Bon Homme Richard (CVA 31) - Naval Cruise Book

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numnm GEORGE W. ANDERSON, JR. CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS

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PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY COMMANDER IN CHIEF ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES

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AE 'TL 'af-i A :ss Mis..-ru DAPTAIN MARSHALL U. BEEBE, USN COMMANDING OFFICER USS BON HOMME RICHARD CV.-1 31 Captain Beebe was born in Anaheim, California, August 6, 1913. He attended Occidental College, majoring in Mathe- matic and physics and graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1935, His military career started with the California National Guard during his undergraduate years. In 1936, he sought flight training in the Naval Aviation Cadet Program and was designated Naval Aviator number 5001 on 26 December, 1937. Captai.n Beebe was commissioned Ensign, USNR, in 1938 and applied for a regular commission in 1940. In March, 1941, he was appointed Ensign, U.S. Navy. From August, 1943, he commanded Composite Squadron 39, based on the USS LISCOMBE BAY, until that carrier was sunk during the Tarawa in- vasion later that year. In April, 1944, he was assigned duty as Commanding Officer of Fighter Squadron 17, a squadron of F6F Hellcats of Air Group Seventeen, based on the USS HORNET, operating -in the Pacific. He participated in the first Navy raids on Tokyo in February, 1945, and was personally credited with 1015 Japanese planes. He was awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism as a pilot and flight leader in Fighter Squadron Seven- teen . . . in the vicinity of Southern Kyu- shu, Japan, on March 18, 1945 . . . where he shot down five planes of twenty-five destroyed by his flight of 16 aircraft, He also accounted for two aircraft destroyed on the ground, probably destroyed another in the air and damaged two others. After 1945 he held several posts which included Air Officer of the USS BAD- OEN G STRAIT, and Aide and Flag Lieu- tenant on the Staff of Admiral Arthur W. Radford, Vice Chief of Naval Operations, and later Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet. From November, 1950, until May, 1952, he commanded Carrier Air Group FIVE based on the USS ESSEX, operating in Korean waters. He was awarded the Leg- ion of Merit with Combat V for . . . exceptionally meritorious conduct . . . in operations in Korea from August, 1951, until January, 1952. He held several billets since then, and was commanding officer of the USS PYRO, AE-24. Captain Beebe took command of the USS BON HOMME RICHARD on Decem- ber 20, 1960.