A buddy of mine for decades is one of the last of the American carrier fighter pilots in the Pacific war. He is always matter of fact about it, and never melodramatic, but he is quite clear how easy it was to die in carrier operations in that era, from causes that had nothing to do with the enemy. Just getting back to an unlit carrier at night was a feat that required daring and fervent prayer!
Lest We Forget
- Donald R. McClarey
Donald R. McClarey
Cradle Catholic. Active in the pro-life movement since 1973. Father of three, one in Heaven, and happily married for 43 years. Small town lawyer and amateur historian. Former president of the board of directors of the local crisis pregnancy center for a decade.
“Just getting back to an unlit carrier at night was a feat that required daring and fervent prayer!”
Just ask any of the pilots that were in the Mission Beyond Darkness the day after the great Marianas turkey shoot. The US lost four times as many aircraft trying to get back to the carriers in the dark on June 20th than they had lost on June 19th in the Marianas turkey shoot. Marc Mitscher ordered all the ships in his task force to be lit to make it easier for the pilots to find they’re way back but the US still lost 100 planes most of which had to ditch in the sea. Pilots prayers must have been answered because only 16 pilots and 33 crewmen were lost. It’s anecdotal but Mitscher reportedly said ” let there be light”
I was privilege to help care for a naval pilot who flew Corsairs off of carriers. He told me that they had a nickname for their planes. Bent Wing Bastards. He continued to tell me that the design was fabulous for air to air combat, however when slowing it down to land on a carrier the design created quite a challenge. The plane became squirrely due to loss of air pressure under the portion of the wings that were hinged.
God Rest his Soul, Frank A.
He was a joy to care for. Funny and a devout Catholic as well.
Philip-
I know I’ve said it before, but *thank you* for being a light in the sea of apathy that often characterizes the modern rest home.
Thank you Bruised.
Those are very kind words.
Practicing Catholic.
God help us all.
I wish that generation had been less silent. Perhaps many of my generation would not have been idiots.