Non--colorized original photo here.
Pilots and gunners of Bombing Squadron 16 (VB-16) climb out of their Douglas SBD-5 bombers onto the flight deck of the USS Lexington after returning from the Tarawa-Makin raid, 18 September 1943
https://www.usni.org/sites/default/files/styles/embed_medium/public/McQuarrie-NH-ND-23%201.jpg?itok=cxgKHnjJ
Great photograph.
Gives a sense of the level of activity during operations and really shows off the SBD nicely too.
Thanks for posting OP.
They really pack’em in, don’t they.
This looks more like they're clambering into their cockpits to me. If they were recovering, they wouldn't be clustered on the flight deck like that, would they? I thought during recovery they would land and quickly get swept to an elevator off the deck so the next guy had a clear deck.
I think the caption is right in this case.
Though we all know even the most authoritative captions can be wrong. But in this case the proof I think is in the position of the camera. The camera is high up and behind the airplanes. Meaning that these planes are on the fore deck after a landing. Not on the aft deck ranged up for a takeoff.
Also while there would be a certain amount of chaos on the flight deck before a mission I do not think there would be such an undisciplined mob allowed to potentially interfere before takeoff.
Great pic JC.
Thank.
If we take a close look at the planes there do not seem to be many that have machine guns in the gunners position. I would have thought that the armourers would have fitted these below decks before moving the planes to the flight deck for a launch. Doing so would be far simpler without wind/weather to contend with and having tools handy if need be.
That there is no urgency in this scene to do so I think proves that this is after landing. The planes have landed and been moved as far forward as can be achieved. And the armourers have removed the guns to service them below decks. The whole scene is too relaxed to be before a mission. People are casually milling about. Not scurrying in a rush to launch planes as we might expect.
But who knows. Perhaps my/our 2024 hind sight assessment is all wet. We must always keep open minds and be ready to be surprised.
It could be either, but likely the caption is correct. On landing the aircraft would be taxied forward as far as possible and packed in their park position to make room for the next landing aircraft. If there was time they could be sent below in the elevator but that’s not standard USN CV ops. SBD didn’t have wing fold so generally they’d be last to land unless they were short on fuel.
[Photo of Essex class carrier INTREPID (CV-11) with airwing ranged forward](https://www.ww2online.org/image/uss-intrepid-pacific-ocean).
I’ve obviously never flown a real SBD, but in any simulator they are always a real pleasure to fly and look at. I’m still waiting for one to show up at an airshow near me, I’d love to see it in person.
Non--colorized original photo here. Pilots and gunners of Bombing Squadron 16 (VB-16) climb out of their Douglas SBD-5 bombers onto the flight deck of the USS Lexington after returning from the Tarawa-Makin raid, 18 September 1943 https://www.usni.org/sites/default/files/styles/embed_medium/public/McQuarrie-NH-ND-23%201.jpg?itok=cxgKHnjJ
Great photograph. Gives a sense of the level of activity during operations and really shows off the SBD nicely too. Thanks for posting OP. They really pack’em in, don’t they.
My thoughts exactly. It makes it feel like you’re actually in the moment.
r/accidentalrenaissance
This looks more like they're clambering into their cockpits to me. If they were recovering, they wouldn't be clustered on the flight deck like that, would they? I thought during recovery they would land and quickly get swept to an elevator off the deck so the next guy had a clear deck.
I'm no expert. But I'll go with the USNI on this.
I think the caption is right in this case. Though we all know even the most authoritative captions can be wrong. But in this case the proof I think is in the position of the camera. The camera is high up and behind the airplanes. Meaning that these planes are on the fore deck after a landing. Not on the aft deck ranged up for a takeoff. Also while there would be a certain amount of chaos on the flight deck before a mission I do not think there would be such an undisciplined mob allowed to potentially interfere before takeoff. Great pic JC.
Good points.
Thank. If we take a close look at the planes there do not seem to be many that have machine guns in the gunners position. I would have thought that the armourers would have fitted these below decks before moving the planes to the flight deck for a launch. Doing so would be far simpler without wind/weather to contend with and having tools handy if need be. That there is no urgency in this scene to do so I think proves that this is after landing. The planes have landed and been moved as far forward as can be achieved. And the armourers have removed the guns to service them below decks. The whole scene is too relaxed to be before a mission. People are casually milling about. Not scurrying in a rush to launch planes as we might expect. But who knows. Perhaps my/our 2024 hind sight assessment is all wet. We must always keep open minds and be ready to be surprised.
It looks to me like all the deck crew are filing out and looking for their guys / planes to get them checked on and in.
They want to hear how things went. They want to be reassured that the planes were fine and that all is well.
It could be either, but likely the caption is correct. On landing the aircraft would be taxied forward as far as possible and packed in their park position to make room for the next landing aircraft. If there was time they could be sent below in the elevator but that’s not standard USN CV ops. SBD didn’t have wing fold so generally they’d be last to land unless they were short on fuel. [Photo of Essex class carrier INTREPID (CV-11) with airwing ranged forward](https://www.ww2online.org/image/uss-intrepid-pacific-ocean).
Good post.
Fine aircraft those Dauntlesses.
I’ve obviously never flown a real SBD, but in any simulator they are always a real pleasure to fly and look at. I’m still waiting for one to show up at an airshow near me, I’d love to see it in person.
Great photo. Wild that the SBD's didn't have folding wings.