US Marine Corps - The Black Vault

96 Amphibians Came To Conquer
vicinity of Manila during the rainy season, Cavite is unsuitable as a seaplane
base at any time of the year.’”
During his 16 months on station, two planes were lost and one was
badly damaged due to crack-ups in rough water landings, which proved to
be beyond the skill of the pilots, or the structure of the planes.”
With shoreside seaplane facilities out of question, Commander Turner
immediately turned his attention to drafting plans to convert the 17-year-old
]a~otz (AC-I2) to a heavier-than-air aircraft tender. He soon formulated two
major projects to alter the Jafon. Project One would fit her to base 12 planes
on board and Project Two would permit 30 planes to be based on board.’z
Project One was urgent because, beginning on July 1, 1928, the ]tzson
was to base six T3M-2 aircraft and a flag unit of two UO Chance Vought
observation aircraft in full commission, and carry three more T3M-2 air-
craft in reserve.~3
Admiral Bristol, the Commander in Chief, was quick and positive in help-
ing the project along. He advised the Chief of Naval Operations:
The ]UJO?Zis unsuitable in her present condition as an aircraft tender, but
could be made so with the alterations to be recommended. These include
additional quarters for officers and men, the conversion of the coal bunkers
into fuel oil stowage, storerooms and magazines; the installation of gasoline
stowage, of new generators, and the possible removal of the coal;.ng booms,
substituting two cranes; with these changes, the }uson could maintain
the following planes :—18VT; 6VO; and 6VF.W
Although mentioned last in priority by the Commander in Chief, the
change dearest to the naval aviator’s heart was one which would remove
the coal hoisting gear of the ~a~on and provide modern plane handling
booms, with winch controls, permitting fast and delicate handling of the
planes. On 30 April 1928, one of the new Martin torpedo planes was
dropped 30 feet by the coal handling gear