# " HOOK DOWN, WHEELS DOWN " U.S. NAVY AIRCRAFT CARRIERS IN WWII PART 2 21564b

Produced in the early 1970s, "Hook Down, Wheels Down" covers the history and development of the U.S. aircraft carrier. The USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) takes center stage -- and the material shot on her deck looks like it is right out of "Top Gun". Shown in this film is the USS Langley (CV-1) (formerly collier USS Jupiter AC-3), 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 other warships. This documentary chronicles the evolution and critical role of American aircraft carriers in WWII and beyond. Beginning with the early Pacific battles in 1942, including the Battle of the Coral Sea—the first naval engagement where opposing ships never saw each other—and culminating in the decisive American victory at Midway, it highlights the bravery of naval aviators and innovations in carrier warfare. As the war progressed, new ships like the Essex-class carriers and advanced aircraft like the Hellcat helped turn the tide against Japan. Escort carriers, or "Jeep carriers," played vital support roles, including anti-submarine operations in the Atlantic. Notably, kamikaze attacks at Okinawa tested carrier resilience, but none of the Essex-class carriers were lost. Post-war, carriers adapted to Cold War missions,…

- Kind: Film
- By: PeriscopeFilm
- Genres: War, Industrial and advertising
- Archive: [Internet Archive](https://archive.org/details/21564b-hook-down-wheels-down-r-2-vwr)
- Licence or status: none stated by the archive
- Who can watch: Teens profiles and older (the archive gives no rating; placed by Invisible Network from its collection and subjects)

[Watch now](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/watch/archive/ia/21564b-hook-down-wheels-down-r-2-vwr?play=1)