Do You Know Why There Were Two Aircraft Carriers Stationed In the Great Lakes During WWII?

During World War II, aircraft carriers played a key role in transforming aerial warfare. Initially limited to coastal operations, these huge ships underwent a transformation into mobile platforms for air operations, allowing for the launching and recovery of aircraft across diverse locations. While the majority of carriers operated on the world's oceans, two remarkable exceptions—the USS Wolverine (IX-64) and the USS Sable (IX-81)—were deployed in the freshwater expanses of the Great Lakes, showcasing their adaptability in unconventional environments.

Turning luxury vessels into aircraft carriers

Cmdr. Richard F. Whitehead, an aviation aide stationed at the Great Lakes Training Center, Glenview Naval Air Station, Chicago, first proposed the concept of using civilian vessels for pilot training. He foresaw the advantages of conducting training away from combat zones, an idea he strongly championed.

At first, military officials showed little interest in the concept. However, the events of December 1941, particularly the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor , quickly shifted their perspective. As the shortage of aircraft carriers became obvious on the frontlines, Adm. Ernest J. King swiftly endorsed Whitehead's proposal.

USS Wolverine (IX-64)

Launched in November 1912 as the Seeandbee , the USS Wolverine began its journey as a lavish side-wheel paddle steamer, serving the Great Lakes region. Equipped to accommodate up to 6,000 passengers and transport 1,500 tons of cargo, it regularly traversed between Cleveland, Ohio, and Buffalo, New York.

In 1942, the Seeandbee was acquired by the US Navy with plans for conversion into an aircraft carrier. Its design garnered attention for the stability and maneuverability advantages provided by its side-wheel paddles. The conversion included the addition of a 550-foot-long wooden flight deck, a superstructure, and arresting cables.

Renamed the Wolverine , the vessel bore a striking resemblance to a smaller aircraft carrier externally. However, it lacked several key features typical of larger, ocean-faring carriers, such as armament, armor, elevators, and a hangar deck. Additionally, its flight deck was situated closer to the waterline.

USS Sable (IX-81)

Originally christened the Greater Buffalo in October 1924, the USS Sable began life as a side-wheel excursion steamboat. She was known for her opulence, featuring a Renaissance-inspired design that earned her the moniker, "Majestic of the Great Lakes." During her time operating in the Great Lakes, she could accommodate more than 1,500 passengers, 103 vehicles and about 1,000 tons of cargo.

When acquired by the US Navy, Greater Buffalo underwent several major modifications. Her cabins and superstructure were removed and replaced with steel supports. Unlike her counterpart, the USS Wolverine , she was fitted with a steel flight deck, instead of the initially planned wooden deck, a decision made to facilitate the military's testing of non-skid coatings.

Renamed the USS Sable , she, like her sister ship, lacked armaments, armor, elevators or a hangar deck.

An intriguing aspect of Sable 's history during this period is the large number of her crew members who were survivors of the USS Lexington (CV-2), which had been lost in the Battle of the Coral Sea .

Training pilots in the Great Lakes

By 1943, both the USS Wolverine and Sable - nicknamed the "Corn Belt Fleet"  - were stationed out of Navy Pier, in Chicago. They were assigned to the 9th Naval District Carrier Qualification Training Unit (CQTU), and operated throughout Lake Michigan.

Trainees were taught how to takeoff and land on aircraft carriers, with the idea being that, if they could successfully accomplish their tasks on the shorter flight decks, then the larger ones wouldn't be an issue. While conducting their training, the pilots were made to keep their cockpits open, in the event of a crash, and to "graduate" they had to carry out 10 (later eight) takeoffs and landings.

Training occurred seven days a week. However, it was often curtailed due to a lack of wind over the decks of the aircraft carriers. In order for aircraft to effectively take off, they need a certain amount of wind, and the lack of it over Lake Michigan meant that heavy aircraft like the Grumman F6F Hellcat , Vought F4U Corsair , Douglas SBD Dauntless and Grumman TBM Avenger were unable to operate from them.

Over the course of the Second World War , Wolverine and Sable trained 17,820 pilots , including future US President George H.W. Bush , and were the sites of 116,000 landings. Fewer than 300 aircraft were lost. On top of training aviators, Sable was also used to test the TDR-1, a wooden remote-controlled drone.

Decommissioning of the USS Wolverine (IX-64) and Sable (IX-81)

After World War II ended, the USS Wolverine and Sable were taken out of commission and struck from the Naval Vessel Register. Wolverine was put up for sale to the public, either for flag operations or scrapping, and was eventually sold for scrap in December 1947.

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The Great Lakes Historical Society's effort to convert Sable into a museum was not successful. Following that, the ship was sold to the US Maritime Commission, where it was disassembled and scrapped.