I am in the middle of debate on what air craft carrier this is (Hellcat with drop tank landing, another landing and unfired rocket... Stock Footage Video - Getty Images). A lot say it’s the USS Enterprise CV-6. one guy and I say no, because of the two mount 5’ guns (rear of the island) in the film that CV-6 did not have. I believe it’s USS Yorktown CV-10 because 1) I believe the F6F tail has the markings VF-3 squadron that was assigned on CV-10 and, 2) I noticed the camouflage pattern on the island. That, to me, clearly is not CV-6 but CV-10. what do you nerds think? Hellcat with drop tank landing, another landing and unfired rocket... Stock Footage Video - Getty Images
Clearly with the four dual 5-inch gun turrets it is not USS Enterprise (CV-6). Slow it down frame by frame and the geometric marking for USS Yorktown (CV-10) shows on the first plane in the first couple of seconds of the clip. Of course you never know, one or the other might be landing on the wrong ship . . . been known to happen. Markings, and later letters, in those days were assigned to the ship, not the air group. Air groups did not get unique assigned letter until 1946 or so. Any squadron operating off Yorktown between 27 Jan 1945 and 27 July 1945 would have/should have sported the same marking. Starting on 28 July came the switch to letter codes for aircraft operating off a particular carrier.
Yea I did the frame by frame and that’s what I was looking for. Not a full view but enough that you can narrow it down that it was CV-10 markings. As for markings and letters assigned to CV, I did not know when that was started......to be honest never thought about it, but I knew the markings on the tail of planes indicated what CV they belong too. Letter codes would be new to me. Never less, you are correct when a pilot lands on the wrong CV everyone once in a while. Since we are at a agreement that F6F hellcat belongs to CV-10, is the the CV really CV-10 or not. As I previously mention I believe it is CV-10. CV-10 did have the two mounted 5’ guns at the rear side of the island, so did all Essex-class. However, the camouflage pattern seems to fit to CV-10, although, I did not take the time to look at all Essex class camouflage pattern.
Rich beat me to it. Definately Essex class, with the odds being Yorktown. Also, you can see the side of the gunfire director tower between the second forward 5-inch mount and the island.
The structure between the 5" mounts and the island supported a quad 40mm gun mount and its Mark 51 director. On the aft end of the island was another quad 40 and Mark 51. Forward of those, just aft of the stack, was a Mark 37 director for the 5-inchers. Another Mark 37 was forward on the island.
Yep. I saw that board as well. Can’t make out much of it but since you have a better photo that does conclude it. Smashing job!
