Note the H-21 landing on the left end of the deck.

The mighty Ti. Note the canted landing deck. I saw a picture of the original Ticonderoga in the museum at Sampson State Park, NY. (Formerly Samson AFB and Sampson Navy Training Facility) It originally had a straight deck.

A lot of the carriers from the fifties had been converted to the canted deck to allow the aircraft to go around if they missed the landing approach.

H-21 tied down on the Ticonderoga

H-21 coming up from the hangar deck on the port elevator, note that one blade was removed to fit it on the elevator. The wooden blades were attached with two large beveled pins.

Jim Stewart standing next to the central elevator.

The Ti had HUP-1 Piasecki helicopters on board for rescue. Note the similarity to the H-21. They were both designed by Piasecki, though many of the H-21s were built by Boeing/Vertol. Note the AD Skyraiders and A3Ds. The Skyraiders on the deck were configured to carry atomic weapons if the mission dictated.

One HUP was airborne whenever flight operations were taking place. Notice that the HUP hovered sideways so he could see instantly if a landing aircraft had a problem. The ship was probably making 25 knots into a 15-20 knot wind, so the HUP was effectively hovering sideways at 40-45 knots.

Flight Deck showing the landing mirror. A light “the ball” is located at the bottom of the photo. It is reflected by the mirror to the pilot on final. The pilot adjusts his angle so the “ball” is lined up with the lights on the sides.

AD Skyraider on final

AD touching down

Did I catch the cable?

Got It !!!

A3D on final. The A3D was a version of the Douglas B-66

A3D touching down. Pretty big bird to be landing on a carrier deck.

Caught They taxied this A/C back and turned around and parked it next to another A3D The nose wheel came within a foot of the edge of the deck. See next pictures.

Demon on final

Demon down

Demons and an A4

AD Skyraiders These aircraft served in Vietnam as the Air Force A1E “Sandy” flying support for the Jolly Green Giants.

Hangar Deck

Captain on the Bridge

While we were on board a resupply ship came alongside to transfer supplies to the carrier. Note the seaman polishing a brass wheel.

Getting closer

They fired a line across with a line gun.

Yeaaa, more beer!!

Destroyer Escort

Piasecki HUP -1

Still on alert.