Midway (CVA 41) - Naval Cruise Book

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Cdr, B. D. Holder Commander B. D. Holder was born in Fort Worth, Texas. He attended the North Texas State Teacher ' s College at Denton, and the Texas Christian University at Fort Worth. A member of the Naval Reserve V-5 program, he transferred to the regular Navy in 1944. Commander Holder has served with VC- 78, VB-80, CASU-32, VU-7, VA-115, and as Commanding Officer of VA-55, plus several shore tours. cvg-two 194 There are two ways of making progress — evolution and revolution. When the first boat floated into a lake it was a revolution. From there numerous evolutions perfected the boat to a mighty instrument of peace and warfare. Along the way this progress was boosted by more advanced revolutions. The sail, the steam engine and the development of the iron-clad ship were a few. But the latest revolution and the most important one in terms of modern warfare was the addition of the airplane to the striking force of the fleet — the birth of the aircraft carrier. But, as in the case of earlier revolutions, this innovation must evolve into a smooth, highly efficient organization before it would become the tool that it is today. Through such past experience, modern naval leaders have established the Air Group. This is a group of squadrons, under one head, which team up with an otherwise impotent ship, and together they form a nearly unstoppable team. VF-21, VA-22, VA-23, VF-24, VA-25, VAH-8, VAW-11, VAW-13, VFP-63 provide reconnaissance, attack and fighter power to CVG-2. These various squadrons make the air group the potent main battery it is, and CVG-2 in turn makes the modern carrier the potent force for peace and deterrent to war that it is today.

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LTjg. J. B. Morse Officer-in-Charge The mission of an Angel is to assist, and this is exactly what an HUP-3 Angel (the actual radio call for the Midway ' s helicopters) does in a variety of ways. Chiefly, these Angels hover off the starboard beam of the carrier during daytime flight operations, always ready to pick-up pilots and crew from a downed plane. (Therefore they could be called instant life savers. ) The helicopter, also referred to as the Copter ■ or the Gooney Bird, came into its own and received world-wide ac- claim during the Korean Conflict where, on its many missions of mercy, it performed invaluable service. Somewhat less dramatic but still important missions of HU-1 are: the at-sea transfers of mail and personnel to other ships in the task group, gunfire spotting, radar calibration, and many other miscellaneous missions which can only be performed by HU-Ts versatile Angels. (TOPi: LTjg, L. D. Presnell ; Meehan, J. R. ; Cole, R. D, ; Price, E. S. ; Vidder, J. D. ; Ens. F. G. Hall: (BOTTOM); Burnell, M. H. ; Shields, C. T. ; Hayes. K. G. ; Harnett, J. W. ; Condon, C. E. LiiiiliMiiil

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STANDING : Addna, F. G. ; Stoner, R. L.. PRCS ; Marks, B. ; May, D. L. : (SITTING : : LTjg. J. B. Moore ; LTjg. M. T. Darkowski : LT. W. J. Davis: Lcdr. H. C. Quitmeyer ; Cdr. B. D. Holder ; Lcdr. D.J. Sperling; LT. J. H. Dyer; LT. F.J. Svendson ; LT. DR. Postlewait.