This silent 1950s color footage offers a glimpse into life on the USS Leyte (CV-32) aircraft carrier, showing numerous takeoffs and landings from iconic period aircraft (TRT 10:27) including F4U-4 Corsairs, F9F Cougars and A-1 Skyraiders.
An underexposed shot of a United States Navy battleship cutting through sea water, taken from a high angle. A rope line runs to somewhere below the camera (0:06). Cruising through tall waves (0:31). A fighter plane numbered 47 comes in for a landing against an overcast sky. It brakes as the film cuts (0:35). Next, a Douglas A-1 (AD-4) Skyraider swerves into landing position (0:42). The folding wings of the fighter point skyward and the plane taxis away (0:53). Another Skyraider landing and a longer shot of the folding wing craft taxiing (1:04). A U.S. Navy Sikorsky H-5 or HO3S-1 helicopter hovers overhead as men hold onto their hats (1:14). A distant vessel appears small on the horizon of the open sea. A pan shows a ship trailing behind (1:22). A Gearing class destroyer USS Ozbourn (DD-846) in partial view from two angles. The aft of the ship bounces in the waves, leaving behind a frothy white wake (1:26). Rigging appears in the shot (2:29). The sea below (2:48). Guns fire from the aircraft carrier, leaving plumes of smoke. The camera shakes with each report (2:52). Lights flash on the horizon (3:08). The bow of the destroyer returns. Water pours off the deck as waves spill onboard (3:23). A disabled signal flag (4:16). A long shot of a Grumman F9F-6 Cougar plane, probably VF-24, using thecatapult for takeoff from the carrier’s forward deck. Pilots stand nearby. A second takeoff follows on the left, as the camera pans quickly. Two more planes queue for takeoff, pushed into place by clusters of navy pilots (4:20). The signal flag flutters in the breeze as additional Skyraider planes taxi across the airstrip behind it. Punched holes (5:14). A densely packed fleet of F4U-4 Corsairs, possibly of VF-871, their folded wings allowing for close quarters (5:52). At the other end of the carrier, a Sikorsky helicopter prepares for takeoff (5:59). Repositioning a plane using a tug (6:10). A team of men stands ready behind the wings of a Cougar preparing for takeoff. A small crowd of spectators stands aside (6:28). The first plane takes off. With a cut, another plane appears in its place (6:53). Punched holes and three more takeoffs of F4U-4 Corsairs without as many men in the shot (7:02). An airman signals a plane that it is clear for takeoff from the carrier strip (7:26). A different plane comes in for a landing in the opposite direction, with its fuselage facing the camera. After landing, it taxis past the camera (7:33). Another Corsair comes to a halt as the tailhook hits a wire. A flight crew quickly scrambles around the craft as another plane flies overhead (7:44). Another Skyraider folds its wings (8:24). Three distant planes fly in formation against a cloudy sky. Landings continue (8:34). A montage of passing battleships viewed at medium distance, from afar, or on the brink of disappearing across the horizon (8:59).
The USS Leyte was an Essex-class aircraft carrier commissioned in April 1946. She saw service in the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Mediterranean. During the Korean War, she earned two battle stars. In 1959, she was decommissioned, and in 1970, sold for scrap.
The AD-4 variant Skyraider heavily featured in this film was notable for its improved landing gear, radar, G-2 compass, 20mm cannons, Aero rocket launchers, and capacity for 50lbs of bombs. 372 were built in total.
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
