U.S.S. Midway - LetsGoSeeIt.com

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The San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum
U.S.S. Midway

History of U.S. Navy Aircraft Carriers

As you board the carrier you will enter the below-deck hanger bay. There you will see a display that has the history of the various types of aircraft carriers that have served the U.S. Navy through the years. The history of each class of carrier is detailed in a series of placards at the display. That information is presented below.

THIS EXHIBIT WAS PRESENTED
TO THE SAN DIEGO AIRCRAFT
CARRIER MUSEUM BY THE
AIRCRAFT CARRIER MEMORIAL
ASSOCIATION IN MEMORY OF
THOSE SAILORS AND MARINES
WHO LOST THEIR LIVES
ABOARD CARRIERS AND
FLIGHT CREWS OPERATING
FROM CARRIERS, ALSO THOSE
WHO SERVED AND ARE
CURRENTLY SERVING IN
AIRCRAFT CARRIERS.

USS LANGLEY CV-1
"AMERICA'S FIRST AIRCRAFT CARRIER"

They called her "The Covered Wagon" and like her name-sake prairie schooner she would carry a bold new breed of pioneers -- the men who would serve in U.S. Navy aircraft carriers.

America's first aircraft carrier was converted from the navy collier, USS Jupiter AC3 and re-commissioned as USS Langley CV1 on March 20, 1922 under the command of Commander Kenneth Whiting. Naval Aviator No. 16. Langley had all electric propulsion. A speed of 15 knots. Was 542' long. Beam 65'. Draft 18'. And displacement of 11,500 tons.

Langley now embarked on a training period -- officers and crew had to learn the many new procedures relating to handling aircraft on board ship. The first carrier take-off was made by LCDR Godfrey Chevalier on October 26, 1922.

After a two year training period on the east coast, Langley was assigned to the Pacific battle fleet at San Diego on November 29, 1924. On January 22, 1925 VF Squadron 2, the first unit trained to operate from an aircraft carrier reported on board as Langley was underway off San Diego. As the first Navy carrier, Langley was the scene of numerous momentous events. The 1928 fleet battle exersize was to include a surprise air attack on Hawaii. Planes from the Langley surprised the Honolulu military installations by swooping in and dropping "flour" bombs on their unsuspecting heads. (sound familiar?) In December 1931 Langley conducted nine days of cold weather tests of deck gear, aircraft and protective flight clothing off the New England coast. On July 30, 1935 Lt. Frank Akers made the first carrier instrument landing -- taking off from NAS San Diego in an OJ-2 with his cockpit completely hooded he located the ship and landed on board.

By 1936 the Navy had 3 larger and faster carriers: Lexington, CV2 Saratoga CV3 and Ranger CV4 so Langley was once again called on for a new life. She completed her conversion into an aircraft tender on February 26, 1937 and was re-designated AV3. Assigned to aircraft scouting force, Langley operated in San Diego, Alaska and Hawaii with various patrol squadrons. In July 1939 Langley was assigned to the Asiatic fleet in support of Patrol Wing 10. She was at Cavite, enroute to the Dutch East Indies and then to Australia where she was assigned to the American-British-Dutch-Australian forces assembling in Indonesia. She departed Freemantle February 22, 1942 to deliver 32 U.S. Army P-40's to Tjilatjap, Java. Five days later the old "Covered Wagon" was sunk.

LEXINGTON CLASS

Laid down as battle cruisers, their design was changed to aircraft carriers under terms of the Washington Naval Treaty, they were the largest carriers in the world until near the end of WWII. Both ships were launched in 1925 and were the first fleet carriers in the navy. As such they (along with Ranger) were instrumental in training, developing procedures, and doctrine for the fleet air arm.

During WWII Saratoga was torpedoed on 11 Jan 1942 and was out of action for several months. Lexington took part and was present at the first carrier vs. carrier battle in the Coral Sea 8 May 1942. She took several bomb hits which started fires that forced her to be abandoned. Lexington was the first American carrier lost in the war.

Saratoga was again torpedoed 31 Aug 1942 but served throughout the remainder of the war including a period in 1944 with the British Far Eastern Fleet. On 21 Feb 1945 she received severe damage by Kamikazes. After the war Saratoga was used as a target for atomic bomb tests 25 July 1946.

CV2 LEXINGTON

CV3 SARATOGA

USS RANGER CV-4
FIRST FROM THE KEEL UP

The keel for the USS Ranger was laid September 26, 1931 by Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Company, Newport News, Virginia. She was launched February 25, 1933, under sponsorship of Mrs. Herbert Hoover, and commissioned at Norfolk Navy Yard June 4, 1934, under the command of Capt. Arthur L. Bristol.

Ranger had a standard displacement of 14,500 tons, length 769 feet, and beam 86 feet. Normal complement 1788. Powered by geared turbines driving twin screws giving a speed pf 30 knots. Armament was 86 aircraft and eight 5" dual purpose guns.

Air operations began off Cape Henry on August 6, 1934 embarking squadrons VB-3B, BG-1 Great Lakes; VS-1B, SU-1, Vought; VB-5B, BF-2C-1 Curtiss; and VF-3B, F4-B4, Boeing. In 1939 she sailed to the west coast to operate with carriers Langley, Lexington and Saratoga, in 1939 returned to the Atlantic where she engaged in pilot training, submarine patrols, and the neutrality patrols which earned her the right to a large "A" on their Atlantic Defense ribbon, and honor given to relatively few.

The start of the war saw more antisubmarine patrols until the preparations for Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa. On April 2, 1942 USS Ranger got underway with a cargo of U.S. Army P-40 planes and pilots proceeding via Trinidad to the Gold Coast of Africa where the P-40's flew to Accura. Three more such trips were made.

During Operation Torch, on November 8, 1942, at Casablanca, Ranger launched 203 flights between sunrise and sunset. To quote a high ranking Admiral, "The outstanding performance of the Ranger and Ranger Air Group on Sunday, November 8, 1942 surpasses any achievement by a carrier and her Group".

Among her wartime accomplishments:
She was the first American Aircraft Carrier to cross the Arctic Circle in both the Atlantic and Pacific. While operating with the British Fleet, the Ranger was the first American carrier to raid German shipping in Norway. In fact she was the only American carrier to operate against German occupied Europe.

She engaged in intense training activities such as on May 15, 1945, when 480 landings were made. This performance evoked a special letter of commendation from Admiral A. E. Montgomery, USN, Commander Fleet Air, West Coast, who as a matter of interest, was Ranger's fifth commanding officer. Concerning her activities, a message to the ship from a very high ranking Admiral said that although Ranger never engaged the enemy in the Pacific she sent more destruction to the Japanese than any carrier afloat.

In late 1945 Ranger sailed back to the east coast to celebrate Navy Day in New Orleans and then to a shipyard for repairs after which she resumed training operations. The Ranger received no damage by any enemy, although German submarines fired torpedoes at her and reported her sunk.

By V-J Day, USS Ranger had totaled 77,906 landings, for her entire career she had over 85,000 landings.

On October 18, 1946, Ranger was decommissioned and in 1947 was scrapped.

YORKTOWN CLASS

These three ships, USS Yorktown, USS Enterprise, and USS Hornet are probably the most famous carriers in US Naval history. With the Saratoga and Lexington, they engaged the Japanese and stopped their advance in the crucial first year of the war.

Enlarged and improved Rangers, they displaced about 20,000 tons and carried up to 100 aircraft.

Hornet is most famous for launching the B-25 Army bombers in the Doolittle raid on Tokyo 18 April 1942. Yorktown, along with Lexington, was present at the first carrier vs. carrier battle in history, 8 May 1942 at Coral Sea. She received bomb damage but was able to return to Pearl Harbor. With only the most crucial repairs completed she, along with Enterprise and Hornet, sailed out to meet the Japanese thrust aimed at Midway Island. It was the air groups of these three ships that on 4 June 1942 destroyed the entire enemy carrier fleet and won the Battle of Midway. It was the decisive battle of WWII in the Pacific. Yorktown was lost in that battle, sunk by a Japanese submarine on 7 June.

Enterprise & Hornet took part in the other major air battles of 1942 (Santa Cruz & Eastern Solomons) Enterprise was damaged in both and Hornet was lost 26 Oct. 1942 at Santa Cruz.

Enterprise served throughout the rest of the war with the Pacific Fleet. Her last battle Damage was two Kamikazi hits on 11 & 13 April 1945. Efforts to preserve Enterprise as a museum proved futile and she was scrapped in 1958.

CV5 YORKTOWN

CV6 ENTERPRISE

CV8 HORNET

USS WASP CV-7

The eighth Wasp CV-7 was laid down on 1 April 1936 at Quincy, Mass., by the Bethleham Shipbuilding Co.; launched on 4 April 1939; sponsored by Mrs. Charles E. Edison; wife of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy; and commissioned on 15 April 1940 at the Army Quartermaster Base, South Boston, Mass. Captain John W. Reeves in command. Wasp distinguished herself in the Atlantic, Mediteranean, and Pacific Theaters prior to and during World War II, receiving three battle stars for participation in the reinforcement of Malta, the Guadalcanal-Tulagi landings, and the capture and defense of Guadalcanal. The Wasp was torpedoed and lost southeast of Guadalcanal through Japanese submarine action 15 September 1942 with the loss of one hundred ninety three officers and men of her crew. Perhaps most famous for her prominent role in two vital reinforcement runs to the beleaguered island of Malta in 1942. Her sterling performance evoked British Prime Minister Winston Churchill's famous interrogatory message "Who said a Wasp could not sting twice."

ESSEX CLASS

The ships that were to carry the war to the Japanese from 1943 onward, were enlarged and improved Yorktowns. They had a standard displacement of around 27,000 tons, an overall length of 874 ft. (later ships 888 ft.) and carrier up to 100 aircraft.

There were two variants in this class, U.S.S. Oriskany and later ships had a modified island structure. Most were modernized in the years after the war, with, among other things, angled decks and enclosed bows. They were used for various duties in their later years.

Fast, versatile and very rugged, these ships entered service in 1943 and soon made up most of the offensive force of the Pacific Fleet which between 1944 and 1945 had become overwhelmingly powerful. Essex class ships showed a remarkable ability to survive severe damage and although many were hit, none were lost. U.S.S. Franklin and U.S.S. Bunker Hill notably survived multiple Kamikaze hits, yet were able to return to port.

Four ships carried the names of the older carriers lost in 1942. Namely U.S.S. Lexington, U.S.S. Yorktown, U.S.S. Hornet and U.S.S. Wasp.

CV 9 ESSEX	CV 17 BUNKER HILL	CV 34 ORISKANY
CV 10 YORKTOWN	CV 18 WASP	CV 36 ANTIETAM
CV 11 INTREPID	CV 19 HANCOCK	CV 37 PRINCETON
CV 12 HORNET	CV 20 BENNINGTON	CV 38 SHANGRI-LA
CV 13 FRANKLIN	CV 21 BOXER	CV 39 LAKE CHAMPLAIN
CV 14 TICONDEROGA	CV 31 BON HOMME RICHARD	CV 40 TARAWA
CV 15 RANDOLPH	CV 32 LEYTE	CV 45 VALLEY FORGE
CV 16 LEXINGTON	CV 33 KEARSARGE	CV 47 PHILIPPINE SEA

MIDWAY CLASS

The U.S.S. Midway was the first of a class of three ships that were designed during WWII with lessons learned from the early war years. In addition to an increase is size over the essex class, these ships carried greater anti aircraft armament and had armored flight decks. Originally designated CVB's it was changed to CVA's as were all front line carriers in 1952.

Originally displacing about 45,000 tons standard and at 968 ft overall, they were commissioned too late for war service. All three underwent extensive modernization during the period of 1954-1959. The changes included angled decks, steam catapults, and enclosed bows. U.S.S. Coral Sea was changed to a greater extent than her sisters and emerged from refitting with a different appearance. Displacement was now 62,000 to 64,000 tons standard.

All three ships served throughout the world during their service lives including action in the vietnam war. All are now out of commission and U.S.S. Midway is our museum.

CVA 41 MIDWAY	CVA 43 CORAL SEA
CVA 42 FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT

FORRESTAL CLASS

The U.S.S. Forrestal was the first of the post war "supercarriers" and represented a major increase in size and capacity over wartime designs. These ships incorporated all the latest innovations such as much wider elevators, and steam catapults.

There are two distinct sub types in the class. Forrestal, Saratoga, Ranger & Independence had the island structure ahead of the second and third portside elevators while Constellation, Kitty Hawk, America and John F. Kennedy had the island dehind No. 2 portside elevator giving a distinctly different silhouette appearance. The first four also carried eight 5" guns that were later removed.

The U.S.S. John F. Kennedy is sufficiently different to be considered by some as a separate class.

All these ships have served in most major American naval operations throughout their service lives. Standard displacement varies from 60,000 to 75,000 tons, overall length is 1046 feet, flight decks cover 4.1 acres.

CVA 59 FORRESTAL	CVA 63 KITTY HAWK
CVA 60 SARATOGA	CVA 64 CONSTELLATION
CVA 61 RANGER	CVA 66 AMERICA
CVA 62 INDEPENDENCE	CVA 67 JOHN F. KENNEDY

COMMENCEMENT BAY CLASS

This class of ships were the last of the war designated aircraft carriers. Modified Sangamon class they were about 11,000 tons and carried up to 34 aircraft. Only Block Island, Cape Gloucester, and Gilbert Islands joined the fleet in time to participate in the closing actions of the Pacific War.

CVE 105 COMMENCEMENT BAY	CVE 111 VELLA GULF	CVE 118 SICILY
CVE 106 BLOCK ISLAND	CVE 112 SIBONY	CVE 119 POINT CRUZ
CVE 107 GILBERT ISLANDS	CVE 114 RENDOVA	CVE 120 MINDORO
CVE 108 KULA GULF	CVE 115 BAIROKO	CVE 121 RABAUL
CVE 109 CAPE GLOUCESTER	CVE 116 BADOENG STRAIT	CVE 122 PALAU
CVE 110 SALERNO BAY	CVE 117 SAIDOR

SANGAMON CLASS

So great was the need for aircraft carriers early in the war that four recently completed fleet oilers were converted to escort carriers. The Sangamon class was somewhat larger than other escort carriers, displacing 11,400 tons, being 553 ft. long and carrying as many as 34 aircraft. All four provided aircraft transfer and air cover for America's first offensive, the North African invasion in 1942. They then went to the Pacific where they operated with regular fleet units during the shortage of fleet carriers early in 1943. Sangamon, Santee, Chenango, and Suwanee were damaged in Oct. 1944 during the Leyte invasion. Sangamon was again hit by Kamikaze attack 4 May 1945.

CVE 26 SANGAMON	CVE 28 CHENANGO
CVE 27 SUWANEE	CVE 29 SANTEE

INDEPENDENCE CLASS

In March 1942, under the war emergency program, nine cleveland class light cruisers then under construction, were redesignated as aircraft carriers.

The U.S.S. Independence (CVL 22) was launched on 22 Aug. 1942 at New York Shipbuilding. These ships, designated CVL 22-30 were highly successful as conversions as they had the high speed to operate with the fleet carriers. They were smaller than Essex class ships, (11,000 tons vs. 27,100 tons) and typically carried only 45 aircraft (Essex class carrier up to 100).

These ships all entered service in 1943 and participated in all Pacific fleet operations throughout the rest of the war.

On 24 Oct. 1944, during the preliminaries to Leyte Gulf operation, third fleet was attacked by Japanese land based air and U.S.S. Princeton sustained major damage and was lost. She was the only fleet carrier lost by the Navy after 1942.

All of this class rendered excellent service and several suffered damage to some extent.

After the war, U.S.S. Belleau Wood and U.S.S. Langley were transferred to the French Navy and U.S.S. Cabot to the Spanish Navy.

CVL 22 INDEPENDENCE	CVL 27 LANGLEY
CVL 23 PRINCETON	CVL 28 CABOT
CVL 29 BATAAN	CVL 29 SANTEE
CVL 25 COWPENS	CVL 30 JACINTO
CVL 26 MONTEREY

SAIPAN CLASS

Similar to Independence class above but built on Baltimore class heavy crusier hulls. Commissioned too late for war service.

CVL 48 SAIPAN

CVL 49 WRIGHT

U.S.S. ENTERPRISE

The U.S.S. ENTERPRISE was the first large surface ship to be powered by nuclear propulsion. While somewhat larger than the Forrestal class ships, she has vastly greater capacities. Able to steam for five years without refueling and built to carry twice the aviation gas, she can operate with much greater freedom than oil fired ships. This ship embodied many other advances in such areas as radar, electronic capabilities and aircraft handling.

While the last two Forrestal class ships were completed after Enterprise, she served as the prototype for the Nimitz class that followed.

Displacing 75,700 tons standard, and being 1,102 feet long, Enterprise can steam at high speeds (perhaps up to 35 knots) without regard for fuel comsumption.

Originally to be a class of six ships, Enterprise was the only ship of this type built.

CVA (N) 65 U.S.S. ENTERPRISE

CASABLANCA CLASS

On December 7, 1941, America had only 7 aircraft carriers in the entire fleet. They were the Lexington, Saratoga, Enterprise, Hornet, Yorktown, Ranger, and the Wasp.

Due to the expense and time required to build these large aircraft carriers, it was decided to build smaller aircraft carriers, to be designated as "escort carriers." This program would free-up large aircraft carriers to battle the Japanese. The pilots flying from these "escort carriers" would fly support missions for our island landing forces. In the Atlantic, the "escort carriers" would be used for air cover for allied convoys, as they battled the German U-boats.

In early 1942, Henry J. Kaiser discussed with President Franklin D. Roosevelt, that his company could build these "escort carriers" on a "production line" basis. After a lengthly debate, President Roosevelt gave Mr. Kaiser the order to build fifty (50) new "escort carriers," to be known as "CVE's." The keel for the first of these 50 escort carriers was laid in November of 1942. This carrier was named the "Casablanca," after a port in French Morocco. The Casablanca was launched April 5, 1943, at the Kaiser Shipbuilding Co. Vancouver, Wash. Most of the other 49 carriers were named after bays or water-ways in Alaska.

These 50 Casablanca class escort carriers were quite small compared to the large carriers. They were only 512 feet long and 108 feet wide. The flight deck was 477 feet long and 80 feet wide. These "escort carriers" were manned by some 900 men. They carried approximately 20 FM-2's (very similar to F4F's), and 12 TBM's (formerly TBF's). Many of these small carriers saw combat in the following areas: Gilbert Islands; Marshall Islands; New Guinea; Japan; Philippine Sea; Peleliu Island; Leyte Gulf (the largest Naval battle in U.S. history); Iwo Jima and Okinowa.

The 50 Casablanca class escort carriers are as follows:

CVE-55 CASABLANCA	CVE-56 LISCOME BAY	CVE-57 CORAL SEA
CVE-58 CORREGIDOR	(SUNK BY KAMIKAZI)	CVE-59 MISSION BAY
CVE-60 GUADALCANAL	CVE-61 MANILA BAY	CVE-62 NATOMA BAY
CVE-63 ST. LO	CVE-64 TRIPOLI	CVE-65 WAKE ISLAND
(SUNK BY KAMIKAZI)	CVE-66 WHITE PLAINS	CVE-67 SOLOMONS
CVE-68 KALININ BAY	CVE-69 KASAAN BAY	CVE-70 FANSHAW BAY
CVE-71 KITKUN BAY	CVE-72 TULAGI	CVE-77 GAMBIER BAY
CVE-74 NEHENTA BAY	CVE-75 HOGGART BAY	(SUNK BY GUNFIRE)
CVE-76 HADASHAN BAY	CVE-77 MARCUS ISLAND	CVE-78 SAVO ISLAND
CVE-79 OMMANEY BAY	CVE-80 PETROF BAY	CVE-81 RUDYERD BAY
(SUNK BY KAMIKAZI)	CVE-82 SAGINAW BAY	CVE-83 SARGENT BAY
CVE-84 SHAMROCK BAY	CVE-85 SHIPLEY BAY	CVE-86 SITOH BAY
CVE-87 STEAMER BAY	CVE-88 CAPE ESPERANCE	CVE-89 TAKANIS BAY
CVE-90 THETIS BAY	CVE-91 MAKASSAR STRAIT	CVE-92 WINDHAM BAY
CVE-93 MAKIN ISLAND	CVE-94 LUNGA POINT	CVE-95 BISMARCK SEA
CVE-96 SALAMAUA	CVE-97 HOLLANDIA	(SUNK BY KAMIKAZI)
CVE-98 KWAJALEIN	CVE-99 ADMIRALTY ISLANDS	CVE-100 BOUGAINVILLE
CVE-101 MANANIKAU	CVE-102 ATTU	CVE-103 ROI
CVE-104 MINDA

NIMITZ CLASS

The Nimitz class ships represent the latest and perhaps final design evolution of large aircraft carriers.

First designed in the 1950's these ships represent many improvements over their earlier sisters.

The Nimitz class embodies all the advantages that nuclear power offers and can operate over very long distances and for very long periods of time, enabling the United States to project power virtually anywhere in the world as needed.

Standard displacement is around 95,000 tons, length aproximately 1,100 feet and flight deck area is about 4.5 acres.

The Nimitz class is also noteworthy in that they are named, not for battles, or for famous older ships, but, as U.S.S. Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA 42) and U.S.S. John F. Kennedy (CVA 67) they honor distinguished american leaders or U.S.S. America (CVA 66) the nation itself.

CVA 68 U.S.S. NIMITZ	CVA 73 U.S.S. GEORGE WASHINGTON
CVA 69 U.S.S. DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER	CVA 74 U.S.S. JOHN C. STENNIS
CVA 70 U.S.S. CARL VINSON	CVA 75 U.S.S. HARRY S. TRUMAN
CVA 71 U.S.S. THEODORE ROOSEVELT	CVA 76 U.S.S. RONALD REAGAN
CVA 72 U.S.S. ABRAHAM LINCOLN

U.S.S. LONG ISLAND

The pressing need for air cover for Atlantic convoys to protect them from the U-boat menace led to the development of escort carriers (CVE). The earliest were converted from merchant ship hulls. The U.S.S. Long Island (CVE-1) displaced 11,300 tons and carried about 20 aircraft.

Their utility was soon apparent and they were used for a variety of purposes: supporting landings, supplying the fleet carriers and island bases with aircraft, as well as anti-submarine warfare.

The Long Island was converted from S.S Mormacmail and had short flight deck and no island. U.S.S. Charger (CVE-30) ex S.S. Rio De La Plata, was similar but with a small island.

A large number of several classes of CVE's were transferred to the Royal Navy.

CVE-1 LONG ISLAND

CVE-30 CHARGER

BOGUE CLASS

Bogue class CVE's were converted from C-3 type merchant hulls. Similar to the Long Island, they were 9,800 tons. 495 feet long and carried 21 aircraft.

Block Island, Bogue, Card, Core, and Croatan operated in the Atlantic on anti-submarine duty. The others served in the Pacific. U.S.S. Block Island was lost to a U-boat torpedo, 29 May 1944.

Of the 37 ships of this class, 26 were transferred to the Royal Navy.

CVE-9 BOGUE	CVE-20 BARNES
CVE-11 CARD	CVE-21 BLOCK ISLAND
CVE-12 COPAHEE	CVE-23 BRETON
CVE-13 CORE	CVE-25 CROATON
CVE-16 NASSAU	CVE-31 PRINCE WILLIAM
CVE-18 ALTAMAHA

WOLVERINE CLASS

In order to give realistic carrier landing & take off training to pilots, two paddle wheel excursion steamers operated on the Great Lakes were hurriedly converted into training aircraft carriers during 1942. They were stripped of their superstructure and a flight deck was installed. There was no hanger deck and planes were flown to and from shore bases around the Great Lakes each day.

The ships differed somewhat in details and size but each were both approximately 510 feet in length.

Certainly the most unusual aircraft carriers ever built, they served the very valuable role of training many of the pilots that later would fly from fleet and escort carriers.

1 X 64 U.S.S. WOLVERINE

1 X 81 U.S.S. SABLE

Interior of the ship

ENLISTED BERTHING SPACE
Crew Bunkroom

When built in World War II, the Midway was the largest warship afloat. Capable of housing more than 3,700 men, the Navy still complained about how cramped the living conditions were on board. Eventually, more than 4,500 men were embarked on a ship whose displacement grew by more than a third.

These bunks, or racks in naval parlance, are standard for enlisted personnel in the Fleet. Each sailor has only six cubic feet of stowage under his matress in the "coffin locker" as well as less than three cubic feet in a standing locker.

The orange box contains an Emergency Escape Breathing Device (EEBD). Essentially a see-through hood with an elastic collar for a snug fit, the EEBD has a pure oxygen container and a carbon dioxide scrubber which will give the wearer 15 minutes of breathable air when escaping a smoke-filled compartment.

Views of the hanger bay