Author Topic: Steam Powered Paddle-Wheeler Aircraft Carrier (Read 463 times)

Daubie · « **on:** November 17, 2007, 11:08:07 AM »

U.S.S. Wolverine (IX-64)

and

U.S.S. Sable (IX-81)

http://twaintimes.net/boat/sbpage5.html

I was researching riverboats and came across this.

kotrenin · « **Reply #1 on:** November 17, 2007, 11:35:17 AM »

My cousin is the curator of the little museum at Great Lakes Naval Base in Illinois. Several years ago she was collecting items to put in the museum and found a gentlemen in Ohio that makes R/C model boats from scratch. He had a model of the USS Wolverine that he gladly donated to the museum along with the newspaper clippings and photos he used to make it. It ended up in my parents living room for a week before we could drive it the rest of the way to the museum. There I was at the age of 23 in my parents living room playing with the giant replica, it even had a couple scale wildcat models. I think it was 6 or 7 feet long.

Of course there are tons of wildcats all over the bottom of lake Michigan off the Chicago coast Because of the flat tops. One that was raised several years ago is on display at the Valiant Air Command air museum in Florida near Cape Canaveral.

stockli · « **Reply #2 on:** November 18, 2007, 01:51:36 PM »

I believe they also have one hanging from the ceiling at Midway airport. They also have an SBD.

palef · « **Reply #3 on:** November 18, 2007, 03:43:36 PM »

Aviation History did an article on both vessels a couple of years ago. Fascinating reading and they went into the IX designation in detail as well.

68ROX · « **Reply #4 on:** November 19, 2007, 07:16:09 AM »

I grew up in Waukegan, IL.

My father-in-law, a WWII veteran, told me of how the navy would tow targets just off shore in Zion, IL and navy planes would use them for strafing practice in Lake Michigan.

All within sight of Great Lakes Naval Training Center.

68ROX