JEWELLLW@VM.CC.PURDUE.EDU (Larry W. Jewell) (02/18/91)
From: "Larry W. Jewell" <JEWELLLW@VM.CC.PURDUE.EDU> About twenty years ago I read about a side-wheeler ferry boat that had been covered with a flight deck and was being used to practice touch- and-go in the Sea of Cortez, during WWII. I've lost the reference for this and would appreciate it if someone could direct me to a book or publication with the information about this bizarre critter. [mod.note: Roger Chesneau's _Aircraft Carriers of the World 1914-Present_ (US Naval Institute Press) describes the USS Wolverine (IX-64), converted from the Great Lakes paddlewheel steamer Seeandbee in 1942. - Bill ] Thanks, Larry W, Jewell |My opinions would NEVER be held by the administration JEWELLLW@PURCCVM |of Purdue University.
phil@zorch.SF-Bay.ORG (Phil Gustafson) (02/19/91)
From: phil@zorch.SF-Bay.ORG (Phil Gustafson) In article <1991Feb18.054551.11823@cbnews.att.com> JEWELLLW@VM.CC.PURDUE.EDU (Larry W. Jewell) writes: >About twenty years ago I read about a side-wheeler ferry boat that had >been covered with a flight deck and was being used to practice touch- >and-go in the Sea of Cortez, during WWII. I've lost the reference for >this and would appreciate it if someone could direct me to a book or >publication with the information about this bizarre critter. > >[mod.note: Roger Chesneau's _Aircraft Carriers of the World 1914-Present_ >(US Naval Institute Press) describes the USS Wolverine (IX-64), converted >from the Great Lakes paddlewheel steamer Seeandbee in 1942. - Bill ] Norman Friedman's _U.S. Aircraft Carriers - An Illustrated Design History_ lists two: Wolverine was in service from 12 Aug 42 to 7 Nov 45 and _Sable_ (IX-81, ex- _Greater Buffalo_) from 8 Mar 43 to the same date. There's a photo of each, and the _Wolverine_ shot shows the unmodified _Greater Buffalo_ in the background. Both were converted in Buffalo. I'd be surprised if either made it to the Sea of Cortez. The ships had no hangars, armament, or catapults -- they were basically just flight decks to land on. But in October of 1942, four of seven (or 6 1/2) US carriers were sunk, and the rest couldn't be spared for training. -- | phil@zorch.SF-Bay.ORG | Phil Gustafson | {ames|pyramid|vsi1}!zorch!phil | UN*X/graphics consultant | sgi!gsi!phil | 1550 Martin Ave., San Jose CA 95126 | phil@gsi | 408/286-1749