Strato-loon Carrier Ops

Some 65 years ago. The Essex-class training carrier USS Antietam (CVS-36) was in the Gulf of Mexico during Project Strato-lab V, in which the first manned balloon carrier landing was made. The 10 million cubic foot balloon shown below was manned by pilot CDR Malcolm D. Ross, USNR, and flight surgeon LCDR Victor A. Prather, USN. Note the odd combination of Cold War angled deck and WWII Long Hull bow, the latter complete with AAA tubs. The first U.S. carrier with an angled deck conversion, Antietam never received the latter SCB-125 enclosed Hurricane Bow, making her something of an aberration. USN 1054270 USS Antietam (CVS-36) showing the manned balloon just before take off during project Strato-Lab, April 1961. The low altitude flight was manned by Commander Malcolm D. Ross and Lieutenant Commander Victor A. Prather, MC USN. USN 1054272 Ross and Pranther were using the Navy’s new Mark IV full-pressure suit, which was the basis for NASA’s Project Mercury suits, with the flight a proving…