CV-3 U.S.S. Saratoga

Version: 16-03-08 (D-M-Y) - 22 pics
-
Note: Each Carrier had an own color for the tail of the planes aboard: The Saratoga used white tails.
PreWar, the sections (of three aircraft) used different colored wingbands and cowlings.
A complete colored cowling indicates the section-leader.

 

 

 

 

Measure 3 "light grey"

(Peacetime only)
ca. 1932

Saratoga Air Group
Pre-War

?

VFB-6
"Felix the Cat"

?

VFB-1
"High Hats"

?

VS-?

?

VT-?
Note: My source say both operated on the Saratoga in 1932. I have no idea, if together or one at a time.
I also wonder, why the VFB-1 ones kept their red tail. Probably they were only on a visit ?
Note also, that I have read VFB-X and VF-XB as appreviation for the early fighter-bomber squadrons. No idea what is right.
18 Boeing F4B 18 Boeing F4B 18 SBC-3 HELLDIVER 18 Douglas TBD-1 DEVASTATORs
 6-F-1
section leader I
F4B-3  1-F-1
section leader I		  3-S-1
section leader I
-		  3-T-1
section leader I
 6-F-2  1-F-2  3-S-2
 3-T-2
 6-F-3  1-F-3  3-S-3  3-T-3
 6-F-4
section leader II		  1-F-4
section leader II		  3-S-4
section leader II		  3-T-4
section leader II
 6-F-5  1-F-5  3-S-5  3-T-5
 6-F-6  1-F-6  3-S-6  3-T-6
 6-F-7
section leader III		  1-F-7
section leader III
 6-S-7
section leader III		 3-T-7
section leader III
 6-F-8  1-F-8  3-S-8  3-T-8
 6-F-9  1-F-9  3-S-9  3-T-9

F4B-4  6-F-10
section leader IV
& executive officer
 3-F-10  (BuNo1396)
section leader IV
& executive officer
 3-S-10
section leader IV
& executive officer		  3-T-10
section leader IV
& executive officer
 6-F-11
 1-F-11 		 3-S-11  3-T-11

F4B-2  6-F-12
 1-F-12 		 3-S-12  3-T-12
 6-F-13
section leader V
 1-F-13
section leader V
 3-S-13
section leader V		  3-T-13
section leader V
 6-F-14
 1-F-14 		 3-S-14  3-T-14
 6-F-15
 1-F-15 		 3-S-15  3-T-15
 6-F-16
section leader VI
F4B-3  1-F-16
section leader VI		  3-S-16
section leader VI		  3-T-16  (BuNo ....)
section leader VI
 6-F-17  1-F-17  3-S-17  3-T-17
 6-F-18  1-F-18  3-S-18  3-T-18

 

 

 

 

Measure 3 "light grey"

(Peacetime only)
ca. 1934
Saratoga often operated next to her sister-ship Lexington. To distinguish, she wore a black stripe.
Saratoga Air Group
Note: This early, "Air Group" was just to give the flying part a name - and they were simply named by the ship.

 

 

 

 

Measure 3 "light grey"

(Peacetime only)
ca. 1939-1940
Saratoga often operated next to her sister-ship Lexington. To distinguish, she wore a black stripe.
Saratoga Air Group
Note: In 1938, The "Air Group" was officially introduced and got an own commander (CAG).
Even today, when groups were replaced by wings, the abbreviation for the commander is CAG.
Commander Saratoga Air Group (CSAG)
Curtiss SBC-4 HELLDIVER
AIR GROUP COMMANDER
U.S.S. SARATOGA

VB-3

VF-3

VS-3

VT-3
18 Boeing F4B-4 18 Brewster F2A-2 BUFFALO 18 SBC-3 HELLDIVER 18 Douglas TBD-1 DEVASTATORs
 3-B-1
section leader I
 3-F-1  (BuNo1398)
section leader I
 3-S-1
section leader I
-		  3-T-1
section leader I
 3-B-2  3-F-2  3-S-2
 3-T-2
 3-B-3  3-F-3  3-S-3  3-T-3
 3-B-4
section leader II		  3-F-4
section leader II		  3-S-4
section leader II		  3-T-4
section leader II
 3-B-5  3-F-5  3-S-5  3-T-5
 3-B-6  3-F-6  3-S-6  3-T-6
 3-B-7
section leader III		  3-F-7
section leader III
 3-S-7
section leader III		  3-T-7
section leader III
 3-B-8  3-F-8  3-S-8  3-T-8
 3-B-9  3-F-9  3-S-9  3-T-9
 3-B-10
section leader IV
& executive officer
 3-F-10  (BuNo1396)
section leader IV
& executive officer
 3-S-10
section leader IV
& executive officer		  3-T-10
section leader IV
& executive officer
 3-B-11
 3-F-11 		 3-S-11  3-T-11
 3-B-12
 3-F-12 		 3-S-12  3-T-12
 3-B-13
section leader V
 3-F-13
section leader V
 3-S-13
section leader V		  3-T-13
section leader V
 3-B-14
 3-F-14 		 3-S-14  3-T-14
 3-B-15
 3-F-15 		 3-S-15  3-T-15
 3-B-16
section leader VI
 3-F-16
section leader VI		  3-S-16
section leader VI		  3-T-16  (BuNo ....)
section leader VI
 3-B-17
 3-F-17 		 3-S-17  3-T-17
 3-B-18
 3-F-18 		 3-S-18  3-T-18

 

 

 

 

Measure 3 "light grey"

(Peacetime only)
ca. 1941
Saratoga often operated next to her sister-ship Lexington. To distinguish, she wore a black stripe.
Saratoga Air Group: CVG 3
Commander Saratoga Air Group (CSAG)
Vought SB2U-1 VINDICATOR
COMMANDER LEXINGTON AIR GROUP

VB-3

VF-3

VS-3

VT-3
18 Boeing F4B-4 18 Brewster F2A-2 BUFFALO 18 SBC-3 HELLDIVER 18 Douglas TBD-1 DEVASTATORs
 3-B-1
section leader I		  3-F-1
section leader I		  3-S-1
section leader I		  3-T-1
section leader I
 3-B-2  3-F-2  3-S-2  3-T-2
 3-B-3  3-F-3  3-S-3  3-T-3
 3-B-4
section leader II		  3-F-4
section leader II		  3-S-4
section leader II		  3-T-4
section leader II
 3-B-5  3-F-5  3-S-5  3-T-5
 3-B-6  3-F-6  3-S-6  3-T-6
 3-B-7
section leader III
 3-F-7
section leader III		  3-S-7
section leader III		  3-T-7
section leader III
 3-B-8  3-F-8  3-S-8  3-T-8
 3-B-9  3-F-9  3-S-9  3-T-9
 3-B-10
section leader IV
& executive officer		  3-F-10
section leader IV
& executive officer		  3-S-10
section leader IV
& executive officer		  3-T-10
section leader IV
& executive officer
 3-B-11  3-F-11  3-S-11  3-T-11
 3-B-12  3-F-12  3-S-12  3-T-12
 3-B-13
section leader V		  3-F-13
section leader V		  3-S-13
section leader V		  3-T-13
section leader V
 3-B-14  3-F-14  3-S-14  3-T-14
 3-B-15  3-F-15  3-S-15  3-T-15
 3-B-16
section leader VI		  3-F-16
section leader VI		  3-S-16
section leader VI		  3-T-16
section leader VI
 3-B-17  3-F-17  3-S-17  3-T-17
 3-B-18  3-F-18  3-S-18  3-T-18
Saratoga continued operations in the Hawaiian Island region, but on 11 January 1942, when heading towards a rendezvous with USS Enterprise 500 miles (800 km) south-west of Oahu, she was hit without warning by a deep-running torpedo fired by Japanese submarine I-6.

Although six men were killed and three firerooms were flooded, the carrier reached OAHU under her own power.

 

 

 

Measure 11
ca. 1942, May
At OAHU her 8-inch (203 mm) guns, which were useless against aircraft, were removed for installation in shore defenses, and the carrier proceeded to the Bremerton Navy Yard for permanent repairs and installation of a modern anti-aircraft battery.
The original twelve 5"/25 caliber guns were replaced by sixteen 5"/38 caliber guns.

Saratoga departed Puget Sound on 22 May for San Diego. She arrived there on 25 May and was training her air group when intelligence was received of an impending Japanese assault on Midway. Due to the need to load planes and stores and to collect escorts,
the carrier was unable to sail until 1 June and arrived at Pearl Harbor on the 6th, after the Battle of Midway had ended.

She departed Pearl Harbor on 7 June after fueling and, on 11 June, transferred 34 aircraft to Hornet and Enterprise to replenish their depleted air groups. The three carriers then turned north to counter Japanese activity reported in the Aleutians, but the operation was canceled, and Saratoga returned to Pearl Harbor on 13 June.

 

 

 

Probably in Measure 21 (Navy blue overall)
introduced roughly mid 1943 - visual at least until January 1944
ca. 1943 - Operation Cherry Blossom
Saratoga Air Group: CVG 12
Commander Saratoga Air Group (CSAG)
?
 ?

?

VB-12

?

VF-12

?

VS-12

?

VT-12
18 ? Douglas SBD-5 DAUNTLESS 18 ? 18 ? 18 ?

 41  		 ?   ?   ? 

 50  		 ?   ?   ? 

 

 

 

1944, February  - Measure 32-11A
Puget Sound, September 1944
Measure 32-11A was developed extra for the Saratoga

 

 

 

 

1945 - Measure 21 again
Main difference to 1943 Measure 21 appearance: No rubber life-boats anymore & the huge SK-radar antenna is installed on the mast
Commander Saratoga Air Group (CSAG)
?
 ? 

?

VB-12

?

VF-12

?

VS-12

?

VT-12
18 ? Douglas SBD-5 DAUNTLESS 18 ? 18 ? 18 ?
 ?   ?   ?   ? 

 

 

 

1946 - Measure ?
Too old for postwar duty beside the much more modern late war carrier, she was sunk after Atomic Test "Baker" in July 1946

 

 

 

 

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