AIR DEPARMENT

The Air Department forms the unsung and unglamorous team whose sheer hard work made the achievements of the ship's famous air groups possible. Here is the story of a typical strike day that will disclose the chief functions of the Air Department's divisions. The human interest behind this bare narrative can never be related. But, let it be known, the sweat and sacrifice inplied in such scenes was America's truest "secret weapon."

Here is an average day with the Air Department aboard the "Blue Ghost."

ALL IN THE DAY'S WORK

The Air Department, the main artery of carrier life, had six branches, known as V-1, V-2, V-3, V-4, V-5 and V-6, comprising altogether a team of over 1000 men....

It was the beginning of morning as the Carrier Lex steamed along the waters just off the coast of an island in the Philippines. The bitter wind that broke across the bow and gained force as it whipped along the flight deck chilled to the very core the men who manned her. The ship was making a high-speed run toward it's target to cover the invasion of a small island that would soon serve as a vital base for U.S. troops.

Suddenly light glared from the horizon and within a matter of minutes the entire task force was visible: morning - and with it the threat of attack. This was the time for greatest vigilance, and for last-minute preparations against submarines and planes. The winged rising sun usually appeared with nature's sun, but even more suddenly.

"All hands put on flash gear - Bogies."

General Quarters sounded! The fast and throbbing notes of the bugle stimulated the movement of the crew to the tempo. Three thousand men answered the "alert" and took positions at their battle stations with a minimum of delay. The loud speaker blasted final instructions to the pilots, as the airplane engines swelled to a roar.

"Bogies 50 miles off the starboard bow, prepare to scramble planes."

This was the wartime Air Department, when a skilful team of fighters, bombers and torpedo planes sped to a distance point to deliver knockout punches against a powerful enemy fortress: Tarawa, Saipan, Formosa, Manila, Tokyo. The massive flight deck didn't glitter from constant "field days" as it does today. The planks were saturated with oil and the surface was scarred with the 23,000 aircraft landings since the commissioning of the Lex.

"Bogies 30 miles out. Launch planes."

Hellcats, Corsairs, Avengers and Helldivers had all been spotted in a condition of readiness since 2 A.M. that morning. Early reveille for the Air Department was held at 0115.....Since that time the "airdales" had been preparing the deck for an immediate launch to repel just such an emergency attack.
"The fighters will be catapulted on the turn into the wind."

Everything that was a tentative plan the night before now is reality. The first fighter leaves the deck as the sling shot sends him soaring into the air. The second follows directly and the third and fourth, until the floating airfield is left empty. The noise of the propellers has taken to the sky and the robust excitement of the men on the air atrip vanishes with the deckload.

As our planes join the other units of the fast Carrier Task Force they returned to circle above the fleet formation. For a brief while, hundreds of planes blanketed the sky above and gave each man a thrill of power. Then the Combat Air Patrol is sent out against the "bogies," and the first strike leaves for the target. Soon we hear that the incoming raid has been broken up.

"Permission to remove flash gear." The radar screen is free of strangers.

Meanwhile the deck is again being spotted to launch the second strike. Time passes rapidly and in a few hours the same scene is again enacted. The second strike is launched shortly before the first one returns to home base. By this means, the target is "saturated" with continuous strikes.

Our own Combat Information Center informs us that Lexington planes are nearing base and are ready to orbit over ship.

"Prepare to land aircraft."

Aagin groups of men wait patiently at their posts to bring the returning strike safely aboard. The landing signals officer "rogers", his team of men is ready.

"Land planes."

The first plane drops from the waiting flight and circles on for a landing. The Landing Signals Officer creates a picturesque statue as he stands on his platform on the port side of the stern. The two flags held firmly in his hands guide the planes onto the strip. Metal cables across the width of the deck are evevated to a high enough level to catch the tail hooks of the landing planes. There are many hazards that exist during a landing. Frequently the enemy leaves his mark and the planes return badly shot up. At times the wheels have been shot off, or the tail hook, or the flaps, or the pilot has been injured.

C.I.C. reports that plane No. 18 had lost his wheels and the pilot requests permission to come aboard. The Air Boss consents but tells the radio operator to inform the pilot he will land last.

The men on the flight deck speculate as the last plane orbits above and then rounds the circle to approach.

Fire fighters and various crews are standing by for a crash.

The pilot brings the plane in for a beautiful belly landing. The barriers stop the skidding plane from crashing headlong onto the planes spotted on the bow. The switches are cut promptly and fire is prevented.

Throughout the day such events recur. The "airdales" have become so adapted to the routine that they accept an 18-hour day filled with such events as "just another day."

Thoughout this day each division had concentrated on it's own special task.

V-1's plane handlers, directors and repair crew had "spotted" the deck, launched the flights, and controlled the taxiing pilots after they landed aboard.

V-2's aircraft maintenance men saw that each plane was ready, assisted the pilot, and received his report of performance at the end of the flight. On them depended the "flyability" of 103 complicated aircraft.

V-3 manned the radars, the eyes of the ship. They guided friendly planes and warned of enemies. Radarmen have watched some of the greatest air battles in history take place before their eyes. In addition, they can warn of land, clouds, ships and other obstructions.

V-4 had the Yeomen who manned the battle phones and transmitted messages from station to station durning "G.Q.", the aerographers whose weapons were their delicate instruments and sensitive gauges, and the photographers who spotted targets and recorded performance by thier pictures.

V-5 were the ordnance men who place the 2000-pound bombs and rockets safely in the bomb-bays and under the wing tips.

V-6 had arresting gear gangs, who manned the barriers and the metal cables that grasp the tail hooks, the captapult gang, who sent the planes soaring into air, and the gasoline gang who gassed the planes for launch and degassed them after the landing.

Air Control is a little blister on the island structure, three decks above flight level. From here the Air Boss conducted the flights, drew up the plans, and administered an over-all supervision. Air Officers we will always remember are: Commander B. Wright, Commander L. B. Sutherland, Commander T. A. Ahroon, Commander P. P. Barrick and Commander R. E. Steiler. Their judgment and experience made possible the efficient operation of the whole organization. Under thier watchful eyes, such scenes of skill and coordination as that we have described were a daily commonplace on the "Blue Ghost."

At the first menion of gunnery, thoughts usually turn to flashing muzzles, dazzling tracers and the deafening roar of the anti-aircraft batteries. The gun crew men in full battle dress handling heavy projectitles or hot brass cases, working beside men who are making delicate adjustments and correction in their sighting mechanisms, from the spectacular side of the modern Navy's Gunnery Department. It is true that during encounters with the enemy these men hold in their hands the difference between success and failure. Actually, however, only a fraction of the time at sea during the war was spent in encounters with the enemy; it is in the long days and hours between these actions that the other side of the Gunnery Department's life is best seen.

The men who man the guns in action are also the men responsible for most of the heavy work around the ship when normal routine is in force. The first five gunnery divisions are classed as "Deck" divisions and as such have numerous jobs to perform in the maintenance and operation of the ship. For all special operations each "deck" division has a station to man; during fueling they handle lines and fuel hoses which need constant tending; they handle mooring cables, anchors and all other equipment involved in bringing the ship to a dock or mooring; when ship to ship transfers are nessessary at sea these men get the job. Each of these operations requires the ultimate in efficiency and timing. These men share the pride of their leaders in jobs done during this war which were never equalled nor even thought possible before.

Besides the "deck" divisions there are the Marines or 6th Division, the lookouts and boat crews in the 7th and the fire controlmen and magazine men in the 8th. Each of these groups has special responsiblities and although they may be called upon to help out in other jobs their primary function is their own specialty.

The traditional function of the Marine Corps as a unit of the United States Naval Services is to form an ever-ready body of men to attack, secure, and defend advanced bases from which the ships of the Navy can operate. To do this job more efficiently in a war as large as this one has been, the Marine Corps has formed divisions known as the Fleet Marine Force, but the detachments on ships at sea are still qualified to do a Marine's job should the need arise, as was amply demonstrated when the detachment of the Lexington went ashore as a part of the Third Fleet Marine Landing Force at Yokosuka Naval Air Base and occupied it as a part of the initial occupation forces of Japan.

On board the ship, the Marines count among their more normal duties the standing of orderly watches, providing a bodyguard and helper for the Captain and the Executive Officer, and, when there is a flag aboard, for Admiral and the Chief of Staff. In addition to that, the detachment provides a brig sentry, prisoner chasers, and a brig warden, plus a lifebuoy watch on the fantail. They provide for the security of the ship and, of course, man the guns, for guns of all shapes, sizes and functions form an integral part of every Marine's life from the time he enters the Corps until he leaves it. The Lexington detachment is at home among the after 20-mm. guns of the anti-aircraft battery.

The lookouts are specialists in recognition and in measures of preparedness. Twenty-four hours a day the lookout stations must be manned. The detection of enemy aircraft, mines, submarines or other enemy forces is the first essential of defense. Lexington lookouts have repeatedly been the first to sight approaching attackers and alert the ship's guns.

The 8th Division has the large and often tedious task of maintaining the fire control equipment. Keeping this maze of delicate machinery adjusted to perfection and operating through all types of foul weather requires months of training and long hours of work. The other half of the 8th Division spends much time below decks in the magazines that hold the millions of rounds of ammunition for the guns of the ship as well as the variety of fireworks carried for our aircraft to hurl at the enemy.

It is at the moment of battle that these various groups band together to form an operating unit for the denfense of the ship. While under attack each man has a responsibility and by a good perfromance can make the team a success in knocking the enemy planes from the sky. The ship has been hit only twice in over two years of the most daring types of operations. Our guns have been the first to open fire and keep attacks away from this ship and others of the group. Ship's guns have accounted for fifteen planes independently and for nearly an equal number of assists. Long hours at General Quarters in cold winds or hot suns did not wear away the sharpness of eye or keenness of mind which was necessary to stop the attack.