USS Sable and Wolverine

[VGNonly]

The US Navy built two aircraft carriers in the Great Lakes for training during WW11 They were rebuilt lake steamers, side wheeled and coal fired. They were short and had no elevator decks. Thousands of Naval personnel learned to fly on them including George Bush Sr.

[Sherman A1]

1. Yes,

And they are still finding WWII naval aircraft in Lake Michigan from training mishaps that occurred when rookie pilots didn’t make it aboard as planned.

[VGNonly]

2. My father

spent some time Naval Station Great Lakes, seeing the carriers flying from time to time. He also did training at Case (V-12), General Motors Institute, The Naval Academy, Camp Bradford and Bethlehem Hingham Shipyard. He was an engineer, commissioned Ensign and later LTjg, served on LST 938. Shipped out later in the fall 44 and served until summer of 46.

[Sherman A1]

3. Mine went through Great Lakes as well

Then onto LST 586 in the pacific as store keeper.

[VGNonly]

4. Is he still with you?

My father passed in 2011 at 89. His ship as far as I know still exists, but in poor condition. The South Vietnam Navy took command of it in 62, the North took it in 1975.

Dad was offered command in 1946 (age 24), but like most he just wanted to go home. The Navy wanted him to fight in the Greek Civil War, supported by the US and the UK. He didn't have navigational experience, but they were going to let that slide by, promote him to full lieutenant. That would be highly irregular (no one could normally command a ship without being a navigator).

He served at the tail end of Leyte, after the battle. Then were landings in Mindanao spring of 45. The only hot battle he was in at Balikpapan July 45. He would never talk about it, he opened up about it bit by bit shortly before he died. That was only time I ever heard him cry.

[Sherman A1]

5. No, long since gone

I think it was 1981 or so. I never really knew him as my folks split up when I was an infant. All I had was what my Mom would tell me (which was actually quite a bit), his discharge papers along with a few photos and what I could glean online through various sources. His ship was around the Philippines, went to Korea for occupation duty and he was rotated out, riding home on the deck of a Destroyer. 586 went to the breakers in the late 1940s. I have been able to see the one based in Evansville a couple of times as it toured around. They are interesting ships.