Recovering Float Planes: A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words



In this episode we’re talking about a series of images taken of New Jersey and her aircraft recovery process.

For more episodes in this series:
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21 thoughts on “Recovering Float Planes: A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words”

  1. The British still used biplanes like the Fairey Swordfish and Supermarine Walrus for the battleship float plane with the monoplane Supermarine Seagull to replace it while everyone else used monoplanes
    So why did the British not get their monoplane gunnery spotting plane until it was too late?

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  2. Floatplane aircrew we’re unsung heroes of the Pacific War. Some of their exploits rescuing downed aviators were dangerous beyond belief. Cruiser Astoria’s even flew into the Sea of Japan.

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  3. At one point in my life I was doing some Ancestral investigation and I sent off for my fathers military record in WWII. Found out he was on the New Jersey Battleship and that he had an Aircraft maintenance rating. I did not know at that time that they had aircraft on board the ship. As I researched that, I then understood why an Aircraft Mechanic would be on a Battleship!

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  4. Another interesting and informative video. Thank you BB-62 team!!

    Wikipedia states that the Curtiss Seahawk was retired in 1949. It also states that the plane had folding wings and only a single seat for the pilot but had a built-in cot in the rear fuselage for "transfer" of a passenger or a rescued aviator.

    It is my understanding that another common way to create a smooth-ish water surface for landing the float plane was to place the ship in a relatively tight turn which would create a smoother surface inside the turn. The color film clip clearly shows this as do some of the photos.

    Pic 3 also shows the same cable rig thru the chock probably for the sled, but now it is rigged to the port side where the plane is being recovered.

    QUESTION: How is the sled rig raised and lowered without fouling the screws and where is it stored topside? It seems the stern crane would be required, but I can't quite see stopping at least the two screws on the related side just for this.

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