Typhoon Cobra Part II

In addition to the three Destroyers lost during Typhoon Cobra, Task Force 38 lost a total of 146 aircraft destroyed or damaged beyond repair.  Some aircraft which broke free of their tie-downs on deck simply rolled (or were washed) over the side, but an aircraft rolling free in a hanger deck became a missile, smashing anything in its way and often starting fires.

“Planes went adrift, collided, and burst into flames. Monterey caught fire at 0911 (18 December) and lost steerageway a few minutes later. The fire was brought under control at 0945 and the C.O., Captain Stuart H. Ingersoll, decided to let his ship lie dead in the water until temporary repairs could be effected. She lost 18 aircraft burned in the hangar deck or blown overboard and 16 seriously damaged, together with three 20-mm guns, and suffered extensive rupturing of her ventilation system. Cowpens lost 7 planes overboard and caught fire from one that broke loose at 1051, but the fire was brought under control promptly; Langley rolled through 70 degrees; San Jacinto reported a fighter plane adrift on the hangar deck which wrecked seven other aircraft. She also suffered damage from salt water that entered through punctures in the ventilating ducts. Captain [Jasper T.] Acuff’s replenishment escort carriers did pretty well. Flames broke out on the flight deck of Cape Esperance at 1228 but were overcome; Kwajalein made a maximum roll of 39 degrees to port when hove-to with wind abeam. Her port catwalks scooped up green water, but she lost only three planes which were jettisoned from the flight deck; it took one hour to get them over the side. Three other escort carriers lost in all 86 aircraft but came through without much material damage.”

• Morison, Samuel Eliot, History of United States Naval Operations in World War II Volume XIII: The Liberation of the Philippines—Luzon, Mindanao, the Visayas 1944–1945

Sixteen Grumman F6F Hellcats are seen here lashed to the deck as the Independence-class carrier USS Cowpens (CVL-25) takes a roll. Note the redundant tie-downs securing the aircraft to the deck, and that the Hellcats have belly tanks in place.

Cowpens’ sister ship USS Langley (CVL-27) rolls to starboard as she fights against the storm.

A view from the catwalk as Langley heals over. Her Ensign indicates that the wind is broad on her port beam which accentuates the roll.

A series of photographs taken aboard the USS Anzio (CVE-57), a Casablanca class escort carrier assigned to screen the replenishment group. The Avenger in the foreground is well-secured with redundant tie-downs, as is the Wildcat at the corner of the flight deck. These deckhands from the Greatest Generation would have trouble comprehending the need for “safe spaces” common on college campuses today.

At the other end of Anzio’s flightdeck chaos reigns as some of the aircraft have broken free. One Avenger is in the catwalk while another has her tail over the side as deckhands work to secure more tie-downs.

Not the cleanest rigging job, but at this point the intention is to keep the Avenger from going over the side until it can be repaired or stripped of useful components.

This Wildcat has swung her tail into the catwalk. Note the mixture of camouflage schemes, the Avenger in the previous photo is in the “three tone” graded camouflage scheme, while this Wildcat wears overall Sea Blue. Camo was applied at the factory so it was possible for a carrier’s air group to carry a mix of schemes as aircraft were replaced.

While the damage to this Avenger does not appear severe, American aircraft production was such that it was often expedient to simply strip the aircraft of useful components and write off the airframe.

The Light Cruiser USS Santa Fe (CL-60) takes a heavy roll. Turret One is trained to port to reduce the potential for damage to the rubberized canvas “bloomers” on the six-inch guns from heavy seas breaking over the bow.

An iconic shot of an unknown Allen M. Sumner class Destroyer working through heavy swells during Typhoon Cobra.

Part I here: https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/2023/06/14/typhoon-cobra-part-i/