Bairoko (CVE 115) - Naval Cruise Book

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Nil' dn ti-Submarine Squadron Twen ty- ?iaJe NIA ton, Air Antisubmarine Squadron Twenty-five was originally commissioned Com- posite Squadron Twenty-five with Lcdr. J. G. Williams appointed Commanding Of- ficer aboard the U. S. Naval Air Station, San Diego, California, on l April l949. At that time the squadron was equipped with TBM Avenger aircraft. From the commissioning date until the commencement of Operation Miki which was the first full-scale, post-war Army-Navy-Air Force operation in the Pacific, the squad- ron was undergoing intensive Antisubmarine warefare training both ashore and afloat. ln October of i949 the squadron embarked aboard the USS BAIROKO CCVE-ll5l and exercised its ASW mission in the defense of Hawaii against the aggressor submarine of Operation Miki. A high state of readiness was achieved during this period. In early l95O the squadron personnel was seriously depleted by the release of a large number of reserve officers and men and was forced to recommence an- other intensive training cycle. With the outbreak of the Korean War in June, l95O, the squadron was again approaching a condition of optimum readiness and was anxious to be made available for an active role with the United Nations Forces in Korea. However, the squadron was then being groomed for a more necessary role which became apparent with the arrival of the first AF Guardian aircraft on the West Coast later that year. During this entire period the squad- ron participated in various ASW and Hunter,fKiller exercises both ashore and afloat. In October of l95O the squadron received its first Guardian and immedi- ately began a program of evaluation and training with the new aircraft. Lcdr. A. J. Kelly who reported to the squadron in May of i950 as Executive Officer became Commanding Officer on 24 January l95l. Familiarization with the new equipment of the aircraft resulted in improved tactics and techniques of Air Anti- submarine Warfare. By June of l95l the squadron was ready for HunterfKiller work. The first carrier qualifications, and, later, Hunter,!Killer exercises were conducted from the USS BADOENG STRAITS and the USS BAIROKO. ln late fall of l95l the squadron was in all respects ready to move forward to bring the latest ASW equipment and tactics to the Far East Naval Forces. On l December l95l the squadron embarked aboard the USS BAIROKO and sailed for the Far East. Under ComCarDiv l5 the squadron conducted six highly success- ful war time level Hunterfliiller operations during the period, December l95l to May l952. Three of these operations were conducted from the USS BAIROKO, and three were conducted from the USS BATAAN. With its mission accomplished, the squadron departed from the Far East for the Continental United States on 26 May i952 aboard the USS BAIROKO.

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3 -i ,,, w if X Lieutenant Commander W. A. E Off icer Q Rawls Q2 45? C f we- , 'Y ' -Q 2 K' 4 Lieutenant Commander A. J. Ke A P Commanding Officer ANU -SLIBMARWE SQUADRON E TY'FWE