Скачать или смотреть TBM (TBF) Avenger Carrier Qualification Operations USS Vella Gulf (CVE-111) during WW2

This content was filmed on May 13, 1945 as the pilots of VMTB-234 were practicing for carrier qualifications off the coast of California near North Island Naval Station (Santa Barbara, CA area).

The pilots were expected to continue to takeoff and land until they demonstrated an ability to do that safely and within guidelines repeatedly.

There were two cameramen on duty that day as it was the first day of carrier qual practice. One is on deck and the other is in the superstructure.

These were among the first Marine Squadrons to operate from Escort Carriers in the Pacific theater during WW2. There were four Escort Carriers that started this new program:

CVE-106 USS Block Island with squadrons VMTB-233 and VMF-511
CVE-107 USS Gilbert Islands with squadrons VMTB-143 and VMF-512
CVE-109 USS Cape Gloucester with squadrons VMTB-132 and VMF-351
CVE-111 USS Vella Gulf with squadrons VMTB-234 and VMF-513

More of these WW2 Carrier based training and operations videos will be found at channel @WW2VMTB. I will be uploading new videos of the Squadron, ship training and combat experience over time.

These films are from the collections of the USMC History Division and are digitized and physically preserved through a partnership with the University of South Carolina. These films, and much more, can be found at digital.library.sc.edu.

#WW2FighterPilot #WW2Aircraft Carrier #WW2History #WW2FighterPilotTraining #WW2Color #WW2