Leyte (CV 32) - Naval Cruise Book

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COMPOSITE SQUADRON SIXTY-TWO Lt. Alexatos a COMPOSITE Squadron Sixty-Two was commissioned in January 1949 at the Naval Air Station, Norfolk, Virginia. The present commanding officer, LCDR. LeRoy W. Keith, succeeded CDR. W. O. Moore who was killed in an airplane crash. In the fall 'of 1950 the squadron was transferred from Norfolk, to the Naval Air Station, Jackson- ville, Florida where it is now stationed. The primary mission of Composite Squadron Sixty-Two is to supply the Atlantic fleet units with detachments of qualified photographic reconnaissance pilots. Pilots are trained and organized into teams at the parent squadron. These teams are assigned to carriers to supply them with photographic intelligence over a broad range. The pilot may be assigned to photograph any target for intelligence unobtainable from other sources. He may be called on for mapping runs to be used in constructing maps or correcting existing maps. A frequently assigned mission is damage assessment photography to be used 'in estimating the true amount of damage inflicted by our strike groups. Detachment Three assigned to Air Group Three and based aboard the U.S.S. Leyte consisted of six pilots, eighteen enlisted men, and four FLLU-5P Corsair aircraft. Lt. M. S. Alexatos, USN, a veteran photo-pilot of the war against Japan, was senior aviator and Officer in Charge. The De- tachment suffered one casualty, Ensign W. G. Wagner, who was shot down over North Korea while on a combat reconnaissance mission.

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