Could have been a fouled deck. Bingo fuel at night while searching for a downed plane/aviator; lack of airborne tanker to refuel the other five;, could have been a number/combination of factors for the other birds to divert.
Thank you both for your explanations. I was named for my uncle who flew F4Fs in WWII. He had just landed on his carrier and shortly thereafter volunteered for another mission. His engine failed upon takeoff and he crashed into the sea. The carrier ran over him but apparently he was still alive but unconcious. Rescue efforts were not what they are today. His plane sank and he was lost at sea.