Let me help, I am a volunteer on the Intrepid in NYC and also the only 'Limey' volunteer.
As said before the wooden deck was used for ease of repair and it also meant a lower centre of gravity. Those that have been to the Intrepid will note that it has a metal deck, this was put on over the wooden deck by the museum for protection.
Intrepid is an Essex class carrier and it wasn't until the late 50's that the angled flight deck was fitted to allow the aircraft to go round if they missed the cables. It also had the advantage of allowing launch and recovery at the same time. The wooden deck was used throughout her service (until 1974) even with the later jets. She even did trials with F-4's which although successful were never used.
Intrepid was originally fitted with hydraulic catapults later replaced by steam.
During WWII she was hit 4 times by Kamikaze aircraft which on 2 occasions passed through the flight deck into the hangar deck.