ENTERPRISE LAUNCHES F6F BY CATAPULT AUG 1944

Two Grumman F6F-5 Hellcats of VF-20 are catapulted off the deck of USS Enterprise (CV-6) on August 28, 1944. The Big E left the Fleet anchorage at Eniwetok the previous day and is heading for the Bonin Islands to conduct a raid.
The previous year at Bremerton, Enterprise had her 2 hydraulic H 2 catapults upgraded to H 2-1. These could launch an 11,000 lb aircraft at 70 mph along a 73 ft stroke. The ship's speed could add another 35 mph plus whatever speed the wind was blowing.
The F6F-5 Hellcat had an empty weight of 9,238 lb and a gross weight of 12,598 lb.

[@nicksilva4415]

Probably near the Bonin islands.

[@MikeJones-rk1un]

Isn't that a short runway?

[@dazzagong]

The whole purpose of a catapult is that you don't need a long runway.