Images: WWII aircraft carrier documentary
Posted May 22, 2016 1:00 am
Emmy Award-winning Wheaton native writes, directs and produces WTTW TV documentary about the training of WWII aircraft carrier pilots in Lake Michigan.
Leader of the aircraft carrier training program on Lake Michigan during World War II, Navy Vice Adm. Richard F. Whitehead addresses pilots and crew members at the Glenview Naval Air Station.
Courtesy of Heroes on Deck
Converting passenger steam ships into makeshift aircraft carriers, the U.S. Navy trained 15,000 pilots and 40,000 crew members in Lake Michigan during World War II. Wheaton native John Davies tells that story in his new documentary, "Heroes on Deck," airing this week on WTTW and other public television stations across the country.
Courtesy of Heroes on Deck
Once home to mussels on the bottom of a frigid Lake Michigan, this vintage World War II fighter plane is hauled from the depths seven decades after it crashed during training. A new documentary airing this week and titled "Heroes On Deck" tells the story of how the U.S. Navy trained pilots and crew off the shoreline of Chicago during World War II.
Courtesy of Heroes on Deck
With a foggy Chicago looming in the background, a steam-powered luxury passenger ship begins a new life as a converted aircraft carrier. The Navy used two of these makeshift carrriers to train pilots and crew on Lake Michigan during World War II.
Courtesy of Heroes on Deck
More than 100 fighter planes crashed into Lake Michigan during an innovative training program during World War II. Cables kept this plane from ending up on the bottom of the lake.
Courtesy of Heroes on Deck
Once a luxury passenger ship on the Great Lakes, this makeshift aircraft carrier off the shore of Chicago played an intergal role during World War II. The U.S. Navy trained 15,000 pilots and 40,000 crew members in Lake Michigan before sending them off to fight in the Pacific.
Courtesy of Heroes on Deck
Awarding-winning filmmakers John Davies, left, a Wheaton native, and Harvey Moshman of Evanston appreciate vintage planes, such as this one on display at O'Hare International Airport. Davies' new documentary, "Heroes on Deck," features underwater footage by Moshman, and tells the story of how World War II fighter pilots prepared for aircraft-carrier duty by training on two converted passenger ships in Lake Michigan.
Courtesy of Heroes on Deck
Dangers abounded for pilots and crew during an innovative training program in Lake Michigan during World War II. High waves, strong winds, rain, snow and even the smoke from the coal-powered steamships made landings on the short deck perilous.
Courtesy of Heroes on Deck
More than 100 vintage war planes ended up on the bottom of Lake Michigan during an innovative training program during World War II. Wheaton native John Davies tells that story in his new documentary, "Heroes on Deck," airing this week on WTTW and other public television stations across the country.
Courtesy of Heroes on Deck
Once home to lavish entertainment, this luxury passenger ship cruising the Great Lakes was put into service during World War II. Two such ships were converted into makeshift aircraft carriers so the Navy could train pilots and crew for combat in the Pacific.
Courtesy of Heroes on Deck
Gutting a luxury passenger ship that cruised the Great Lakes, a crew converts the deck into a makeshift aircraft carrier used to train pilots and crews in Lake Michigan during World War II. Wheaton native John Davies tells that story in his new documentary, "Heroes on Deck," airing this week on WTTW and other public television stations across the country.
Courtesy of Heroes on Deck
By training off the shoreline of Chicago, this pilot and crewmember could prepare for combat during World War II in the relative safety of Lake Michigan.
Courtesy of Heroes on Deck
Bookmarked by award-winning filmmakers John Davies, left, a native of Wheaton, and Harvey Mossman, right, of Evanston, World War II veteran Jack Young tells his story in a new documentary titled "Heroes on Deck." The film tells how fighter pilots prepared for aircraft-carrier duty by training on two converted passenger ships in Lake Michigan. Young's survived a crash, and his plane recently was rescued from the bottom of the lake.
Courtesy of Heroes on Deck
Courtesy of Heroes on DeckDiver Bruce Bittner of A and T Recovery reaches a vintage World War II fighter plane on the bottom of Lake Michigan as fellow diver Keith Person records the action for "Heroes on Deck," a new documentary telling the story behind the training of pilots and crew on Lake Michigan during World War II.
Courtesy of Heroes on DeckMore than 70 years after it crashed into Lake Michigan, this vintage World War II fighter plane is ready to be hauled to the surface and restored.
An award-winning filmmaker whose ecclectic works include comedy specials and World War II documentaries, Wheaton native John Davies tells the fascinating story of how World War II fighter pilots prepared for aircraft-carrier duty by training on two converted passenger ships in Lake Michigan. His documentary, "Heroes On Deck" airs this week on WTTW.
Courtesy of Heroes on Deck
Known for producing a documentary. "The Eastland Disaster," about a deadly accident on the Chicago River, executive producer Harvey Moshman pf Evanston provided underwater footage in a new World War II documentary called "Heroes on Deck."
Courtesy of Heroes on Deck
Producer and editor Brian Kallies helps tell the story of an unlikely World War II training program in Lake Michigan in "Heroes On Deck," a new documentary by award-winning filmmaker John Davies, who grew up in Wheaton.
Courtesy of Heroes on Deck
Legendary Chicago anchorman Bill Kurtis lends his voice to "Heroes On Deck," the creation of filmmaker and Wheaton native John Davies. The documentary, which airs this week on WTTW, tells the fascinating story of how World War II fighter pilots prepared for aircraft-carrier duty by training on two converted passenger ships in Lake Michigan.
Courtesy of Heroes on Deck
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