Aircraft Carriers

A Typical Battle 

 

      Early in the morning, just before the sun rises, an alarm begins to wail over the intercoms. Everyone jumps out of bed and reports to their general quarters. Every member of the crew reports to a battle station, whether it be manning an anti aircraft gun, loading the planes with bombs and fuel, or running things down in the engine room. The pilots meanwhile get ready, putting on their special jumpsuits and other flight gear. They are given last minute intel abou their mission that day, then head up to the flight deck. As the ship begins to speed closer to the object the pilots wait, nervous and excited about what they will face in the upcoming day. Finally the command comes for pilots to man their planes. The first fighter planes buzz off the plane deck into a strong head wind. The bombers follow soon after, and eventually everyone is off the plane. The the planes are now by themselves, flying toward their target just as the sun rises.

After a few hours pass the first planes approach the island, flying low to avoid radar contact. Soon the bombing begins, and the island begins to be peppered with explosions. Red tracer rounds fly across the sky, trying to hit the incoming bombers. The bombers reach their targets, destroying them one by one. Soon the whole island is on fire, large clouds of smoke billowing into the sky. The Bombers leave to return to the aircraft carrier, knowing they have won the battle.

When the planes reach the carrier they now face another challenge, landing. The planes must be sure to line themselves up properly with the boat. As they come into land they must be sure to hook themselves as they land, or they may not slow down and will continue off the other edge of the boat. For most this is easy, but for some damaged ships it proves to be difficult. Some planes break apart upon impact, while other slide into other objects on the ship. An hour later or so all the planes have landed on the ship and their day is finished. They have successfully destroyed a Japanese outpost. (1)