USS Intrepid - Did it have painted deck numbers in WWII or not ?

you can ask this guy

lemme guess...that is not the Revell kit, right? :-)

the kit comes with white letters and the kit in the link has black w/ yellow outline.

Craig

Don't know. I saw this pic posted on an IPMS board.

This should help:

of November 1944, she appears to have a outlined number "11" on her front deck, and the painted deck: exactly is keeping the aircraft supported off the side of the deck forward of the island? And what sort of aircraft is that? It's got a Grumman-style wing folding mechanism on it...a Hellcat? Looks too long and skinny for a F6F.

Pat

A standard tailwheel supporting outrigger as fitted to most WWII era carriers.

I figured out that it was a Hellcat, but the tail wheel outrigger is difficult to distinguish due to the waves. What interests me are what look like twin steam catapults on the forward deck; did we get these into use before the jet age? I'm not that good at American carrier history details. They don't seem to have the catapult trolley catchers on the end of the deck as shown in the photo below. Also, the F6F appears to be done in flat, not glossy, overall dark blue. It's a pity the photo isn't in color; otherwise it would be a great reference shot for painting a model. Later, in 1955, the front "11" is done in white:

that shot, is she carrying a mix of Panthers and Cougars, or Cougars and Banshees? In 1956, she has Banshees aboard: was there an deployment overlap period between the Panther and Cougar?)

Pat

white:

(in that shot, is she carrying a mix of Panthers and Cougars, or Cougars

aboard:

was there an deployment

so the Revell kit must be a mix and match of eras as it comes with WWII aircraft and white #11 decals.... when did this Intrepid kit first come out?

Craig

I've read that there was usually one or two catapults to get the heavier aircraft off the deck if the wind slacked. As to exactly when they first appeared aboard carriers I have no recollection.

Bill Banaszak, MFE Sr.

I don't know about the other Essex Class carriers, but the Essex, CV-9, had two hydraulic catapults installed when she was built. I served on her during the Bay of Pigs affair.

if you read any of the books about the baby flat tops I believe they were all built with catapults as the flight deck was way to short

Catapult (singular) in most cases I believe.

Note the single catapult offset to the port side on the forward flight deck.

The problem was not so much the length of the flight deck - what was missing was speed.

CVEs couldn't steam at 30 knots into the wind to launch aircraft as the fleet carriers could.

Cheers,