RE: Lake Michigans Aircraft Carriers
My Dad flew his summer work ups at Gran Isle, MI when he flew F8F Bearcats with the Naval Reserve in the late 40's. His only bent airplane was there when he had a Bearcat have a brake lock up and take him into a hedgerow and it flipped the ship. I am not sure if they went out on the lake and did carrier requalifications when they were there, but it would make sense since they were naval Aviators.
Marc