Takeoffs and Landings

(Note: most carrier takeoffs and landing were without problem. However, this page has a preponderance of ones that went wrong. This is not accurate statistically, but it makes for more interesting subject matter.)

F4F takeoff - A Grumman Wildcat takes off from the USS Enterprise in the Coral Sea late in 1942.
(Source:"The Naval Air War" by Nathan Miller)
Pranged Avenger - During the Battle of the Eastern Solomons on 24 August 1942, this TBF-1 Avenger of VT-8 landed on board the USS Saratoga with it's landing hook not extended. After snagging the first barrier it came to a rather ungraceful stop further down the deck.
(Source:"Air War Over The Pacific" by Robert C. Stern)
Wildcat overboard! - A series of  four photos shows an F4F Wildcat's bad landing attempt that results in the Wildcat "going into the drink" next to the carrier.
(Source: "Modern Aviation Library" Volume 17, editor: Joe Cristy)
Last minute instructions - During the Battle of Santa Cruz off of Guadalcanal (October 26, 1942) a TBF-1C Avenger of VT-10 is seen preparing to launch from the Enterprise. Signboards tell the course and speed of the target (a 'Jap CV'), and tell the pilot to 'Proceed without Hornet', whose air group is not yet ready to launch.
(Source:"Air War Over The Pacific" by Robert C. Stern)
On the nose - A Douglas Dauntless makes a non-standard landing. This SBD is seen standing on its nose (just prior to flipping over on back) as it botches its landing attempt.
Hanging on for dear life - On the morning of May 21, 1943, an F4F Wildcat missed the arrestor cable while trying to land on the second USS Lexington. The pilot attempted to veer off the deck, but his engine stalled and his tailhook caught on a protrusion, snapping the aircraft against the port side catwalk. Before the plane was worked free - to dive "nose down" into the water - lines were lowered to save the pilot.
(Source:"The Naval Air War" by Nathan Miller)
Waiting wires - A Hellcat comes in to land on a carrier while gun crews look on. Note the arresting wires across the flight deck.
(Source: U.S. Navy)
Run for it! - An F6F Hellcat makes a dangerously bad landing attempt, causing the Landing Signal Officer and his assistant to run for their lifes. The pilot managed to get away and landed after two more waveoffs.
(Source: William C. Green, via "Wings of Gold" Winter 1996)
Helldiver in the drink - An SB2C-1C Helldiver of the second USS Hornet (CV-12) has just ditched, a fate not uncommon when they were introduced early in 1944.
(Source:"Air War Over The Pacific" by Robert C. Stern)
Hazardous takeoff - The intensity of shipboard defenses made life dangerous even for friendly forces. Here a Wildcat takes off from Coral Sea (CVE-57) on June 17, 1944, only to be greeted by "friendly" anti-aircraft fire.
(Source:"Air War Over The Pacific" by Robert C. Stern)
Helldiver breaks in landing - In this sequence of photos, an SB2C Helldiver fails to catch the wire on landing, and hits the first barrier. It nose-dived into the deck, breaking the engine mounts, rupturing fuel lines and starting a fire. It was quickly extinguished and cleared out of the way so that further aircraft could continue to land. USS Hornet, July 3, 1944.
(Source:"Air War Over The Pacific" by Robert C. Stern)
Get him out! - A Hellcat pilot crashed during his landing, and deckcrewmen are scrambling to try to rescue the pilot from his burning aircraft.
(Source:"The Carrier War" by Edwin P. Hoyt)
The ocean claims another Helldiver - This SB2C-4 of VB-7 from the USS Hancock is about to ditch on November 4, 1944. The 'turtleback' aft of the gunner's position has been lowered to facilitate his imminent exit from the aircraft.
(Source:"Air War Over The Pacific" by Robert C. Stern)
Helldiver in deep trouble - This SB2C-4 of the second Lexington is about to meet an inglorious end as it dives upside down into the water next to it's carrier.
(Source:"Air War Over The Pacific" by Robert C. Stern)
Another barrier crash victim - This F4U-1D Corsair lost it's port wingtip in a barrier crash on the USS Cape Glouchester (CVE-109), late July, 1945.
(Source:"Air War Over The Pacific" by Robert C. Stern)