Midway (CVA 41) - Naval Cruise Book

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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.

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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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Cdr. R. E. Kuntz Commanding Officer, VF-21 Formed in the waning months of World War II as Fighter Squadron Eighty- One, the Freelancers have been known as VF-134, VF-131 and VF-64 prior to being redesignated again as Fighter Squadron Twenty One on July 1, 1959. The name Freelancers, however, has remained constant since shortly after the squadron ' s formation and initial designation. In the course of their 17-year history, the flying Freelancers have flown the F6F Hellcat, F8F Bearcat, F4U Corsair, F9F Panther, the F2H Banshee and their present plane, the F3H-2 Demon, soon to be replaced by the F4H Phantom Two. This squadron ' s mission : long range air defense for the Midway, on which VF-21 is making her fourth WESTPAC deployment. To accomplish its mission, this Demon Team is qualified for night and all-weather intercept work and is equipped with both the Sparrow III and Sidewinder missiles.