Bonus

[WarPig1976]

Whatever is going on it isn't business as usual because everybody in the picture is very interested in the outcome, including the pilots of the other planes. I'd put my money on a Cat launch.

[Mike Haas]

No Cat lauch involed nor needed. The 77 P 40F's "Flew" off the carrier deck.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Chenango_(CVE-28)

[Paul S.]

Correcting my earlier post with an incorrect transcription, CHENANGO had a hydraulic catapult - not steam. Apparently since she was a converted tanker she had a top speed of ~18kts and not nearly as fast as a fleet carrier.

[Cosine26]

P40 catapulting
The picture shown is definitely a picture of a P40 being catapulted from an escort carrier. Go to the following url:
http://www.history.navy.mil/download/car-9.pdf
On page 52 is the exact picture with the following annotation
ARMY P-40 Warhawk fighter catapults from CASABLANCA (CVE-55) was first of 50 escort COMMENCEMENT BAY class was concerned to
the deck of a Sangamon class to North Africa.


This should settle the discussion

[RT Ellis]

I was to the point that I thought this had to be a "cat" launch, as I reviewed various volumes of "History of United States Navel Operations in World War II" by Morison. The normal air complement for the "jeep"carriers was around 20 aircraft (which of course had folding wings). The USS Chenago is listed as carrying 76 P40F (fixed wing) aircraft to North Africa in November 1942. With that many aircraft on board that couldn't be anything but a catapult assisted launch in the image. I'd like to see an aft view of the carrier to see all those P40s and how they're parked.

In addition a crewman that is probably the catapult launch director, that appears to be holding a flag, is standing to the left in this view, and if in fact the launch director is about in the right place to where the pilot of an aircraft could see him for the usual hand signals to catapult.

As to the previous post I'm not sure the caption to the image is accurate and may be the writer's interpretation of what's going on as the aircraft carrier involved appears to be misidentified. I am convinced that the P40s carried by USS Chenago subject of the original image were catapult launched, and that the cable object in the image was a catapult bridle.

BTW if you've never seen a color image of these aircraft the camouflage was tan and medium brown, and the surround to the national insignia was yellow.

[Cosine26]

P40 Chenango Launch
I do not know where the error occurred in the quote for I copied it directly from the referenced document. The correct caption is shown below.
“ARMY P-40 Warhawk fighter catapults from the deck of a Sangamon class to North Africa.”
The following quoted is from:
EVOLUTION OF AIRCRAFT CARRIERS ISSUED BY Naval Aviation Office page 52:
“The carrier Chenango was used, in
the North African operation that followed,
as a ferry carrier for Army
P-40's on the outward trip, as a fuel
supply ship while moored at Casablanca,
and as a fleet escort—with a
borrowed air group furnishing air
cover-on the return trip.”
The CHENANGOis one of four CVE’s in the SANGAMON class of CVE’s. They are all converted AO’s (oilers).
I hope this clears up the original caption error.

[Mark in Rochester]

The "Linkage" attached to the tail wheel is called the "holdback" it's sole purpose is hold the aircraft back has the pilot

runs up full power and releases the brakes prior to the catapult firing. 41-14378, Curtiss P-40F-5-CU Warhawk,

Pilot was Bill Day plane eventually named "Dammit" was condemned inventory Jul 8, 1944


Note this one also has no yellow circle around the Star


(possibly 41-14502 or 41-14508 pictured above)



P-40,33 Fighter Group Piloted by Daniel B. Rathbun, takes off from the U.S.Chenango in the Mediterranean near Casablana, Morocco,

during the U.S. campaign in North Africa. November 1942.Once again note the American flag painted on the fuselage of the P-40's



USS Chenango, The first picture is of the 33rd FG taking off from the Chenango as it was off of Casablanca on November 10th, 1942. This is most likely a plane from the 60th FS since they were the first off of the carrier. They landed at Port Lyautey. The take offs were halted due to damaged runways and resumed the next day.

---------- Post added at 05:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:50 PM ----------





The "Linkage" attached to the tail wheel is called the "holdback" it's sole purpose is hold the aircraft back has the pilot

runs up full power and releases the brakes prior to the catapult firing. 41-14378, Curtiss P-40F-5-CU Warhawk,

Pilot was Bill Day plane eventually named "Dammit" was condemned inventory Jul 8, 1944


Note this one also has no yellow circle around the Star


(possibly 41-14502 or 41-14508 pictured above)



P-40,33 Fighter Group Piloted by Daniel B. Rathbun, takes off from the USS Chenango in the Mediterranean near Casablana, Morocco,

during the U.S. campaign in North Africa. November 1942.Once again note the American flag painted on the fuselage of the P-40's



USS Chenango, The first picture is of the 33rd FG taking off from the Chenango as it was off of Casablanca on November 10th, 1942. This is most likely a plane from the 60th FS since they were the first off of the carrier. They landed at Port Lyautey. The take offs were halted due to damaged runways and resumed the next day.


P-40Fs in the hanger deck aboard the USS Chenango (CVE-28) October 1942 enroute to North Africa.

Note the early style Star carried on some of the planes

[Cosine26]

Great Pictures!
In the picture showing the P40 clearing the deck you can see the bridle dropping off the deck. You can also see the alignment fixture to the left of the right landing gear when the P40 is in the launch position. When launching "tail draggers" it is necessary to insure that the tail wheel is correctly aligned-fore and aft.
Hold back fixtures are aircraft peculiar,i.e, a different for each type of aircraft.
I believe that the CVB's introduced the steam cat in 1952.
One of the above pictures show how crowded the deck was any shows why catapult launch was necessary.