Belleau Wood (CVL 24) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 189 text:

. MA, 9 .nr X -.. '. ' 4' ' 1 if l'. ev . . ff aw Q J ' 8 s 1 A J. s.s. , , f,.,,.,.fy4 ., J, , Z ... .mzolfifv AL..xysydwfsc,-a'al1.4zesz.Z.fQ.-Q ..J..u f. Torpedo Squadron 21 TOP ROW: J. B. Stevens, L. B. Saunders, XV. H. Junk, B. L. Hotalingr. THIRD ROW: C. D. Smith, D. Cowan, B. H. Dye, C. A. Hooper. Jr., SECOND ROW: L. W. Posson, H. B. Davis, Jr., H. D. Crowley, E. R. Mason. BOTTOM ROW: A. F. Clapp, C. Zeimuntz, J. Everett, J. T. Hyland. NO PICTURES OF THE FOLLOVVING OFFICERS: R. L. Lucas. MEN: L. Arrance, R. J. Barlow, L. E. Christie, C. P. Crump, R. B. David, O. M. Davidson, XV. T. Eschuck, J. TOP RONV: G. L. Allen, E. L. Nawroelii, N. E. NVaters, J. E. Nvagxoner, NV. J. Zeitz, S. E. Castor. THIRD RONV: C. A. Gelvin, J. F. Uprichard, unidentified, D. A. Marsh, J. F. Tottinghum, E. A. Haufschild, J. J. Miller, F. J. Russell. SECOND RONV: B. M. Shelton, G. XV. Marsh. C. L. Pichard, G. G. Brown, D. E. Erwin, R. F. Drake, VV. NV. MacKay, W. H. Robinson, unidentified. BOTTOM ROXV: R. Soouist. J. M. Martin, J. P. XVall, unidentified, B. J. Nitzel, H. H. Logsdon. P. Gorman, C. R. Green, O. C. Lockett, G. C. McClease, F. F. Scirgova, N. J. Shellenberger, J. R. Te-are, R. E. Traynor. which consisted of four carriers and two battlewagons surrounded by screening cruisers and destroyers. VF21 pilots shot down two Zekes over the formation and made strafing and rocket attacks on two cruisers and a battleship. Two VT planes scored hits on one BB, while two other VT put fish in the starboard quarter of a Shokaku class carrier. The other torpedo planes struck two CVL's, putting two ish in a Zuiho class and ossible hit in a Chitose class. Out of eight torpedoes dropped, four were hits. All of our planes returned safely. After the first attack was over, Lt. Claude Roberts of VFf2l, remained over the Jap Fleet in direct communif cation with Admiral Halsey himself and did a good job of keeping the Admiral informed of the movements of 313 the enemy. On the 30th of October when the suicide plane hit, Lt. Keely was killed manning his plane at the spot where the Nip plunged into the deck. Twentyfthree 183 VTf2i crewmen in the after ready room were lost in this tragedy.

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Fighting Squadron 21 F TOP ROW: M. J. Johnson, J. D. Santacroce, W. J. Steinmacher, W. R. Myers, C. VV. Cox, R. Beach, F. L. Clark, E. E. Pease, W. E. Schindler. FOURTH ROW: H. A. Massey, R. E. Wunner, E. L. Cox, G. F. Smith, R. W. Emerson, C. K. McChesney. THIRD ROW: H. H. Hassenfratz, J. R. Wilson, D. P. Hull, J. A. McConnell, C. O. Roberts, W. L. Keely, H. A. Perry, W. D. Biggers, T. S. Rice, G. B. Turner, R. P. Gotch, L. B. Dunham. SECOND ROW: M. U. Mead, R. D. Eadie, K. W. Lynn, C. M. Arnold, F. Lynch, E. M. Mahoney, J. J. F. Gale, G. F. Boyle, G. H. Durand, E. R. Boeck, J. H. Drake, M. P. Cleboski. BOTTOM ROW: H. P. Cottrell, A. W. Berberich, R. F. Thomas, R. E. White, P. Rippa, H. J. Tate, H. C. Dixon, J. R. Conner, J. D. Nellis, J. M. Mc- Fadden, R. O. Yancey, J. E. No-rthrup. NO PICTURES OF THE FOLLOWING OFFICERS: T. W. Attridge, J. E. Greenwood, A. J. Manger, N. E. Maxwell. l H G R Q U P Q 1 In June, 1944 Air Group 21, under the command of Commander Casey, relieved Air Group 24 while the ,, 2 ,,, , V' V ship was at Pearl Harbor. Lt. Cdr. R. A. Kennard was s.i. sBr I if VT skipper. A irisli ZII The first combat missions were air support sorties for our troops engaged in a moppingfup expedition on A A Guam. Next came the initial strikes at Palau and the Philippines. Fighter pilot Meade and torpedo pilot Ev' 2 ,....i , is erett with his crew Arrance and Davidson were lost ilk 1 ...sp. over Ivlindanao. Flights were flown to cover the land' ings at Morotai and Palau. ln October strikes were launched at Ckinawa, For' mosa, Luzon, and Leyte. Prior to the invasion of the Philippines at Leyte, the group hit Jap installations on the Islands. Early on the morning of October 25th the VF and VT took off on the first strike in the Second Battle Of the Philippine Sea and struck the northern Jap f0rC6 182

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1 1 . 3 !................M.. get YZ' ' Pl 215 ' z g 3 r Qs Ev Ht . 'li 13 :ll .iq i, 4 -e 1 'E .I if fs? S211 .ru ,,' 335 Efie E tif 1 l D: 1 ,. i l I 1 1 I Fighting Squadron 30 TOP ROW: O. J. Merz. K. W. Curry, H. A. Lee, D. J. Smith, R. L. Rhodes, D. L. Kirby, C. Duggins, B. R. Kyler, T. J. Ryzin, J. Welle, A. I. Lunder, ' ' ' A. L. Ol n. VV H Smith, R. B. Carlson, W. Gundaker, R. H. Baldwin, L. M. Cobb, W. R. McAllister, D. E. Reynei, W. H. ogers, se FOURTH ROW: K. B. Rowley, R. P. Tunstill, R. O. Burns, J. W. Ward, R. E. Parker, E. J. McNulty, M. A. Mazzocco, J. E. Pixbon. THIRD ROW: F. L. Peterson, R. S. Bennett, J. W. Pooley, W. J. Cummings, W. N. Thomas, A. S. Yesensky, G. J. Tracy, J. V. Reber, L. J. Behrend, D. P. Philips, A. G. Bittner. O. J. Fronek. J. F. Gerkin, E. J .Easter, R. P. Buis. SECOND ROW:R. C. Anderson, R. G. Doherty, J. J. Noel, W. S. Huckins, C. H. Carey, C. C. Foster, R. L. Reins, J G. Miller, K. J. Dahms, F. R. Gil christ, J. L. Watson, C. C. Spataro. BOTTOM ROVV: H. V. Haney, C. C. Tovar, P. P. Korkey, Harrison, L. G. Rygh, F. E. Green, H. W. Sturdevant, R. H. Lindner, D. A. Clark, R. F. Gil- lespie, E. A. Evenson, J. R. Blanton, J. Q. Ward. NO PICTURES OF THE FOLLOWING OFFICERS: R. G. Berenson, C. D. Mclver, R. L. Mosher, H. J. Wescott, R. L. Young. lil GROUP 30 Air Group 30 was commissioned April 1, 1943 at Rio Grande, New Jersey. On August 1 they reported aboard the U. S. S. MONTEREY, CVLf26. Their first action against the enemy came on November 19 with strikes against Makin Island. May 11, 1944 terminated this iirst tour of duty when the group was detached from the MONTEREY at Pearl Harbor. The second edition of Air Group 30 was organized under Lt. Cdr. Robert Lindner in June, 1944 at N.A.S. Seattle. Lt. Frederick C. Tothill skippered the torpedo squadron. The air group was then transferred to N.A.S., Pasco, Washington for training in gunnery, straff ing, bombing, and combat hops. From Pasco the air group flew to San Diego and boarded the CVE, U. S. S. TAKANIS BAY for carrier qualification. After a few weeks of held carrier landings at Brown Field, San Diego, Air Group 30 reported to the BELLEAU WOOD in Alameda on january 18, 1945 shortly before her departure for the combat area. Initial contact with the enemy came on February 16 -the first Tokyo strikes. Lt. fjgj Eric Candy Even' son shot down two Jap planes while on a CAP tO break the ice . 184