Bon Homme Richard (CVA 31) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 23 text:

Today's fast carrier striking force with its Staff, Air Group and support units stands alone as the one independent and completely mobile unit of naval warfare. It is ready to move immediately to any spot in the world for offensive or defensive action to protect our way of life or the way of life of friendly nations who believe in the basic freedoms of man. In times of peace, missions of mercy and world brotherhood are of paramount importance. Carrier Division Three was reactivated in March, 1950 and has been in operation continuously since that time. It has been commanded successively by Bear Admirals, LM. Hoskins, W.C. Tomlinson, IJ. Clark, Apollo Soucek, R.E. Blick, H.D. Felt, B.W. Buble, LE. Hobbs, TJ. Hedding, F. 0'Beirne, W.A. Schoech, and A.McB. Iackson. . The flagships of the Division Commander read almost like a roster of Pacific Fleet' Attack Carriers. At various times the Commander's two-star flag has flown from the,Valley Forge, Boxer, Philippine Sea, Essex, Midway, Oriskany, Yorktown, Hornet, Hancock, Bennington, Ticonderoga, and the Bon Homme Richard. Periodically, while in Westpac, Commander Carrier Division Three takes on the added responsibility and prestige of Commander Task Force TI, the carrier task force for the Seventh Fleet. Currently, Carrier Division Three is composed of the Admiral, Chief of Staff, 18 officers and 90 enlisted men whose primary function is the administration and supervision of Carrier Division Three and Commander Task Force TI. i '--'-

Page 22 text:

wwmrmwmwvmgyuzxwwsrm -V-aww?-x. Www' 4X H E 1 a lfglkx I A N x IX fi 1 'S f X X C 4 H s QEZSIIE 3 ,.,. :A.5 jg, .::,,A,:,:.,. . , XA.. jq ff 12 4 fl 4 0 J' Q A Ox J www ug if is www' gimegxg Mwadbg f si YR bw x at lib '7' 5 W, si w lg N2 S, x 5' Q J X 9 f hm r Qgvzgvivgag K V W ' fi Q' Eff? ww . an h ,mill 5, f ,Q Q x wk' 533' X 2, 'X XXX gg vm? 03' X a K S - ' Xl ix of' Hwi-Q-X L ggw. 9 K X sk - In 1922 the Navy finished work on an awkward looklng runwa y on a converted coal colller that eventually revolutlonlzed and changed the entire concept of warfare .at sea. A slow and cumbersome vessel when compared to the sleek modern attack carriers now ln operation, USS LANGLEY had all the disadvantages of small slze, slow speed and primitive equipment It was on her unwieldy wooden fllght deck that the Navy first worked out carrier take off and landing techniques, developed launching devices and arresting gear, and lnvestlgated aerlal tactics of Naval Warfare Th ' ' ' ' e development of the Carrier D1v1s1on Staff has paralleled the development of carrier aviation. I-lt first, being only an element of the fleet requiring no large staff, the carrier soon took its place as a strong and individual component of naval warfare requiring its own staff endowed with all the qualities of a regular fleet staff. However, in addition it utilized the abilities of officers and men with specialties and talents unique only to naval carrier aviation and the newly developed air weapons. .1 'lg W n r , ...- , Vx -f

Page 24 text:

CAPT T.D. HARRIS CDR S.H. DINSMORE CDR R.L. WORKMAN CIC OFFICER SURFACE OPERATIONS OFFICER OPERATIONS OFFICER CDR F.H. O'BRIEN ASST. OPERATIONS OFFICER O CDR H.H. HILLS AIR WARFARE OFFICER fag?-1 DIVB if CDR K.HQ MORRIS con HJ. KACZMAREK CDR Lf, GROSSER SPECIAL WEAPONS OFFICER AIR INTELLIGENCE OFFICER AIR OPERATIONS Umm