Hand Guns

Above is a letter from Commander in Chief of the United States Pacific Fleet, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, during World War II. We felt that it was an appropriate way to start off our section on "Life on an Escort Carrier."

Much of the information on this page comes from a book entitled "The Escort Carriers in Action--The Story-In Pictures-of the Escort Carrier Force U.S. Pacific Fleet" provided to us by Albino Munoz who was on board the Petrof Bay Escort Carrier. He was a plane captain in charge of making sure planes were serviced and ready for the pilots to fly. For more information on Mr. Munoz, read and listen to excerpts from our interview with him.

Escort Aircraft Carriers (CVE's in navy language) were also called "jeep carriers" and "baby flat tops." Their original purpose was to escort and defend naval convoys, but as the war progressed their job changed to an offensive one as well. They could be produced quickly. During World War II, one hundred escort carriers were built, at one point they were producing them at the rate of one per week.

One very important job for preparing the aircraft for combat was the loading of the aerial rockets. They were brought up on an elevator to the flight deck and loaded under the wings of the plane. (This is on the Petrof Bay.)

The aerial rocket was, "one of the most effective weapons of World War II combining pin-point accuracy with great penetration and explosive power." (Aboard the Petrof Bay)

Quote taken from
The Escort Carriers in Action

On board the Petrof Bay CVE 80, gassing up and ready for take-off. Gas for military use was plentiful even though gas was rationed back on the home front.

Here are a group of Wildcat fighters that are loaded, fueled and ready to go. The ship turns into the wind to prepare for take-off to give added help for the airplanes to lift off. The plane has 600 feet until the deck runs out and the sea is waiting.

TAKE OFF
The small deck of an Escort Carrier makes it difficult for a heavily loaded plane to take-off, therefore a catapult is used. This machine is operated by compressed air and pulls the plane forward rapidly by means of a wire cable, "throwing" it into the air. The plane accelerates from 0 to 70 knots in just 60 feet.

LANDING
The arresting cable was the lifeline for a pilot. The arresting hook on the aircraft had to catch the cable strung across the landing deck in order to have a successful landing. The "hook release men" were quick to disengage the plane from this cable because the next plane was in line to land.

The pilot relies on the Signal Officer to guide his plane in with flags. This is a dramatic moment not only for the incoming pilot, but for all aboard. If the pilot was "in the groove" he was on course and would be waved in for a landing.

"IN THE DRINK!"
This accident sometimes happens either because of engine trouble or catapult failure. The pilot is usually rescued by an accompanying destroyer.

"Long hours of anti-aircraft gunnery practice prepare these men for the few brief seconds when they either hit or get hit by Japanese suicide planes."

Quote taken from The Escort Carriers in Action

Life on board ship. Between flight preparation and battles men are busy keeping their Escort Carrier in "shipshape" condition. Keeping oil and grease from the hangar deck is an on-going task.

ROCK AND ROLL!
"This is a head on view of the carrier above with it's nose down in a heavy sea and the flight deck almost awash. Another carrier is directly behind with her bow high in the air." How do they stay on there?

Quote taken from The Escort Carriers in Action

During stormy weather the deck was cleared of most aircraft by carrying them below to the hangar deck for protection. These smaller escort carriers were tossed and turned making it difficult to work up on deck.

Although these planes seem about ready to slide overboard, they are secured with lines and cables.

Award ceremony aboard the Petrof Bay.
Japanese kamikaze attack on the Petrof Bay.

Petrof Bay CVE 80 This is the escort carrier on which Albino Munoz served his tour of duty. Listen and read an interview with Mr. Munoz about his experiences on board. Click here to view operational facts of the Petrof Bay.

The photos and information on this page is from the book "The Escort Carriers in Action, The Story-In Pictures-Of the Escort Carrier Force U.S. Pacific Fleet 1945" provided to us by Albino Munoz. This book was presented to him as one of the 30,000 officers and men of the Escort Carrier Force who served during World War II.