Carrier landings and crashes aboard USS Saratoga (CV-3)

The U.S. Navy devoted resources to learning about the dynamics and problems of aircraft carrier landings, making reels of high-speed motion picture film that capture the pre-war essence of flight operations aboard USS Saratoga, CV-3. Caption materials with this archival film suggest it was made around 1934.
Ten years later, naval aviators would conduct a heavy combat tempo of operations, bolstered by what was learned before the war.
Saratoga survived World War II to become one of the target ships sunk at Bikini Atoll in the Operation Crossroads nuclear tests of 1946.
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[@airailimages]

And here's some British carrier action with Seafires, from Airailimages: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKXLkmpjpdJlhpo

[@martinpennock9430]

From humble beginnings to Pacific Juggernaut in 10 years, Naval Aviation remains the best in the world. My father served in the WWII Pacific Theater. Hats off to all the brave men and women who serve our nation. Past, present and future. Heroes all. As always God Bless you and yours Mr. Johnsen. Thanks again for everything you do!! God Bless the USA!!

[@ChiefAUS]

I really like these old films. The LSOs seem to be bringing the planes a bit high to me, or it might be the camera angle. I wonder how many props were destroyed. lol But practice makes perfect. Thanks for all that you do.

[@billkallas1762]

Love those 8" guns on the Sara.

[@alonespirit9923]

I once heard a man who wore a pair of wings say that catapult takeoffs and arrested landings are only moderately less violent than combat.

[@joeschenk8400]

Another great find. I noticed starting at the 3:37 mark there are two LSOs on the aft flight deck, the usual one to port but there is one on the starboard aft end of the flight deck. I have never seen or heard of this before. I wonder if this was standard at the time or an experiment. Also, which LSO would the pilot be looking at? Which one was the primary? This is very interesting.

[@airailimages]

Yes -- how often did two LSOs have slightly different timing or reactions, I wonder? The LSO on the port side makes sense for the rounded-out pattern to keep him in view of the pilot; not sure what the right side LSO accomplished. Wonder if it was for training new LSOs?

[@joeschenk8400]

@@airailimages An LSO in training is an interesting idea.

[@POLMAZURKA]

ill billy music....why?

[@airailimages]

ill billy music? Scroll down and you will find a different commenter who appreciated this music. Not that there's anything wrong with (h)illbilly music, but this is more like classic blues. We learned a long time ago that no matter what music or other audio we use, some will like it and a few will not. So we hope you will stick around an enjoy whatever comes next; it might be music you will like, and someone else will dislike...

[@mattlf9120]

Bill Hilly

[@Ricky40369]

I totally agree. Some period military music would have been much better. The soundtrack sucks.