was added to the F-14Ds of VF-31 and VF-213 on December 10, 2005, allowing them to send photos to ground Forward Air Controllers (FAC).

The last combat mission carried out by a US Navy Tomcat was finished on February 8, 2006, as we have previously reported. VF-213 Black Lions F-14D piloted by Commander William G. Sizemore II of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8 while wearing “modex 204.” The last pilot to ever drop a bomb from an F-14 Tomcat was Bill Frank, a VF-31 Tomcatters pilot who also took part in the final mission.

Together, VF-31 and VF-213 flew 1,163 combat sorties totaling 6,876 flight hours during their final deployment aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt. They also dropped 9,500 lb (4,300 kg) of ammunition during missions for close air support (CAS), surveillance, and reconnaissance.

On July 28, 2006, the USS Theodore Roosevelt launched an F-14D from VF-31 for the final time. On March 10, 2006, the VF-31 Tomcatters and VF-213 Black Lions, the final two F-14 squadrons, held their final fly-in at Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana.

Photo by video screenshot

May 10, 2023 0 comment

“VAQ-130 Zappers Cruise 2016”, the best Growler video ever

by Till Daisd April 19, 2023

written by Till Daisd

The oldest U.S. Navy electronic attack squadron, VAQ-130 Zappers, flies the EA-18G Growler

Called “VAQ-130 Zappers Cruise 2016,” the following cool video is probably the best EA-18G Growler footage you have ever seen so far.

The clip contains six chapters and was recorded during the unit’s most recent deployment as a component of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (Ike) in support of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR).

– Intro/History of the Zappers
– OIR/Welcome to Ready One
– Rocky
– Continuous Thunder
– Holidays/Coming Home
– End Credits

The United States Navy’s Electronic Attack Squadron 130 (VAQ-130), popularly referred to as the “Zappers,” is an EA-18G Growler squadron stationed at Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island. The oldest electronic attack squadron in the US Navy is VAQ-130.

The combat-tested F/A-18F Super Hornet is available in an airborne electronic attack derivative called the EA-18G Growler, as we’ve already mentioned.

The aircraft can carry out a variety of tasks thanks to its cutting-edge sensors and weapons, such as Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD), Stand-off and Escort Jamming (where the Growler not only flies the conventional stand-off jamming mission but also provides the escort for other air assets thanks to the speed and agility inherited from the Super Hornet), and Non-Traditional Electronic Attack (the EA-18G can carry out this task where thanks to its Advanced Electronically Scanned Array [AESA] radar, digital data links, and air-to-air missiles, the EA-18G has self-protection capability and is also highly effective for target identification and prosecution).

Source: U.S. Navy; Photo from video screenshot

April 19, 2023 0 comment

A video celebrates the U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft

by Till Daisd March 4, 2023

written by Till Daisd

Growler Ball 2016 presents an account of the EA-18G crews’ intense flight activity in the United States Navy.

Growler Ball 2016 is being held by the EA-18G Growlers of the Pacific Northwest.

This post’s video compilation includes the most sierra hotel footage of Pacific Northwest Growlers in action from across the fleet. Even though the video is only a few minutes long, Growler Ball 2016 provides a picture of the US Navy EA-18G crew’s hectic flying activity, from night traps aboard the carrier to air-to-air refuelings from USAF KC-10 Extender tankers.

The EA-18G Growler is a combat-proven derivative of the F/A-18F Super Hornet that performs airborne electronic attack missions. The aircraft can perform a wide range of missions thanks to its array of sensors and weapons, including Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD), Stand-off and Escort Jamming (where the Growler not only performs the traditional stand-off jamming mission but also serves as an escort for other air assets thanks to the speed and agility inherited from the Super Hornet), Non-Traditional Electronic Attack (where the EA-18G achieves an unmatched level of situational integration with ground operations (where thanks to its Advanced Electronically Scanned Array [AESA] radar, digital data links, and air-to-air missiles, the EA-18G has self-protection capability and is also highly effective for target identification and prosecution).

March 4, 2023 0 comment

USS Ronald Reagan

Pics of the USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group sailing off the coast of Korea demonstrate why you should never mess with a US Navy aircraft carrier

by Till Daisd February 13, 2023

written by Till Daisd

The USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group’s presence in the waters off the Korean Peninsula is enough to dissuade North Korea or any other unfriendly country in the area from acting aggressively

During Exercise Invincible Spirit on October 14, 2016, in the waters east of the Korean Peninsula, the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) steams in formation with ships from Carrier Strike Group Five (CSG 5) and the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN). The USS Ronald Reagan is the only forward-deployed aircraft carrier in the US Navy. It is based in Yokosuka, Japan.

It’s worth noting that the combat planes of Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5) operate from the aircraft carrier’s deck. Strike Fighter Squadron 102 is part of CVW-5 (VFA-102) The F/A-18F Super Hornet, VFA-27, is flown by the “Diamondbacks.” The F/A-18E Super Hornet, VFA-115, is flown by “Royal Maces.” The F/A-18E Super Hornet, VFA-195, is flown by “Eagles.” Electronic Attack Squadron 141’s “Dambusters” fly the F/A-18E Super Hornet (VAQ-141) Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 115’s “Shadowhawks” fly the EA-18G Growler (VAW-115) Fleet Logistic Support Squadron 30’s “Liberty Bells” fly the E-2C Hawkeye (VRC-30) Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 12’s “Providers” Detachment 5, operating the C-2 Greyhound (HSC-12) Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 77 and the “Golden Falcons” operating the MH-60S Seahawk (HSM-77) The MH-60R Seahawk is flown by “Saberhawks.”

CVN-76

There is no doubt that the presence of the USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group in the waters surrounding the Korean Peninsula, combined with the tremendous capabilities provided by the wide variety of combat aircraft from CVW-5, is enough to deter any aggressive behavior from North Korea or any other hostile nation in the area.

Ex. Invincible Spirit

Invincible Spirit is a bilateral exercise performed with the ROKN in the waters around the Korean Peninsula with the Republic of Korea Navy, consisting of routine operations in support of maritime counter-special operations troops and integrated maritime operations. Ronald Reagan is on patrol with CSG 5 in support of Indo-Asian-Pacific security and stability.

CSG-5

Photo by Seaman Jamaal Liddell and Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathan Burke / U.S. Navy

February 13, 2023 0 comment

Phantom HMS Eagle 1170x585 1

Old footage shows Royal Navy Phantom fighter jets conducting trials aboard HMS Eagle aircraft carrier

by Till Daisd February 13, 2023

written by Till Daisd

The Eagle was chosen to test the then-new supersonic Phantom, which was already armed with subsonic De Havilland Sea Vixen all-weather fighters and Blackburn Buccaneer low-level strike aircraft

The following breathtaking vintage clip was shot aboard the HMS Eagle (R05) in 1969 and depicts McDonnell Douglas Phantom FG.Mk 1s conducting trials prior to entering operational service with the Fleet Air Arm (FAA).

The Eagle was chosen to test the then-new supersonic Phantom, which was chosen by the Royal Navy in 1964 to meet the requirement for a new generation of fighter aircraft to serve aboard its carriers. The Eagle was already outfitted with subsonic De Havilland Sea Vixen all-weather fighters and Blackburn Buccaneer low-level strike aircraft. The FAA model of the legendary F-4 needed a telescoping nose wheel oleo, as seen in the video, to enhance the angle of attack during takeoff from the cramped decks of British flattops.

The HMS Ark Royal (R09), not the Eagle, was ultimately chosen to fly the Phantoms of 892 Squadron, the only operational FAA unit to fly the Phantom FG.Mk 1 after extensive trials were completed aboard from March to June 1969.

Notable changes were an 8° inclined deck, new, more powerful steam catapults, and heavy-weight arrestor gear on both carriers to accommodate the new jets. The real reason the Ark Royal was preferred to the Eagle was never made public. The latter was not only a more dependable vessel with a hull in better shape than the Ark Royal, but it was also a more contemporary aircraft carrier equipped with cutting-edge sensors that were installed during the 1964 refit.

February 13, 2023 0 comment

The story of how a U.S. Navy F9F Panther scored the first true air-to-air victory in a jet-vs-jet battle

by Till Daisd February 13, 2023

written by Till Daisd

When Lt. Cdr. Amen downed Grachev’s MiG-15, he made aviation history because he was the first pilot to win an all-jet dogfight.

For both sides of a war, the Korean War, which raged for three years from June 25, 1950, to July 27, 1953, witnessed the first significant use of fighter aircraft powered by jet engines.

These aircraft raised the speed and lethality of air combat. Compared to the previous piston engines, the jet engines delivered significantly better performance, including higher top speeds, cruise speeds that were twice as fast, higher ceilings, and sustained climb rates. In addition to the United States and its allies, North Korea and China also used fighter jets during the Korean War. Eventually, some of these aircraft were flown by Russian pilots.

On November 8, 1950, a U.S. Air Force F-80C from the 16th Fighter Squadron came into contact with a MiG-15 while attacking the Sinuiju bridges near the mouth of the Yalu River. This was the first time that fighter planes engaged in air-to-air combat. The Shooting Star’s 1st Lt. Russel Brown won the subsequent duel, making history as the first jet-to-jet fighter to accomplish it. Despite this, it was later found that his Russian opponent had safely returned to base, according to Barrett Tilman and Henk van der Lugt’s story in VF-11/111 Sundowners.

The first jet-vs-jet victory in history, however, wasn’t far off because it was achieved the next day by Lt. Cdr. William T. Amen, the commander of VF-111 Sundowners while a second assault on the Sinuiju bridges was undertaken on November 9, 1950, this time by U.S. Navy aircraft launched from the aircraft carrier USS Philippine Sea (CV-47).

Capt. Mikhail Grachev led the 1st Squadron into combat as the MiG-15s from the 139th GvIAP (Guards Fighter Air Regiment), which were in charge of defending the Sinuiju bridges, were scrambled to intercept the American attack aircraft. The action turned into a dogfight in and out of the clouds as the MiGs approached the American aircraft, attacking before Corsair and Skyraider fighter bombers.

mig-15

Amen, who was flying the Leading Flying Target CAP (Combat Air Patrol) mission in a VF-112 Grumman F9F-2B Panther (the VF-112 was the VF-111 sister squadron aboard the Philippine Sea, and it was not uncommon for maintenance reasons that the two Panther squadrons on the same ship fly each other’s aircraft interchangeably.), noticed a closing unknown aircraft while checking his tail in the middle of the furball. He turned his VF-111 section immediately in the direction of the bogey. After performing a climb from 4,000 to 15,000 feet, the MiG, which was being piloted by Grachev, yawed in an attempt to locate the F9Fs. By doing this, Grachev gave Amen and his wingman George Holloman the opportunity to close the gap between them and start firing at his MiG, which both US pilots struck.

Amen struggled to keep up with Grachev’s vertical descent. Nevertheless, Amen was able to fire as the MiG entered his line of sight, putting more 20mm bullets into the target, despite his Panther entering buffet as it approached the terminal velocity and requiring him to counter the rudder reversal.

Both Grachev and Amen began to endure at around 3,000 feet, with the latter being able to reclaim his Panther at just 200 feet. Amen lost sight of the MiG during this heavy G maneuver, but Holloman saw it collide with a hillside and explode in a massive flame, leaving Mikhail Grachev with no hope of surviving.

After the battle, the Russians thought they had shot down at least five or six American planes, however, none of them were lost, due to the 139th GvIAP’s unreliable flying.

Instead, Amen became the first air-to-air winner in an all-jets dogfight when he downed Grachev’s MiG-15, making aviation history.

Remarkably, the Sundowners were renamed VFC-111 in 2007, with VFC standing for Fighter Composite Squadron. Since that time, they flew the Northrop F-5N Tiger II and provided Dissimilar Air Combat Training (DACT) for all U.S. Navy and Marine Corps fleet replacement units. Ironically, the Sundowners fly replicating the flight characteristics of the adversary they helped defeat after downing the first MiG in the first jet vs jet battle.

f9f

Photo by U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force

February 13, 2023 0 comment

worst aircraft carriers

The worst aircraft carriers

by Till Daisd November 4, 2022

written by Till Daisd

The most complex navy vessels at sea, possibly except for submarines, are aircraft carriers. Carriers must operate a fleet of planes securely in addition to the usual issues of warships, which are frequently challenging in and of themselves.

Carriers are among the most effective and lethal of warships, despite these difficulties. Major naval countries are still building these ships today, 100 years after the first carrier designed specifically for the purpose was laid down, HMS Hermes. There have been a few CV designation blunders, as not everyone does aircraft carriers right.

The majority of these ships date back to the early days of naval aviation, before duties and missions were well defined, and when the building technology was still in its formative years. Some were perfectly good ships that were rendered awful by inadequate training, maintenance, or aircraft, while others were badly planned by late entrants into the aircraft carrier game.

Hyuga and Ise

Hyuga

Ise — Hyuga

Japan launched two new Ise class battleships during the First World War. Ise and her sister ship Hyuga each had a length of 640 feet and a weight of 29,990 tons. The two ships were each armed with twenty 5.5-inch guns, four 3-inch guns, and twelve 14-inch guns set in six turrets of two guns each.

The primary belt of steel armor on each battleship was twelve inches in height, tapering to three inches at the extremities. Up to 2.5 inches of deck armor covered the main guns, which were shielded by eight inches of armor.

Imperial Japan suffered a catastrophe in the Battle of Midway, losing four top-tier aircraft carriers that helped guide American aviation strikes. The two battleships’ transformation into battleship carriers was decided. Large battleships have been turned into aircraft carriers by both Japan and the United States, although this usually happened early in the building phase, far before the ships were finished.

Japanese officials hastily added as many aviation capabilities as they could to the two outdated battleships. The two stern main gun turrets were removed during the alteration, leaving the ships with just four turrets housing two guns apiece. A short flight deck was then built in their stead.

Each ship was built to accommodate up to 24 airplanes. The anti-aircraft armament of the ships was considerably improved, especially with anti-aircraft rockets. By the fall of 1943, the conversions were finished. The resulting “battle carriers” were disappointingly composed of a battleship and a carrier. Battleships and aircraft carriers clearly served quite distinct purposes by 1943.

Both Hyuga and Ise could contribute a small number of planes if assigned to a carrier force. They were given a battleship force, but they lacked sufficient guns to be of much use. The two ships’ meager air wings were never able to perform to their full potential because, by the time the conversions were finished, Japanese naval aviation was in a fatal spiral due to a shortage of experienced pilots, aircraft, and fuel.

Shinano

Japanese_aircraft_carrier_Shinano — Shinano

The American Lexington class was one of many early battleships and battle cruisers that were successfully converted to aircraft carriers. The transformation of Shinano, one of the biggest battleships ever, into a vessel that was somewhat similar to an aircraft carrier but not quite one, was not.

As the third ship in the renowned Yamato-class battleships, Shinano first appeared. Construction on Shinano slowed down in 1941 and into 1942 after it was put down at Yokosuka Naval Yard in May 1940. The Imperial Japanese Navy revised its strategy during the Battle of Midway and started converting Shinano into an aircraft carrier.

Navy authorities disagreed over Shinano’s final design; one side asked that she be equipped like a true aircraft carrier. With her overall length of 872 feet—50 feet longer than the Essex-class fleet carriers of the United States Navy—had she been so, she would have been the largest carrier in the entire globe.

Another group wanted Shinano to be outfitted as a support ship for other carriers, bringing fuel, ammunition, spare planes, and other supplies for Japan’s carrier fleet. Shinano wouldn’t take part in the battle and wouldn’t even have a place to keep her own aircraft.

A compromise was eventually reached in which the ship would support the rest of the carrier fleet while also transporting 47 fighters for her own defense. Design and the realities of battle doomed Shinano. She was essentially useless as a self-defense-only aircraft carrier, and her usage would have been restricted by a shortage of staff and aircraft.

She was a white elephant as an aircraft carrier support ship because there weren’t many carriers left to support her. She would have been little more than a target for American carrier-based aviation if she had traveled outside of Japan. Shinano was never given the chance to show how useless she is in battle. The USS Archerfish torpedoed her five hours after she departed Yokosuka Naval Base for sea testing. On November 29, 1944, at 10:17, she turned over and drowned.

Admiral Kuznetsov

Admiral_Kuznetsov_aircraft_carrier — Admiral Kuznetsov

Kuznetsov, the Soviet Union’s first and only real aircraft carrier completed during the Cold War, was a development of the Kiev-class carriers. At the Nikolayev Shipyard in what is now Ukraine, work on the ship started in 1981. In 1990, during the latter years of the Soviet Union, Kuznetsov was appointed, and Russia later acquired him.

Due to a lack of funding, the carrier was neglected in the early 1990s, and from 1996 to 1998 it underwent an extensive overhaul. Only six maritime patrols were undertaken by her between 1991 and 2015. As Russia’s sole carrier, Kuznetsov should be decommissioned because he is getting older, but that is unlikely to happen very soon.

The ship’s propulsion system was problematic until recently, and in 2009 an electrical system issue resulted in a fire that claimed the life of one sailor. The ship’s hangar was inadequate and in desperate need of new arresting equipment and electrical modifications. In the spring of 2018, the sole carrier of Russia entered drydock for a prolonged repair.

Most of these problems were supposed to be resolved during the three-year refit, however funding for the project was reduced in half, and numerous modifications were put on indefinite hold. When Kuznetsov was floating out in October 2018, Russia’s PD50 drydock sank, causing damage to the carrier. Russia continues to maintain that the refurbishment will be finished as planned in 2020.

Chakri Naruebet

1280px-Chakri_Naruebet_2001 — Chakri Naruebet

Although it is becoming more and more crowded, Thailand previously owned the only aircraft carrier native to East Asia (apart from the 7th Fleet). The HTMS Chakri Naruebet is a typical light carrier and a versatile platform for duties ranging from maritime law enforcement to disaster assistance.

Budget cuts and a shortage of replacement components have made this once-powerful naval weapon into a mere shell of its former self. The Thai royal dynasty was honored in the name of Chakri Naruebet. The design was based on the carrier of the Spanish Navy and was built by Spain’s Bazan Shipyards.

Principe de Asturias

SNS_Principe_de_Asturias_R11_during_Dragon_Hammer_92 — Principe de Asturias

The Thai carrier, which is 597 feet long and can carry 11,400 tons, was put into service in 1997. Nine Harrier jets with vertical takeoff and landing capability were initially installed on her, however, they are no longer operational because of a lack of replacement parts. The surviving “wing” of Chakri Naruebet’s air force comprises four SH-60 Seahawk helicopters.

The fact that Chakri Naruebet was constructed with accommodations befitting a king—in this case, the Thai king—led to its moniker as “The World’s Largest Royal Yacht.” The Thai Navy seldom ever sends her out to sea due to budget shortages.

November 4, 2022 0 comment

USS Langley CV 1

Carriers History

These massive ships were able to carry large numbers of aircraft and launch them into battle.

by Till Daisd May 16, 2022

written by Till Daisd

During World War II, the United States had an advantage over its opponents because it built aircraft carriers so large that they were able to hold and fly many different types of aircraft into battle. The ability to launch various types of aircraft from a single location made it easier for the military to use them in war.

The ability to launch various types of aircraft from a single location made it easier for the military to use them in war.
The aircraft carrier was a tremendous leap forward in the world of naval warfare. Because it is mobile, an aircraft carrier can deploy its airplanes to wherever they are needed most—an important advantage in combat. Aircraft carriers also allow for the use of multiple types of aircraft, and being able to store and maintain all those aircraft on a single platform is another advantage for a military force.

USS_Langley_CV-1 — The USS Langley (CV-1)

The first US Navy aircraft carrier was commissioned in 1922. The USS Langley (CV-1) was built from the hull of a collier, or coal transport ship, and launched in 1912. It had been decommissioned for years before conversion to a carrier began. Weighing in at 16,000 tons and measuring 642 feet long, it could carry 36 combat planes as well as 21 reconnaissance planes, 8 torpedo bombers, 3 gunnery trainers, and 4 utility aircraft.

This ship was capable of carrying thirty-six combat planes, twenty-one reconnaissance planes, eight torpedo bombers, three gunnery trainers, and four utility aircraft for maintenance purposes.

The USS Langley (CV-1) was named after Samuel Pierpont Langley, an American astronomer, physicist, and aeronautics pioneer who had studied under Benjamin Peirce at Harvard.*
From 1922 to 1941, the navy built eleven more carriers similar in size and shape to Langley’s design.

The U.S. Navy was clearly onto something with USS Langley, so they decided to build others like it. They would be powered by new steam turbine engines, rather than the coal-fired power plants of the previous generation. Starting in 1922 and continuing through 1941, the Navy built eleven more carriers: Lexington (CV-2), Saratoga (CV-3), Ranger (CV-4), Yorktown (CV-5), and Enterprise (CV-6) were all in service before World War II began in 1939; Wasp (CV-7) also participated in the war, operating as a support ship for Atlantic convoys until she was sunk by a Japanese submarine on September 15th, 1942.

USS_Lexington_CV-2_1932 — Lexington (CV-2)

USS_Saratoga_CV-3_off_New_York_1934 — Lexington (CV-2)

Even though these ships were larger, faster, and more powerful than their predecessors, some aspects of their design were still much less advanced than modern carriers: since there was no way to launch planes from below deck to save space, the flight decks had to be stacked on top of one another instead of being arranged side by side like they are today. This meant that aircraft could not take off or land at the same time; instead, one deck would have to move over another while operations were underway — a very dangerous maneuver! Ships like Langley couldn’t carry as many planes either because they lacked enough hangar space under their decks for storage purposes only which prevented them from using this type of arrangement due to structural integrity concerns resulting from having multiple decks stacked above each other rather than next door as is seen today.

Most of them served through WWII with distinction and some are still in service today as training ships or museums.
The USS Langley was decommissioned in 1936, the USS Saratoga in 1946, and the USS Lexington in 1991. The latter is currently preserved as a museum ship in Corpus Christi, Texas. Of these three ships, the USS Yorktown was the most famous. She took part in combat operations in every major naval campaign of WWII. At the Battle of Midway, she sank despite heroic efforts to save her by her crew and sister ships.

Of the four new Essex-class aircraft carriers commissioned during WWII (the other two were never completed), only two are still in service today: The USS Enterprise and the USS Independence. It is worth noting that when they were first launched, their names were spelled “Enterprize” and “Independance” respectively; both had their names changed shortly thereafter for consistency with USN naming conventions for carriers that didn’t have any historical significance (for example, CV-6 was named Enterprise because it was a continuation of a long line of ships bearing this name).

The USS Independence (CVL-22) was an Independence-class light aircraft carrier in the US Navy. Commissioned on August 31st, 1942, the ship served through World War II and was decommissioned on March 10th, 1947. The USS Enterprise (CVN-65) was the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier commissioned by the US Navy on November 25th, 1961, serving until she was decommissioned on December 1st, 2012. The USS George H W Bush (CVN 77), commissioned on January 10th, 2009, is a Nimitz-class supercarrier serving in the US Navy today.

By 1944, the US had built 11 of the largest warships ever constructed, known as supercarriers. As one of its primary naval vessels, the US was able to launch a massive aerial assault on Japanese bases in the Pacific. By 1945, these carriers were instrumental in bringing an end to World War II by enabling a long-range bombing campaign that destroyed Japan’s military infrastructure.

Throughout the course of naval history, there has been a variety of aircraft carriers. With changing technological needs and improving transportation methods, aircraft carriers have evolved over time to suit different eras. One thing is for certain: all aircraft carriers are massive ships that can hold large numbers of aircraft and launch them for battle.

May 16, 2022 0 comment

B 25 USS Hornet

The Doolittle Raiders and the first U.S. airstrike on the Japanese Home Islands

by Till Daisd July 19, 2021

written by Till Daisd

The Doolittle Raid forced the Japanese to recall combat forces for home defense even though it only caused small damage, and it made Japanese citizens nervous

U.S. morale dropped in the spring of 1942 as a result of the frequent Japanese victories. A triumph was absolutely necessary for the nation.

According to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force article, America Hits Back: The Doolittle Tokyo Raiders, Capt. Francis S. Low, a U.S. Navy submarine, came up with the plan to use medium bombers from the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) flying from a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier to launch an attack against the center of Japan.

Gen. Henry “Hap” Arnold gave Lt. Col. James Doolittle, an accomplished pilot, and charismatic leader, the challenging assignment of preparing for and leading the attack (known as Special Aviation Project No. 1).

Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle accepts a medal from the skipper of the USS Hornet, Capt. Marc A. Mitscher. The medal, once given to a U.S. Navy officer by the Japanese, was wired to a 500-pound bomb for return to Japan “with interest.”

Doolittle joined the Army in 1917, became a flying cadet, and got his commission in 1918, according to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force article Doolittle Raid. He was the recipient of the coveted Schneider, Bendix, and Thompson aviation awards in the late 1920s and early 1930s. In 1929, Doolittle created aviation history when he completed the first blind flight, relying on the aircraft’s instruments for takeoff, flying, and landing.

In 1940, as war seemed inevitable, he returned to active duty after leaving the Army Air Corps in 1930.

Map showing Doolittle Raid targets and landing fields.

The USAAF selected the B-25 Mitchell medium bomber for the task because it was the only available aircraft with the necessary range, bomb capacity, and short takeoff capability. The 17th Bombardment Group, Pendleton Field, Oregon, provided the B-25B aircraft and 24 crews of qualified volunteers.

The B-25s had to depart Japan at a distance of roughly 450 miles, bomb chosen targets in cities like Yokohama and Tokyo, and then fly 1,600 miles to friendly airfields in mainland China. The mission was dangerous since medium bombers had never flown from a carrier and the American Navy task force was in danger by entering enemy territory so far.

Map showing Doolittle Raid targets and landing fields.

The aircrew chosen for the operation underwent training at Eglin Field, Florida, under the direction of Lt. Henry L. Miller, a Navy pilot from Pensacola Naval Station, who assisted them in learning how to take off within 300 feet, the maximum distance allowed on the carrier USS Hornet. In addition, the aircrew worked on cross-country and night flying, radio-free navigation, low-level bombing, and aerial gunnery.

Noteworthy because the Norden bombsight was ineffective at low altitudes, the pilot and armament officer for Doolittle’s group Capt. C. Ross Greening developed a replacement device, which is connected to the cockpit through the pilot direction indicator, allowed the bombardier to give the pilot aircraft turn directions without relying on voice communication.

Actually, these bombsights were produced by Eglin Field’s metalworking shops with $20 worth of supplies!

USAAF personnel load .50-cal. ammunition into ammo trays prior to takeoff from the Hornet as Navy personnel watch.

The crews finished their training by the middle of March and took a flight to San Francisco to board their 16 B-25 bombers on the recently constructed aircraft carrier USS Hornet.

Marc A. Mitscher, the commander of the Hornet, sailed for the covert mission on April 2, 1942, in broad daylight rather than at night because of an inexperienced crew.

The task force, under the leadership of Admiral William “Bull” Halsey, was about 650 miles from Japan when it came upon an enemy patrol boat at dawn on April 18, 1942.

Nobody was aware of whether it had radioed Japan a warning before being sunk.

Col. Doolittle and Admiral Halsey were faced with a difficult decision: postpone the raid or launch as scheduled and run the danger of running out of fuel. All 16 of Doolittle’s aircraft took off after he decided to launch an attack. When the Raiders arrived in Japan, they dropped their bombs on industrial centers, military bases, and storage areas for oil before departing over the East China Sea.

The Raiders were unable to reach their planned airfields as their fuel gauges began to decline. They all eventually crashed into China, bailed out, or dumped themselves in the water (one crew diverted to the Soviet Union). The Chinese people’s assistance allowed the majority of the Doolittle Raiders to successfully reach friendly forces (Japanese forces later executed as many as a quarter-million Chinese citizens in retaliation for this assistance).

After Japan’s numerous early wins, American morale plummeted, but when news of the attack emerged, it quickly recovered. Furthermore, even if the Doolittle Raid only did minimal damage, it made the Japanese call up their combat troops for home defense and instilled dread in the hearts and minds of the populace.

Admiral Yamamoto also gave the order for the disastrous attack on Midway Island, which was the tipping point in the Pacific War, in order to stop any further American airstrikes on the homeland.

North American B-25B Mitchell and Doolittle Raiders diorama in the World War II Gallery at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.

How this illustrious operation was carried out is explained in the video that follows.

Photo by U.S. Air Force

Source: National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

July 19, 2021 0 comment

F 14A Tomcat fleet defender

A video of the legendary F-14 Tomcat in action on the flight deck

by Till Daisd July 19, 2021

written by Till Daisd

The F-14 Tomcat was equipped with a powerful weapons system known as the AWG-9, which could support the AIM-54 Phoenix long-range air-to-air missile, to carry out the fleet’s air defense task

The awesome video in this post, titled “F-14: Defenders Of The Fleet,” will make any fan of the Tomcat cry.

The footage was shot during the era when the storied F-14A Tomcat controlled the flight decks of American Navy aircraft carriers as the main fighter for maritime air superiority and fleet defense interceptor.

The American teen-series fighters, which were created to combine air combat expertise against MiG fighters during the Vietnam War, were introduced with the Grumman F-14A Tomcat, as we have already explained.

Nevertheless, even though the F-14 was a capable dogfighter, the Tomcat stood out for its use in fleet air defense. The AWG-9, a potent weapons system that could support the AIM-54 Phoenix, which had an unheard-of 100-mile range and a small onboard radar to direct the missile to the target during the last phase of flight, was installed on the aircraft to carry out this operation.

So take some time and watch this clip with the most fierce fighter ever built, into action.

Anytime Baby…!

Photo by U.S. Navy

July 19, 2021 0 comment