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One Hundred Years of U.S. Navy Air Power

Page 56

by Smith, Douglas V.


  Bennington (CV-20), 143

  Birmingham, 5, 7, 12, 23, 153

  bombing: aircraft for, 171, 195n23, 203–4, 210–15, 304, 309, 344–46nn7–8; dive-bombing, 86–87, 106–7, 119, 123, 169, 212; effectiveness of, 203, 214–15; horizontal bombing, 106–7, 119, 123

  Bon Homme Richard (CV-31), 143, 289

  Boxer, 272, 274

  Bristol, Mark, 22–26, 27, 28, 190n2

  Bunker Hill (CV-17), 141, 151n35, 179, 220, 221, 224–25

  Bush, George H.W., 351

  C

  Carrier Strike Groups, 353

  Carrier Task Force, 95, 123–24

  Catalina aircraft. See PBY Catalina aircraft

  catapults: advances in, 27–28, 330; development of, 17–18, 153; effectiveness of, 164; hydraulic, 186, 197n29, 258, 330, 334; importance of, 164–65, 178; installation of, 23–24, 161, 330–31; problems with, 25; purpose of, 161; steam, 258–59, 333–34

  Chambers, Washington Irving: aeronautics board chairmanship, 19; aircraft development and flight testing, 13–14; aviation program, control of, 18–19; aviation program, promotion and development of, 5, 11–13, 15–16, 18, 27; catapult development, 17–18, 23, 27–28; legacy of, 27–28; pilot recruitment, 13; pilot training, 13; replacement of, 22; role in transformation of Navy, 11; safety concerns of, 20; sea duty of, 18, 19; seaplanes, interest in, 15

  Civil War, 6

  Coast Guard, U.S., 220–21, 222, 223, 224, 227, 315

  Cold War, 243, 273, 293–94, 311–16, 323, 325–28

  Constellation, 286–87

  convoy escort operations. See escort operations

  crew, 256, 260

  Curtiss, Glenn: aircraft demonstration by, 12; aircraft demonstrations, 153; aircraft development and flight testing, 9–10, 13, 21; aircraft manufacturing by, 24–25; flying boat development, 17, 33–34; Navy’s relationship with, 27; seaplane development, 12, 15, 16, 17, 200; speed record, 9, 21

  D

  D-558-1 Skystreak, 247

  D-558-2 Skyrocket, 247

  Daniels, Josephus, 18, 19, 23, 24, 77n39, 133

  Desert Storm Operation, 236, 243

  disarmament: peacetime reductions, 54, 59–60, 64–65, 71, 72, 74–75n16, 95–96, 272, 273, 304; post–World War II drawdown, 272, 273. See also Washington Naval Treaty

  Drone Antisubmarine Helicopter (DASH) program, 232, 235

  DT aircraft, 201–2

  E

  E-2 Hawkeyes, 338

  EA-6B Prowler, 282

  ejection seats, 259–60, 276

  Ellyson, Theodore, 13, 15, 17, 18, 19, 27, 28

  Ely, Eugene Burton, 3, 5, 7, 12–13, 19, 27, 95, 153, 302

  Enterprise (CV-6): Battle of Midway, 89; construction and commissioning of, 109, 135, 143, 152n54, 171; design of, 335; effectiveness of, 172; Fleet maneuvers, participation by, 117–19, 130n68; nuclear carrier, 338; Vietnam War, 284

  Enterprise-class carriers, 282

  Erickson, Frank, 222, 223–24, 226–27, 229–30

  escort operations: air cover for shipping, 309; Battle of the Atlantic, 308–9; blimps, 49–50; escort carriers (CVEs), 146–47, 160, 187–88; sea control ships, 338, 339, 349n14

  Essex (CV-9), 137, 142, 145, 146, 177–79, 196n27

  Essex-class carriers, 89, 137, 146, 150n21, 163, 172, 181, 284–85, 331, 344n6, 347–48n9

  F

  F2H Banshee fighters, 244, 245, 246, 254, 259, 282

  F3D Skyknight fighters, 245, 246, 282

  F3H Demon fighters, 246, 247

  F-4 Phantom II fighter, 241, 248, 253, 255, 266, 282, 285, 290, 291, 292

  F4D Skyray fighters, 247, 251, 265

  F4F Wildcat fighters, 87, 147, 148, 206, 210

  F4U Corsair fighter-bomber, 147, 148, 210, 213–14, 260, 271, 272, 274, 275, 280

  F-5L flying boats, 33, 207

  F6C Hawks, 203

  F6F Hellcat fighter, 147, 148, 210

  F6U Pirate fighters, 245

  F7U Cutlass fighters, 244, 245, 246, 247, 251, 266

  F-8 Crusader fighter, 241, 242, 248, 251, 265, 266, 282, 285, 286, 292

  F8C aircraft, 204

  F9F-2 Panther fighters, 244, 245, 246, 247, 251, 254, 266, 271, 274, 275, 276, 281

  F9F-6 Cougar fighters, 246, 247, 254, 257–58, 266

  F-11 Tiger fighters, 244, 247, 265

  F-14 Tomcat fighters, 248, 249, 255, 315, 327, 340, 343

  F-18 Hornet fighters, 248, 249, 252, 253, 264

  F-35C aircraft, 342, 343

  F-80 Shooting Star, 241, 271, 275

  F-86 Sabre fighters, 247, 275, 282

  F/A-18 Hornet fighters, 241, 243, 267, 315, 343

  fan jet engines, 255

  FF-1 fighter, 205–6

  FH-1 Phantom fighters, 241, 245–46

  fighter aircraft, 173–74, 204–6, 212–13, 244

  Fiske, Bradley, 18–19, 22, 24, 27

  FJ-1/FJ-3 Fury fighters, 245–46, 247

  Fleet Plan WPPac-46, 41–42

  Fleet Problems and joint exercises: air operations during, 97; areas used for, 98, 125n10; aviation’s role in, 94–95; communications relay plane, 100, 125n22; contributions of, 123–24; deficiencies identified during, 39; diversion of fleet during, 96–97, 124–25n5; Exercise M, 109–10; FP I, 97; FP II, 97; FP III, 98; FP IV, 98; FP IX, 100–101, 206; FP V, 98–99; FP VI, 84; FP VII, 88, 99; FP VIII, 100; FP X, 101–3; FP XI, 103; FP XII, 103–4, 126nn28–29; FP XIII, 105–7, 123; FP XIV, 107–9; FP XIX, 116–17, 129nn64–65; FP XV, 109, 126n29; FP XVI, 110–12, 128nn50–51; FP XVII, 112–13; FP XVIII, 113–16, 129n58, 208; FP XX, 117–19, 126–27n22, 129–30nn67–68; FP XXI, 119–23; Grand Joint Exercises, 89, 94, 99, 100, 104–5, 126–27n33; naval force, creation of, 110–23; number held, 93n27; operational methods, doctrine, and tactics development during, 89, 94, 95, 134; phases of, 95

  flight-deck cruisers, 175–76, 196n26

  Flyer, 8

  FM Wildcat aircraft, 210

  Formosa, 269, 270

  Forrestal, 243, 258, 289, 322, 332, 333, 335

  Forrestal-class carriers, 282, 285, 347–48n9

  France, 9, 17, 18, 21, 26, 139, 179, 303

  Franklin (CV-13), 142, 151n35, 179

  Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVB-42), 143

  G

  Germany: airships, 43, 45, 46, 154–55; aviation, funding for, 17; Battle of the Atlantic, 308–9; jet aircraft development, 242–43; naval aviation development, 12; number of planes, 26, 307, 320n40; Rainbow Five plan, 41

  gold wings, 77n39

  Grand Joint Exercises (GJEs), 89, 94, 99, 100, 104–5, 126–27n33

  Great Britain, 41, 83, 303. See also Royal Air Force (RAF); Royal Navy

  H

  H-2 Sea Sprite helicopters, 231, 232, 235, 237

  H-3 helicopters, 232

  H-3 Sea King helicopters, 231–32, 234, 237

  H-16 flying boats, 303

  H-21 helicopters, 229

  H-34 helicopters, 230

  H-46 Sea Knight helicopters, 231, 234, 237, 292

  H-53 helicopters, 236, 292

  H-60 helicopters, 235, 237

  Halsey, William F., 41–42, 73, 113, 158

  Hancock (CV-19), 141, 144, 151n35, 287

  Hawaii: exercises in waters around, 99, 100, 104–5, 107–8, 110–12, 116–17, 128nn50–51, 129n58, 129n65, 134; shore air facilities in, 137. See also Pearl Harbor

  helicopters and rotary-wing aircraft: acceptance of and response to, 221, 222–24; anti-submarine warfare use, 221, 223, 224, 227, 229–30, 231–32, 235, 236, 337, 339; capabilities of, 227–28; changing role for, 236–37, 283; demonstrations of, 220–22, 223–25; design of, 230–34; development of program for, 220–27; flight tests, 225–26, 227; importance of, 237; Korean conflict use of, 230, 233, 276, 313; Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System (LAMPS) configuration, 232, 235, 236; LSTs as base for, 230; minesweeping operations, 234, 235, 236; procurement of, 223; rescue operations with, 222–23, 227, 228, 230, 232–34, 236, 237, 281, 313; training of pilots, 224, 227, 228–29; vertical reple
nishment missions, 234, 235, 281

  HH-2C helicopters, 233

  HH-3A helicopters, 233

  HNS-1 helicopters, 226, 227

  HO3S helicopters, 230, 276

  HO4S helicopters, 229

  Horne, Frederick J., 38, 76n35, 114, 115–16

  Horne Board, 65, 70, 71–72, 76n35

  Hornet (CV-8): construction and commissioning of, 137, 143, 176; loss of, 142; Pacific campaign, 310, 343n2; sinking of, 178

  Hornet (CV-12), 89, 138, 142

  Hornet-class carriers, 145–46

  HOS-3 helicopters, 228

  HRS helicopters, 229

  HSS-1 helicopters, 229

  HSS-1N Sea Bat helicopters, 230

  HUP helicopters, 229

  I

  Independence-class light carriers, 143, 146, 180, 188

  Intrepid, 138, 151–52n46

  J

  Japan: air wing, number of aircraft in, 163–64; aircrew, replacement of, 174–75; airship reconnaissance missions, 46; carrier-building program, 139, 156; China, dominance of by Japan, 31; conflict with, plans for, 134; disarmament conference and treaty, 158–59; Doolittle raid on Tokyo, 189–90, 342n2; number of planes, 307, 320n41; Pearl Harbor attack, 42, 176–77; Rainbow Five plan, 41–42; Russia, defeat of, 31; surrender of, 310–11; War Plan Orange strategy against, 31

  jet aircraft: advances in, 3; carrier launching and landing procedures, 254, 257–59; cockpit design and system management, 255–56, 267; crashes and accidents, 241–42, 244–45, 252–53, 255, 260, 261–63, 264–65; design of, 241, 244; development of, 240; development of for carrier use, 242–45, 248–49; downing defective aircraft, 263–64; echelons of, 245–50, 252; ejection seats, 259–60, 276; engine design and performance, 240–41, 253–55; flight controls, 256–57; fuel management, 256; handling characteristics and performance of, 240–41, 245–46, 251–53, 264–67; maintenance of, 260–61; man-made interferences, 255–57; naval aviation culture and transition to, 261–64; night/all-weather operations, 245, 252, 265, 267; nuclear weapons delivery operations, 245, 247; pilot training, 253, 263, 265; seaplanes and flying boats, 250; sorties with, increase in, 282; transition to, 241, 264–67; VTOL aircraft, 251. See also swept-wing jets

  Johnson, Lyndon B., 286, 287, 294

  Joint Strike Fighter, 249, 251

  K

  Kearsarge (CV-33), 143

  Kimmel, Husband E., 41–42, 91

  King, Ernest J.: aircraft demonstrations, 17; aircraft for War Plan Orange, 37, 208; airship reconnaisance missions, 46; attack role of aircraft, 38; aviation training, 158; contributions of, 73; Fleet manuevers, participation by, 103, 104, 105–6, 116–17, 126–27n22, 129n65; promotion criteria, 68–69, 78n44; ship construction, rate of, 141

  kites and kite-balloons, 9, 10, 13

  Kitty Hawk, 289, 335, 338

  Korean conflict: American air superiority, 274–75; Battle of Carlson’s Canyon, 280; carrier-based air support, 271–72, 274, 279–80; command arrangement for aviation units, 280; evacuation operations, 270–71, 281; ground forces, fighting by, 273–74; helicopter use during, 230, 233, 276, 281, 283, 313; jet aircraft and carrier operations, 243, 244, 246, 312–13, 320nn52–53, 325, 352; losses during, 313, 320n53; naval air power role in, 273–83, 294; start of, 269–70, 312

  L

  Landing Signal Officer (LSO), 193n14, 254, 257–58, 334

  Langley (CV-1): air show demonstrations, 87–88; air wing, number of aircraft in, 88, 163; air wing, types of aircraft for, 87; capabilities and specifications of, 80; commissioning of, 80, 201, 305, 319n29; conversion to aircraft tender, 129n57; design of, 168; equipment modifications, 84; Fleet manuevers, participation by, 84, 88, 95, 97, 98–100, 101–2, 105, 109, 110–12; flight-deck operations, 85; launching and landing procedures, 83–85; in Pearl Harbor, 96; Reeves as commander, 80, 83; safety record on, 88; ship conversion, 80, 97, 134, 156; Washington Naval Treaty and, 170, 172

  Langley, Samuel Pierpont, 6–8

  Langley aeronautical laboratory, 21–22

  Lexington (CV-2): air wing, number of aircraft in, 88, 169; capabilities of, 38, 80, 89; construction and commissioning of, 98–99, 143, 201, 319n29; Fleet manuevers, participation by, 95, 100, 101–3, 104–6, 107–9, 110–23, 129n64, 199; safety record on, 88; sinking of, 161, 178; specialized air groups, 126–27n22

  Lexington (CV-16), 141, 144, 151n35

  lighter-than-air craft. See airships

  London Treaty, 175

  Long Island (CVE-1), 146–47, 186

  Los Angeles, 103–4, 106, 126n29

  M

  MacArthur, Douglas: fleet-based versus land-based aircraft for Navy, 35, 208, 214, 306; Japan, surrender of, 311; Korean conflict, 270, 271, 276, 277, 279; Pacific campaign, 141

  Macon, 35, 46, 47, 106, 109, 110, 126n29

  Maddox, 286

  Mahan, Alfred Thayer, 10, 27, 32, 137, 150n19, 301

  Marine Corps, U.S.: close air support, 292–93; demise of and lack of support for, 272–73, 294; independence of, 311; Korean conflict, 276–80; officers in, 73n4; promotion in, 68; roles and missions of, 311–12, 324; Vietnam War, 290

  Mars aircraft, 37

  Midway: bases at, 40; Battle of Midway, 89, 163–64, 179, 264; exercises in waters around, 110–12; Rainbow Five plan, 41–42

  Midway and Midway-class carriers, 180–81, 292, 329–30, 331, 333, 344n6, 347–48n9

  Military Flyer, 8–9

  missile development, 335–36

  Mississippi, 22–23

  Missouri (BB 63), 215, 311

  Moffett, William A.: air attacks against ships, 107; airships, support for use of, 35, 45, 48; bombing, effectiveness of, 203; death of, 35, 48, 131; flight-deck cruisers, 175; as naval aviation observer, 74n13; Naval Aviation Reserve Policy, 61; naval aviation, support for, 131, 306

  N

  National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), 22, 27

  national aeronautical laboratory, 12, 20–22

  Naval Academy: appointments to, 59, 64; enrollment numbers, 60, 61, 62; length of coursework, 65

  naval aviation: acceptance of and response to, 10, 54, 80, 131–32, 133–35; accident rate, 262; aircraft development and flight testing, 9, 13–14; airfield for, 14–15; Army aviation, cooperation with, 14–15; birth of, 6, 16; under Bristol, 22–26; Centennial activities, 2; challenges of development of program, 5, 8, 26–28; culture of, 261–64; demise of and lack of support for, 272–73, 294; development of program for, 5, 11–13, 15–16, 18, 19, 302–3, 318n6; effectiveness of, 53, 73, 215, 294, 353–54; fleet-based versus land-based aircraft, 35, 208, 214, 305–7; funding for, 10, 12, 15, 16–17, 18, 24, 26, 28, 305; growth of, 148–49, 152nn53–54, 302–3, 307–8, 319nn37–39; importance of, 1–2, 243, 305; inattention to, 25–26; modernization of, 26; naval control of, 166–67; responsibility and control of program, 11–12, 15–16, 18–19, 25–26; roles and missions of, 2–3, 52–53, 352; shore air facilities and bases and, 38–40, 137, 148, 150n22, 303, 305; standards for, 134–35; technological advances, 3, 315; wartime expansion and peacetime reduction, 54, 59–60, 64–65, 71, 72, 74–75n16, 95–96, 304, 318n16

  naval aviation cadets, 62–63, 64, 65, 76n31

  Naval Aviation Maintenance Program (NAMP), 260, 265

  naval aviation observers, 57, 67, 74n13, 83

  naval aviation pilots, 57

  Naval Aviation Reserve Act, 64

  naval aviators: commanding officer qualifications, 135, 158; definition of, 57; flight time, 123, 130n72; helicopter pilot qualifications, 228; hostility toward, 77n39; independence of and self-reliance characteristics, 261–62; insignia for, 77n39; at Pensacola, 55; uniform for, 77n39

  Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC), 61, 65, 71, 75nn26–27

  Naval Reserve, U.S.: creation of, 59, 74–75n16; disestablishment of, 61; officers, number of, 59–60, 62–63, 64–65, 75nn19–20, 76n36; pilots for, authorization of, 137, 150n17; reorganization of, 64; training of officers, 63–64, 75n19, 76n34; wartime expansion and peacetime reduct
ion, 59–60, 71, 74–75n16

  Naval War College: instructors at, 11, 82–83; presidents of, 80, 90, 91n4, 133; war games and concept generation at, 80, 81–83, 89, 133

  Navy, U.S.: Aide System organization, 10, 15–16; aircrew, replacement of, 174–75; air-surface-undersea actions, 110, 128n46, 301; battleships of, capabilities of, 83; Commander-in-Chief of U.S. Fleet, 90, 96, 109; fleet expansion, 10, 148–49; 152nn53–54, 157, 175, 304; fleet expansion, funding for, 135–40, 150n27, 151n29, 151n31; fleet expansion, public support for, 157; Fleet organization, 96; maneuvers with aviation unit, 17; maritime strategy, 327–28, 344n4, 352–53; roles and missions of, 311–12, 318, 324; sea duty requirement, 18, 19, 25, 57, 68–69, 78nn44–45; superiority of, 149, 274

  Nimitz, Chester, 17, 81, 141, 149, 158, 311

  Nimitz and Nimitz-class carriers, 282, 338, 339

  North Carolina (ACR-12/CA-12), 23, 24, 25, 95, 153, 190n2

  North Carolina (BB-55), 89, 90–91

  nuclear weapons delivery operations, 245, 247, 326

  O

  officer personnel system: development of, 54, 72–73; Marine officers, 73n4; naval aviation corps, 54–55, 56; number of officers, 58–66, 72, 75nn19–20, 318n16; promotion, 54, 61, 66–72, 73n6, 76–77n38, 77n40, 77n42, 78nn44–45; retirement, 61, 75–76n28; specialization, 54–58; staff corps, 55; structure and components of, 53; transfer of officers, 60, 75n22, 76n36; two-tier system, 66, 76n37

  Oriskany (CV-43), 143, 181, 289, 290, 331

  P

  P-2 Neptune, 290, 313, 314, 329–30

  P2Y aircraft, 34, 207, 208, 209

  P-3 Orion, 290, 308, 315, 316–17, 321nn71–72, 337

  P6M SeaMaster aircraft, 250, 315, 321n67

  P-8 Poseidon, 317

  PB-1 bombers, 310

  PB2Y Coronado aircraft, 37, 209, 310

  PB4Y-1 aircraft, 214, 308, 309, 310

  PB4Y-2 Privateer aircraft, 214

  PBJ Mitchell aircraft, 214

  PBJ-1 aircraft, 310

  PBM Mariner aircraft, 37, 209, 310

  PBY Catalina aircraft, 34, 36–38, 40, 42, 113, 119, 176–77, 208, 215, 250, 309, 310

  PBY-5A aircraft, 40, 214

  Pearl Harbor: airship reconnaisance and, 49; attack on, 42, 105, 176–77; base at, 41, 42; battleships lost at, 143, 308; development of, 32; fleet transfer to, 41; investigation of, 91; Langley in, 96; Navy expansion following attack on, 148–49

 

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