Miloch wrote in
news
In article , Mitchell
Holman says...

Miloch wrote in
news
...short read plus good pics

https://www.businessinsider.com/9-ph...ne-a-weird-wwi
i- carrier-originally-cruise-ship-2018-7

The USS Wolverine is one of the oddest aircraft carriers in US Navy
history.



Since it didn't actually "carry" any planes
but just served as a "touch and go" landing
platform can it really be called a carrier?

Dumb question, I know, but there you go...



Built in 1912, the Wolverine was originally a side-wheel steamer
called the SS Seeandbee that was used for luxury cruises on the
Great Lakes. But it got a second career when it was bought by the US
Navy in 1942 as the service rapidly stood up a carrier force to
answer Japanese aggression.

By January 1943, the Wolverine had been converted into an aircraft
carrier to train naval aviators and flight deck crews for World War
II.

It was based in Navy Pier in Chicago so that it could operate in
Lake Michigan, but it lacked many features that combat carriers
have, such as elevators and hangar decks.

During WWII, the Wolverine, along with its sister trainer, the USS
Sable, conducted more than 120,000 landings and qualified more than
35,000 pilots.


I always wondered about the training for
LSO's. Surely they were instructed on how to
signal pilots how to land on carriers, but
where?



https://www.globalsecurity.org/milit...ship/ix-64.htm


"Fitted with a 550-foot flight deck, Wolverine began her new job in
January 1943, to be joined by her sister Sable in May. Operating
various aircraft out of NAS Glenview, the two paddle-wheelers afforded
invaluable training not only to pilots, but to smaller numbers of
Landing Signal Officers (LSO) as well. As the Navy's first
side-wheeled aircraft carrier, Wolverine was equipped to handle plane
take-offs and landings, a vital duty that she performed for the
duration of World War II. She contributed to the winning war effort in
World War II by training hundreds of pilots in basic carrier
operations.


That must of been a chore. If the landing is screwed
up the trainee LSO and the trainee pilot can blame each
other......