Name/Title
Catapult Tension BarDescription
A blue and yellow painted steel coupler. The couple is presented vertically, with a thicker base at either end and a thinner segment in the middle. 'A94-15' and 'A20546' are stamped on both ends.Use
Used as a part of catapult launching on aircraft carriers, this tension bar coupler was made to break upon launch. When the catapult is fired, the tension bar snaps at a specific tensile strength at the smallest parts of the bar and the aircraft launches. One half of the bar stays with the plane for the remainder of the flight and the other is left in the holdback unit on the deck until it can be discarded.Context
Arnold McKechnie was Captain of the USS Yorktown (CVA-10) from August 3, 1953 to August 5, 1954.
Arnold McKechnie began his career in the Navy after graduating from the US Naval Academy in 1927. A man of many interests, McKechnie entered Submarine School in 1930. After earning his dolphins, McKechnie entered flight training in 1934. Upon earning his pilot's wings, McKechnie served aboard the USS Saratoga (CV-3) in Scouting Squadron Two.
A seasoned pilot by the time the United States entered World War II, McKechnie served as Executive Officer aboard the USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) before being made commander of the Transition Training Squadron Atlantic (TTSA). The TTSA was a training squadron created to aid newly graduated naval aviators in patrol plane operations.
After World War II, McKechnie would in turn become the commanding officer of the USS Bairoko, the USS Badoeng Straight, and the USS Yorktown (CVA-10). After leaving the Yorktown in 1954, Captain McKechnie became the Commanding Officer of Naval Air Station (NAS), San Diego.
Arnold McKechnie retired as a Rear Admiral on November 1, 1961, from his role as Chief of Naval Air Reserve Training.Collection
Arnold W. McKechnie Collection, USS Yorktown CV-10Acquisition
Accession
2013.0076Source or Donor
Arnold W. McKechnie, Jr.Acquisition Method
GiftUpdate Date
November 26, 2024
