USS Coral Sea F2H-2 Banshee landings and ditching aftermath Airailimages

The time is March, 1951. USS Coral Sea, CVB-43, a Midway-class aircraft carrier, is recovering and launching McDonnell F2H Banshee jet fighters. Coral Sea was one of the last U.S. carriers built with a straight deck. Years after this film, it received an angle-deck upgrade. The presence of tip tanks indicates these are F2H-2 variants of the Banshee in the scenes. Landings and wave-offs are filmed looking aft, and some launches are made forward. Then, abruptly, a scene looking aft at an approaching Banshee stops. The next cut shows an aircraft tail jutting from the sea behind the carrier, and men running to the edge of the deck to see what has happened. A helicopter lands on the deck, returning the pilot as men run toward it, bearing a stretcher in case it is needed. Later a Banshee engages the first ribbon barrier, protecting the forward deck and any aircraft parked there. The jet's wheels are disengaged and the Banshee taxies forward. Successful traps -- engaging one of the tailhook wires -- prompt the lowering of the barriers to enable the jet to move forward, clearing the aft deck for more landings. Enjoy the pulse of life aboard the USS Coral Sea well over 70 years ago. The jet age for carrier aviation was still new, but aircraft and methods were developing rapidly to embrace a new era. Coral Sea served the Navy until decommissioning in April 1990. Sold for scrap in 1993, the final bits of salvaging were not finished until 2000. If you enjoyed this video, please share the link with others who would like to see it. And hit the Subscribe button if you have not already joined more than 117,000 who have subscribed to the Airailimages Channel.