Leyte (CV 32) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 78 text:

, 1 LCDR' Mccmhm y t vc-4sQuADRoNHlsToRY g TIIE Composite Squadron FOUR Detachment came from the parent squadron at NA S, Atlantic City to load aboard the Leyte with the rest of Air Group Three at Norfolk. The Detachment con- sisted of 6 officers and 28 enlisted men in the charge of LCDR. Otis E. McCutcheon of Boise, Idaho. The Detachment's main function in Task. ,Force 77 was. to provide friendly air cover for the force during the hours of darkness and low visibility. We were assigned Photo Escort, Target Combat Air Partol, Anti-Submarine Patrol, and Night Heckler flights as well, and found that we could ac- complish these missions in addition to our regular Night Combat Air Patrol. The high availability enjoyed by the Detachment on this cruiseis mainly due to the excellent Work of the men assigned, and contributed highly to the good hunting wehad over Korea. W ' -

Page 77 text:

AIR - SEA POWER UR visit to Sasebo came to an abrupt l1alt on November 5. Scuttlebutt about a speedy return to the States via Suez to complete a round the world cruise proved to be wishful thinking. Toward the end of October the Chinese bigwigs decided to push some 100,000 volunteers into the fray to regain the loss of prestige fand manpowerj their fellow Communists had suffered. American and R.O.K. troops met stubborn resistance. Chinese Reds borrowed the tactics of Genghis Khan's Mongol hordes by making fanatic night cavalry charges. Our outnumbered troops fell back. Air power was badly needed for close support, and to knock down tl1e Yalu Bridges to slow the Chinese troops and supplies. i So at dawn Sunday, November 5, back to sea went the LEYTE.

Page 79 text:

F4U-5N Night Fighter comes aboard at dawn By daylight She still looks good! VC-4 DETACHMENT Y -1 7 1 m