Belleau Wood (CVL 24) - Naval Cruise Book

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Fighting Squadron 24 TOP ROW: L. Marshall, V. Sipe, G. W. Freeman, W. G. Rogers, E. Holmgaard, R. C. Tabler, V. Christensen, L. E. George, R. E. McKeeby, G. R. Tolen. THIRD ROW: J. H. Hluboky, E. R. Strang, R. L. Richardson, M. H. Barr, A. Hillner, G. L. Kelley. I. Mayer, C. J. Bennett, J. C. Endres, A. E. Waite, P. L. Atwood, W. J. Dekett. C' L' l R P R C. I. Oveland C. N. Quinlan E. E. Ben SECOND ROW: W. T. Chafiin, R. S. Felt, D. L. Berry, B. McLaughlin, W. H. Sours, E. M. in i, . . oss, , , - nett G. F. Markham, J L. Lowe. BOTTOM ROW: I. L. Smith, I. J. Snowden, J. P. Herr, T. S. Chuhak, L. Mariani, Spitler, C. E. Blackman, R. H. Thelen, L. E. Graham, J. C. Gibson. NO PICTURES OF THE FOLLOWING OFFICERS: J. C. Boyd, L. E. Byrer, R. G. Carlson, J. R. Clem, K. G. Crothers, J. O. Curtis, D. E. Fleisher, E. R. Hardin, Jr., W. A. Harvey, E. C. Houck, W. R. King, T. C. Lackey, F. L. Lamb, R H. Odem, R. L. Parker, J. R. Powning, O. O. Provosty, C. W. Rusteberg, W. A. Smalligan, W. P. Van Buren. Il R G R U H P Q 4 The BELLEAU WOODS 'first air group was formed December 1, 1942 at Floyd Bennett Field, N.A.S., New York. The organization was commanded by Commander Massey and operated 30 aircraft: 9 TBF's of VTf24, 9 SBD's of VCf24, and 12 FM's of VFU24. In May, 1943 Air Group 24 moved down to Phila- delphia to board the BELLEAU WOOD for the shake- down cruise to Trinidad and the Gulf of Paria. After the ship's return to the Philadelphia Navy Yard, the group stayed at N.A.S., Willow Grove. It was there that the FM Wildcats were exchanged for the new F6F I-Iellcatsw. The group's first mission against the enemy was,furf nishing air coverage for the occupation of Baker Island and a one day strike at Tarawa and Makin Islands. However the group was now much changed, consisting of its original 12 VF and 9 VT augmented by 12 VF from fighting 22 which had replaced the SBD's. The SBD's of four CVLis had been united to form a separate Bofplane bombing squadron. It was oil Tarawa on September 16, 1943 that VFf24 180

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AG?-4 91 l G30 AG 31 May, 1943-June, 1944 Baker and Howland Gilberts Wake Marshalls Carolines New Guinea Bonins Marianas First Battle of Philippine Hayataka Class Carrier Sea june, 1944-December, 1944 lVIarianas Westerii Carolines Celebes Formosa Philippines Halmahera Nansei Shoto Second Battle for Battle of Leyte Gulfy of Philippine Sea January, 1945-June, 1945 First Navy Raid on Tokyo Honshu Bonins Kyushu Shikoku Nansei Shoto Okinawa Turkey Shoot Baka YAMATO june, 1945-September, 1945 Honshu Kyushu Hokkaido ISE and AOBA Shikoku

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Torpedo Squadron 24 TOP ROW: J.M.Barbour, J. G. Flohill, .D. r , . . , . . , . . . , ' , Massey, V. A. Nolte, F. Lambil E. V?l'EMllVlollJd,JRrllEiixlllItz?rIfke1l3 ?IElt5mfEh,MVlPvI5nOiiJ1iirkl3 Iiiirligge, GK.PO.BOi?cTt2er5 Ci-l1.aOBlg?ovIe.Agar' F' MIDDLE ROW: R. Murphy, J. Gotch, R. J. Dorr, J. F. Siwicki, R. E. Ranes, J. H. Teixeira., T. Hayatake, E. L. York, J. Broome, P. Delaney, M. D. Fuson, E. C. Babcock, A. Carter, F. L. Woolcott, P. E. Whiting, T. A. Connor, S. Sustarsic, R. Ernest. BOTTOM ROW: R. A. Reichart, A. Sistzcki, W. Pruitt, J. Rosic, J. E. Prince, F. A. Odom, G. H. Platz, C. L. Butler, R. Balfrey, J. Peters, R. M. Vance, R. Wagenknecht, V. W. Shields, R. V. Spicker, J. R. Dobbs, J. A. Brookbank, F. Laurenroth. drew its first blood, a Betty shot down by Bob Ross and Buck Rogers. The first serious deck crash occurred when the VF skipper, Lt. Cdr. Johnny Curtis, crashed through the barriers and went over the side. All efforts failed to find him. After the next fWake Islandj raid the 12 VF of Fighting 22 were exchanged for 12 from Air Group 6 which remained aboard for the occupation of the Gilbert Islands and the strike on the Marshalls. Returning to Pearl the group flew off to the island of Maui to refform and take on new pilots to make up a 24fplane fighting squadron. From here the group shot and bombed their way across the Pacific through the following operations: oc' cupation of the Marshall Islands, strike on Truk, strike on the Marianas, occupation of Emirau Island, strike on the Palau Islands, occupation of Hollandia on New Guinea, occupation of the Marianas including the First Battle of the Philippine Sea, and the Bonin strikes. Most outstanding was their part in the Philippine Sea Battle which started with the great Jap air attack on 181 June 19. Gn the morning patrol jack Thelen's fighter division knocked down 10 and 3 probables out of 20 Zekes that jumped them over Guam. The afternoon proved fairly dull-our group having the backfstop CAP, while the other groups held field day on the .lapaf nese naval air force. Late the next afternoon the order came to launch a strike against the ,lap Fleet. To the torpedo pilots went the greatest glory: Omark, Tate, Luton, and Brown went in to drop their fish at a Hayaf taka class carrier. Brown was hit badly by AA and caught fire, although he went on to score a hit. Gmark and Tate also scored hits on the crippled carrier, sending her to the bottom. Although Brown was severely inf jured and his bomb bay doors were jammed open, he joined up and tried to fly back. Repeatedly the others had to force him back on course, but in the growing darkness his plane fell off and he was never found. While the ship was in the yard at Pearl Harbor in July, Air Group 24 was relieved by Air Group 21. Aboard from May, 1943 to july, 1944, they established the longest tour of duty on record.