" HOOK DOWN, WHEELS DOWN " U.S. NAVY AIRCRAFT CARRIERS IN WWII PART 1 21564a

About

Produced in the early 1970s, "Hook Down, Wheels Down" was one of the most comprehensive (and expensive) films made by the U.S. Navy. It covers the history and development of the U.S. aircraft carrier, and does so through interviews with many of the men who made it happen. While dozens of aircraft carriers are featured, it is the USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) that takes center stage -- and the material shot on her deck looks like it is right out of "Top Gun". Shown in this film are very rare images of the first aircraft carrier USS Langley (CV-1) (formerly collier USS Jupiter AC-3). The follow on vessels are widely featured including USS Lexington (CV-3) and the USS Yorktown (CV-5) in the Battle of Coral Sea. Also featured: USS Saratoga (CV-2), USS Enterprise (CV-6), USS Hornet (CV-8), USS Wasp (CV-7), USS Ranger (CV-4), USS Yorktown (CV-5), USS Essex (CV-9), USS Guadalcanal (CVE-60), the British carrier HMS Furious, the destroyer USS Zeilin (DD-313), and many other warships. Various incidents are shown from Pearl Harbor, Midway, Coral Sea, the capture of the submarine U-505, the Marianas Turkey Shoot, the Doolittle Raid on Japan, and more. Includes interviews or appearances by many WWII naval aviators and aces including Wade McClusky, John Jay Courtney, Billy Mitchell, Gerald Bogen, Leslie Generes, John S. Thatch (of "Thatch Weave" fame), Ensign George Gay, David Campbell (whose Minsi III appears in the film), Edward "Butch" O'Hare, Charles Lindbergh, Glenn Curtiss, Clark Gable and Wallace Beery. Planes seen in the film include the Wright Brothers flier, biplanes, Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis, the NC-4 Flying Boat, Hellcat, Avenger, Corsair, Vindicator, Devastator, Wildcat, and Japanese Zero. The film shows how the aircraft carrier emerged from WWII not just as a ship but as a powerful symbol of modern naval power.

0:00 – The Battle of the Coral Sea marks a revolution in naval warfare, fought entirely by aircraft launched from carriers, with no surface ships coming into direct contact.

1:43 – The Battle of Midway in June 1942 further demonstrates the strategic power of aircraft carriers and changes the tide against Japan.

2:23 – Dive bombers attack the Japanese fleet under intense anti-aircraft fire.

3:38 – Fighter pilots work in teams but ultimately fly alone

4:06 – To be a good fighter pilot, one must love combat but also avoid recklessness and know their aircraft's capabilities.

4:34 – Landing on a carrier is incredibly difficult and unforgiving.

5:50 – The aircraft carrier evolves into a floating airfield and command center, requiring thousands of trained personnel.

6:43 – Modern carriers like the USS Kennedy are mobile airbases capable of global reach, symbolizing U.S. power and readiness.

8:00 – Naval aviation begins in the early 1900s, with officers like Lt. George Sweet recognizing the plane’s potential for the Navy.

9:01 – The Navy first experiments with seaplanes, then tests shipboard takeoffs and landings by Eugene Ely in 1910–1911.

10:01 – The Navy’s first pilots train with aviation pioneer Glenn Curtiss

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