80 years ago today, we see a tragedy in slow motion, with General Motors FM-1 Wildcat, BuNo# 46744, code L12, skidding to a rough landing across the flight deck of the escort carrier USS Manila Bay (CVE 61) with her landing gear stripped away, 16 December 1943.
U.S. Navy photo in the National Archives 80-G-372820
80-G-372821
80-G-372822
80-G-372823
The above event occurred while the newly commissioned Casablanca-class jeep carrier was conducting air group training during her shakedown cruise with VC-7 and VC-66 off the coast of San Diego. Amazingly, the young pilot, Ensign E.C. Cech, survived the crack-up with minor injuries.
From her accident report of the incident:
Still, the accident didn’t slow down Manila Bay on her rush to the front lines. By 22 January 1944, the carrier would tote VC-7 to bomb and strafe enemy positions on Kwajalein Island.
Ultimately, Manila Bay gave hard service for received eight battle stars for World War II service in just under 19 months.
Decommissioned in Boston on 31 July 1946, she was mothballed for 12 years and sold for scrap in 1958.
Her 11-page War History is in the National Archives.
As for Ensign Cech, I can’t find anything on him.