47 as a... carrier plane?

[Dragon Tamer]

I was roaming through Google the other day looking at some pics of my favorite plane, and I stumbled across a pic of a jug that appears to be launching off an aircraft carrier.

Were jugs ever launched off of a carrier during WWII? I would think that they are just far too heavy and the carrier deck far too short to get enough speed for take off.




Also: the site that I found the pic on was just an image hosting site and had no information about the actual photo. The account that hosted the photo has been "Suspended" right now but I will try to link it here as soon as it comes back up.

[tuton25]

They managed to get mossies of the deck....
I don't think a Jug would be an issue...

[eeyore]

I was wondering the same thing. I'll have to land my jug on a carrier to see if I can take off from the CV. Managed to fly a C47 off a CV a few days ago.

[Soulyss]

In several cases the question becomes not if they could launch but if they could land.  many army planes went through cv tests with the navy.  or even luanched from a cv as part of a ferry flight.

Landing them on a cv wad another matter.  

[Karnak]

Yup, ferry flights.  Spit XIVs were ferried that way as well, just post war.

[Ack-Ack]

I was roaming through Google the other day looking at some pics of my favorite plane, and I stumbled across a pic of a jug that appears to be launching off an aircraft carrier.

Were jugs ever launched off of a carrier during WWII? I would think that they are just far too heavy and the carrier deck far too short to get enough speed for take off.




Also: the site that I found the pic on was just an image hosting site and had no information about the actual photo. The account that hosted the photo has been "Suspended" right now but I will try to link it here as soon as it comes back up.

Yes, P-47s were launched of a CV during the war.  P-47s of the 73rd FS/318th FG were ferried onboard USS Manila Bay for the invasion of Saipan and launched from the CV and landed at Aslito Field.  During the operation USS Manila Bay came under attack and launched a couple of P-47s to help out with the DEFCAP over the CV.  However, the P-47s were only launched and were not able to land back on the CV. 

USS Manila Bay under attack


P-47 launching off USS Manila Bay


Here is a P-40 being launched from USS Chenango during Operation Torch in North Africa.


ack-ack

[Zacherof]

What happened to the p39D's we used to be able to take off from a cv?

[Ack-Ack]

What happened to the p39D's we used to be able to take off from a cv?

HiTech fixed that bug.

ack-ack

[bozon]

The P-47 was as much a carrier plane as the B-25s in the Doolittle raid. If a b-25 loaded with bombs could take off of a carrier, it should be a no-problem for a P-47, even though they were known for their relatively long takeoff runs. Landing... well that's a different thing altogether when you are not equipped with an arrestor hook, no strengthened landing gear, and can barely see over the nose.

[Widewing]

The P-47 was as much a carrier plane as the B-25s in the Doolittle raid. If a b-25 loaded with bombs could take off of a carrier, it should be a no-problem for a P-47, even though they were known for their relatively long takeoff runs. Landing... well that's a different thing altogether when you are not equipped with an arrestor hook, no strengthened landing gear, and can barely see over the nose.

P-47D-11-RA fighters were catapulted off of USS Manila Bay and USS Natoma Bay June 23, 1944 off of Saipan.




Here's a larger image of the OP's shot. You can see the catapult cable under the Jug....

[Arlo]

P-47D-11-RA fighters were catapulted off of USS Manila Bay and USS Natoma Bay June 23, 1944 off of Saipan.


(Image removed from quote.)

Here's a larger image of the OP's shot. You can see the catapult cable under the Jug....
(Image removed from quote.)

Which is very cool. Arresting gear?

[bj229r]

(Image removed from quote.)

I was wondering the same thing. I'll have to land my jug on a carrier to see if I can take off from the CV. Managed to fly a C47 off a CV a few days ago.

its pretty easy, I can usually get the N stopped before passing the tower (hint: to back up, lower rpms all the way, full flaps, crack throttle) Taking off again with a full bomb load is....problematic

[Brooke]

I demand the Sea Bolt! 

[Ack-Ack]

I demand the Sea Bolt! 

How about a "Seahorse"?


ack-ack

[Brooke]

That, too -- and the Sea Lightning!