Bon Homme Richard (CVA 31) - Naval Cruise Book

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our first executive officer ZUCZS CO777J77fCUZCZ87' 'LU. IZ. leonard who was relieved by Commander William N. Leonard served as the Bon Homme Richard executive officer from the ship's recommissiong Sept. 6, 1955, to April 5, 1956, when he was relieved by Commander Rex W. Warner. Cdr. Leonard, a veteran naval aviator, joined the staff of the Air Warfare Division of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations upon leaving the ship. Born in Douglas, Ariz., in 1916, the commander was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy in 1933 following gradua- tion from high school at Minneapolis, Minn. He was commissioned an ensign in June, 1938. He attended flight school at Pensacola, Fla., in 1940 after duty aboard the light cruiser USS Honolulu and battleship USS Arkansas. He received his wings in January 1941. During VVorld War H, Cdr. Leonard served in squadrons based aboard the carriers USS Yorktown, Hornet, and Enterprise and at Guadacanal and on duty with Commander, Fleet Air, West Coast, until 1944. Upon leaving the command of carrier Air Group 17 in 1951, the commander' served two years with the Weapons Systems Evaluation Group under the Defense Department and two years as executive and commanding officer of Air Development Squadrons before boarding the Bon Homme Richard as executive officer.

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captain frederick brush The very outset of Captain Frederick J. Brush's command of the Bon Homme Richard was fringed with action, as he headed the ship out to sea from Subic Bay, Pl., to avoid a raging typhoon immediately after relieving Captain Lamar P. Carver as Commanding Ofhcer in an impressive flight deck ceremony. His knowledge of action and qualifications for his first attack aircraft carrier command stemmed from his graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1931. His first duty station was the battleship USS Colorado. After a year, the captain reported to the cruiser USS Portland where he remained until 1935. At this point in his career, Capt. Brush received his aviator's wings at Pensacola, Fla. Prior to World War H, he served aboard the carrier USS Saratoga and the battleship USS Pennsylvania as well as at Coco Solo, Panama, and Key West Fla. During the conflict, Capt. Brush became gunnery officer for Commander, Air Force Atlantic Fleet. From 1943 until the following year he served as Commander Air Group 81 attached to the carrier USS Wasp. In the last year of the war the captain became executive officer of the aircraft carrier USS Cowpens. He later became commanding officer and in that capacity prepared the ship for the reserve Heet. Duty stations since the war include executive officer at NAS Jacksonville, Fla., Fleet Air Wing Two at Pearl Harbor, and a year at the Naval War College. Following his command of the escort carrier USS Point Cruz, Capt. Brush served with the Strategic Plans Division of Naval Gperations.

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commander r.w. aamer, who was with as or all 0 oar far eastern craise Assuming duties as Executive Officer April 5, 1956, after relieving Cdr. W.N. Leonard, Cdr. Rex Walton Warner reached another step in his naval aviation career. He began his naval officership in 1935 when he entered the Naval Academy from which he graduated in 1939 With a degree in electrical engineering. Cdr. Warner has served aboard the cruiser USS Houston, the destroyer USS Rodgers, and the battleship USS New York. After serving at NAS Jacksonville in World War 11, the commander became the air officer of the carrier USS Wasp in 1945 to mark his first aviation assign- ment. Following his Wasp duty, Cdr. Warner remained at sea as executive officer of seaplane tender USS Pocomoke. In June, 1950, he became executive officer of Fasron 102 and later commanding ofhcer of VP-5. He was assigned to Commander, Naval Forces Far East at Yokosuka, Japan, as operations officer after tours of duty at Norfolk, Va., and NAS, Corpus Christi, Texas. The commander came to the Bon Homme Richard from his Far Eastern post. X f f