Bon Homme Richard (CVA 31) - Naval Cruise Book

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D2 7. S SSDJKEP Commander Thomas S. Sedaker has served in every enlisted and officer pay grade up to his present rank with the exception of Ensign. And as a result of the officer selection board convening, he will soon be serving as a Captain. Commander Sedaker began his Naval career as an enlisted man aboard the USS DETROIT in 1936 after attending high school in Schnectady, New York. Car- rier experience began early when he transferred to the USS LEXINTON, CV-2, in 1937 as a wire operator in the arresting gear crew. His flight training came in 1941 at Pensacola, Florida as an aviation machinists mate second class. Becoming a first class on graduation, he received his wings in Miami in October of 1941. Commander Sedakeris first squadron assignment was Torpedo Squadron 7 aboard the USS YVASP at the outbreak of WWII. Later service saw him as a fighter pilot in the Philippines, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa cam- paigns. From his rate of Chief Aviation Pilot, he was commissioned Lieutenant junior grade in September of 1943. In the later stages of the war, he led a VF division which shot down 13 enemy aircraft. Following the war, Commander Sedaker was flying Ryan Fireballs which had both conventional and the new jet engines. From the new jets, he went to VF 174, the first jet fighter squadron in the Navy to become carrier qualified in 1947. Following a tour of exchange duty with the Air Force, he was skipper of VF-121 in 19567-57 during which time he was promoted to Commander. Joining the BONNIE DICK as her exec was not his first tour aboard. In 1960, he had been Commander of Air Group 19. Commander Sedaker's medals include the Distin- guished Flying Cross with three stars, the Air Medal with four stars, and the Navy Unit Commendation among others. 22'Z6ZZ77W2' 07776225 Commander James M. Johnson has served in the U.S. Naval service since 1941. In 1942 he gained his commission as an Ensign and his wings as a Naval Aviator. The fiying career of Commander Johnson began as a patrol plane commander in 1942. During the greater part of WW II, he served with European based patrol squadrons. Later service saw him in a night fighter squadron in the Pacific. Since that time, he has had duty with various conventional and jet Naval squadrons. Shore duty time has been spent in the Bureau of Ordnance, on the staff of the Chief of Naval Air Basic Training Command, Pensacola, Florida, Post Graduate and General Line School at Monterey, California, and just prior to his tour with BONNIE DICK as her Exec, Commander Johnson was Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations on the Staff of the Commander Pacific Missile Range. While serving in the Korean Confiict, he was Air Operations Officer on the BONNIE DICK, so that returning as her Executive Officer was very similar to coming home. Commander Johnson attended the Missouri School of Mines where he majored in Mechanical Engineering. He is presently a member of the American Rocket Society and the American Society of Mechanical Engi- neers. Included among his awards are two Air Medals, Navy Unit Commendation, Korean and United Nations Medals, and the European and American Theatre Ribbons. Commander Johnson, along with the BONNIE DICK's present Exec, Commander Sedaker, was chosen by the convening board for selection and promotion to Captain this year. 5. 9 D2 4 , gafmsaw

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X I X Pililifti li 1153311Illi'Zi1l!i1iIf1i1i2'!!1fl?l lt'hi1i'E'i ' I ' Ei ' 1 2.5 Wi'-uxiisll eaptculw 3 9495, fl X Always on the bridge during unreps, the Captain makes VAdm Ekstrom comes aboard for a short visit with the Captain meeting him on the flight deck. The Captain on the bridge with the French Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Georges E. J. Cabanier. 4l k 'Y' 7. 2 -twrgzzfxffrr-'-1-va .q.g.x:v--4 gqf-1.1423 , 'T'v15'i2l1!'X' ' his approach and then insures the lines are going over. The Captain checks the position of the replenishment with the Exec. Capt. Bullard launches the 40,000 accident free catapulted aircraft. ypw I M K C I I I , Y KT' V f ' A -Q .,, 596,-..,,.,.,,,T'f 'w11-M ff ' .179-,,5',,, -Wgff-Npzqy., yy h w , ,,.,.--,, . ' P4 vs' 'Z.'.'f-,Q ' , ..,,ww,k' ,. ,,.,,:::7,,. - ,.5i 7,,:' 'wilmf--.-

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Wmazafezy-gaadeeme 0,1 Me we Cdr. Sedaker greets VAdm Ekstrom with the Captain under- way in WesPac. Captain and Cdr Johnson checking Unrep position. ..gu0! 1 W, .Vx , .-...,....... ... X Hr- ..,. The X. 0. escorts school children and school officials in Hong Kong. Checking upcoming replenishment requirements with the First Lieutenant Exec with French CNO staif oiiicer.