Most of you are quite familiar with the two converted Great Lakes ships that were transformed into training carriers for USN pilots. Here's some photographs I've never seen before. And maybe for you too. Quite amazing when you think about it. There's quite a few photos so take you time. You'll miss out though if you don't scroll down to the end.
The Great Lakes provided vital support for the war effort in WWII, from building 28 fleet subs in Manitowoc, WI to providing the bulk of US industrial output, we could not have won the war if not for the benefits of the Great Lakes and their related industry.
However there was another benefit of the lakes that is often overlooked. Japan quickly lost the war because, among many other things, its navy could not replace its carrier pilot losses.
We could. But how did we train so many pilots in both comfort (calm seas) and safety (no enemy subs)?
We took two old side-wheel Great Lakes passenger steamers and turned them into training carriers on Lake Michigan !
Virtually every carrier pilot trained in the war got his landing training on these amazing ships! Sadly nothing but these great photos and the wrecks of the aircraft that ditched alongside them remain to tell their fascinating story!
Check this out! USS Sable and USS Wolverine. Be sure to scroll all the way to the end!!! Click on attachment below.
http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=48962
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