Carrier aircraft for final assault on Japan

[cardboard_killer]

[80 years ago today] "• USS Shangri La conducts flight tests of different navalized aircraft. A P-51D is flown off without need of a catapult and easily landed again. The project is over concern that USAAF fighters are currently not able to escort B-29s all the way to their targets in Japan and back. The Navy is not eager to get into the business of dedicating carriers to escort Army bombers, and the project will be cancelled once Iwo Jima is captured.

 

Navalized P-51D aboard USS Shangri La 15 Nov 1944

 

Marine PBJ-1H landing aboard USS Sangri La Nov 44"

 

- The carrier also tests a navalized Marine Corps PBJ bomber for use during the invasion of Japan. The tests show that the Mitchell can be used from carriers but the bombload of a squadron of them is less than that carried by an equivalent number of carrier strike aircraft. The only advantage is range and the project is shelved.