Leyte (CV 32) - Naval Cruise Book

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Oops-She don't wanna fly!! We re of! 4 An AD 'Skyraider' wing tip catches the Number One 5 inchers V z 5 Wrong way Bub! 1 Its wet!

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Wild Bull The boys and M amasan C hanging Cl PLU5, --- ,W Giving an lflbjuv-

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FIGHTER sQuAnRoN THIRTY-TWO X , ' ,AA ft' ,-- 1 C C..f , ,ifLQf9'L-gf-, ilf ISI V- ' ' ' ,nf V,. A f ' '. ' ' , , if , IN ' f v,. 'gf,.7f,f, f,'., -. 47- .v f f: ' LCDR. Dugald T. Neill, USN Commanding Ojficer IGHTER Squadron THIRTY-TWO was commissioned as Fighter Bombing Squadron THREE at NAAS Wildwood, New Jersey in May of 1945, however V-J day came along before the veteran aviators and their F6F Hellcats could return to combat. With their Jap-slapping days thus termi- nated, units of the squadron went on to notoriety at home as precision aeronauts in wide-spread bond-selling tours, air shows, and as a military stunt team in- the 1946 National Air Races. The squadron was later known as Fighter Squadron FOUR ABLE, and received its present designa- tion as Fighter Squadron THIRTY-TWO in August 1948. Serving aboard the USS KEARSARGE, as an integral part of Carrier Air Group THREE. the squadron participated in cruises to Northern Europe, the Mediterranean Sea, the Caribbean and the Arctic. A Fighter Squadron THIRTY-TWO received. its highest peacetime distinction in 1948 when it was awarded the Navy Battle Efficiency Pennant for outstanding .performance in Fleet Wide Competition. In December of 1949 the squadron exchanged its F8F Bearcats for F4U-4 Corsairs. A four-month period of intensive training followed, and on May 2nd the squadron sailed for the Mediterranean aboard the USS LEYTE. The squadron remained aboard the LEYTE when the ship reversed course for the Pacific in August. Six new pilots reported enroute and were ready for action by the end of September. ' V ' ' Lt. F. J. Cronin, with his division, opened hostilities between the North Korean and Fighting THIRTY-TWO, by attacking targets i-n the Wonsan area on Oct. 10, 1950. Enemy targets through- out the entire North Korean peninsula were hit in rapid sequence in the action-packed months that followed.