The Snapshots in Time Collection

Flight Deck Crew Spotting a Carrier Fighter Aircraft Aboard USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), WWII

Flight Deck Crew Spotting a Carrier Fighter Aircraft Aboard USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), WWII

Flight deck crewmen aboard the escort carrier USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80) muscle a carrier fighter into position during WWII Pacific operations. Before powered tow tractors became standard, sailors routinely repositioned aircraft on deck by hand, a labor-intensive but essential part of daily flight operations at sea. Project: 218458