Flight-deck teamwork reduces a convoy carrier's exposure

The master turns the ship to give Swordfish pilots the best available takeoff and landing conditions, even though leaving the convoy course can increase exposure to attack. Deck handlers fold wings, range aircraft, and strike them below as quickly as possible so the ship spends less time headed into wind. Off-duty personnel gather beside the flight deck and join the handling party, which cuts the labor and the duration of danger. The chief engineer personally operates the arrestor wires so his mechanical knowledge is immediately available if an aircraft crashes into the gear. These shared routines build trust among merchant mariners, naval aviators, and deck crews. Pilots gain confidence flying from what the book calls the smallest air carrier in the world, although their work-up takes place in sheltered water.