In mid-1963 the CIA initiated Project Whale Tail, the adaptation of U-2s for Carrier ops. The U-2 was actually an almost ideal aircraft for such ops, it's glider-like configuration enabled it to take-off unassisted when there was a high wind-over-deck factor. The Navy was rather receptive to the idea, but the USAF refused to partake and CIA birds were used.
The first flight was made on August 5th, 1963, from the Kitty Hawk (CVA-63). The takeoff was successful, but the landing attempts were less so, leading to the modification of three U-2As by the Navy. These mods consisted of stronger landing gear, a hook, and spoilers on the wing to cancel lift when the bird was over the deck. Designated U-2Gs, these aircraft carried N-numbers and Office of Naval Research markings.
The first successful landing occurred on March 2, 1964 on Ranger (CVA-61). There was a minor incident and the pitot tube was damaged, but the aircraft was repaired and flown off the carrier.
A few days later several CIA pilots conducted car-quals aboard Ranger, the result of which was the Navy recognizing 5 of these pilots to be carrier qualified.
The only operational flight took place in May of 1964. Ranger launched a U-2G to moniter nuke tests conducted by the French at Mururoa atoll, a test site in French Polynesia in the Pacific.
In November, 1969 trials of the U-2R took place aboard America (CVA-66). This version had folding wing tips.
The idea of a carrier-borne U-2 never gained widespread enthusiasm and, in the end, the official CIA history stated, "Aircraft carriers are enormously expensive to operate and require an entire flotilla of vessels to protect and service them. The movement of large numbers of big ships is difficult to conceal and cannot be hastily accomplished, while the deployment of a solitary U-2 to a remote airfield can take place overnight."
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