Page 203 - Family History

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“Backie’s” Award – Background

USS Indiana LAUNCHING AND RECOVERY

The scout planes were constantly being launched, sometimes as bombardment
spotters, sometimes on anti-submarine patrol, and sometimes to rescue downed
carrier airman. Air crews on these float planes generally hated these launchings.
The acceleration of the plane, blasted down the tracks by an explosion of
gunpowder, sometimes caused the crew to blackout or lose consciousness.

Recovering these planes was a little easier, the Indiana would steer a tight, partial
circle (about 90 degrees), smoking float flares were thrown over to mark wind
direction, and the Indiana's forward inertia would leave a "lake" of fairly smooth
water for a few hundred feet behind for the plane to land on. The plane then
taxied to a net, "sea sled", the recess on the bottom of the float hooked onto the
sled, and the sled and plane was pulled toward the ship's aft crane. The hook of
the ships aft crane was attached to the plane by the plane’s crew and the plane
with crew was lifted and placed back on the catapult.

Getting Ready, Taken USS Indiana, 1945

Take off, Taken USS Indiana 1945

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