Leyte (CV 32) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 91 text:

! A large, fat bird Three large, Coming in fat birds VC-I2 DETACHMENT

Page 90 text:

4 4 ' v I I I - Lt. Cornell L 1 COMPOSITE SQUADRON TWELVE DETACHMENT THE Composite Squadron TWELVE detachment which has been based aboard the USS LEYTE for the recent Mediterranean and Korean cruises, is a permanent component of the parent Com- posite Squadron TWELVE, based at Quonset Point, Rhode Island. The detachment consists of six ollicers and twenty-nine enlisted men, with Lieutenant L. B. Cornell, USN, serving -as Officer-in-Charge. VC-12 holds a unique status in carrier aviation, as it uses electronics as a primary weapon. As the squadron operates from carriers in all types of weather, both during day and night, it provides the necessary ueyesn which are valuable' to modern warfare, and serves as an around-the-clockguardian. The aircraft flown by this detachment are specially configurated versions of the Douglas Skyraider, which are equipped with the necessary equipment to uphold the borrowed motto, 46We fly when the birds walk. '

Page 92 text:

SASEBO AGAIN DECEMBER ze-JANUARY 7 SPENT fifty-two days before Christmas at sea so CTF77 sent us a belated Christmas gift in the form of a return to Sasebo. December 26 found Blackmarket Alley prospering despite 364 shopping days left till Christmas. The .lapanese souvenir trade, tho sadly spotty in quality, had a great variety, and a sudden How of rice paper boxes started streaming over 'the bow. But shopping fletis face itll lagged far in ar- rears of the order of the stay, namely, recreation. The Shangri-La, Batan, Kasbah, and other homes of the taxi dance made, to be sure, a bundle. There were 52 days at sea behind, days and nights minus wine or women. Hence, we made the town and some of its outskirts that sprawl on the hills running down -the valley to Sasebo. l y l A The moon guided our column The gates are open for another Sasebo Liberty