Wasp (CV 18) - Naval Cruise Book

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CDR B. N. TAPPAN, USN During the Solomon lsland inva- sions ot WW ll, this I3-year Navy r il veteran led dive bombers lirom advanced coral-strip bases and won eight battle stars. Cdr. Tappan is the author of the Navy's training book, Seeing From Aircraft, and aided in developing the latest type aerial machine gun at the Naval Gun Factory in Washington, D. C. idle assumed command of VF-l5l in IQS3. FIGHTER SQUADQON l5l The Black Knights ol: Fighter Squadron ISI ily the old iaithfulsf' POF-2 panther jets, with the big letter l-l - 5. ---.Ry .1 tails. Qriginating in Akron, Qhio as a can rr v ee : l S, Une Fifty-Qne was then designatecy y Corsair - - made their First cruise to the scan 'i hostill ai aboard VALLEY FORGE in IQSI. The fs dron gained its unrelentin eliforts in support of the Unig ations ond craclc at the enemy came in i953 wh v ATG-I this time the Black Knights w r Flying the deadly Pan t Prior to this, I5I's third Eastern since r Tappan and his second in co . d, Lcdr. lea 0 strenuous training at Fallon, :. da and I Vi: I5l to assume its share ol: the s air ' ,Cd. d ii

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Bottom Row - GORDON, WHARTON, SHAEER, SANDERS, HALL, WICKMAN, CASH, RANKIN, STIDHAM, MUNRO, BONNER, TINKER SNOWDEN, NEWTON, ALEORD, Second Row -WILLTS, RAO, ANDRADA, SCHWEINEURTH, SCHNITTKER, HOLES, WORISCHECK BALLARD, SEXTON, BECKNER, CHENEY, COTTEN, OZANICH, BERRIER. Third Row - SWENSON, SMITH, ROBERSON, JOHNSON, REEVES, TERRY, KRUEGER, JOHNSTON, MULLEN, MCDONALD, LOWERY. SEA LANCERU OR MAN FROM MARS.

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Bottom Row-MCCONKEY, SHEETS, CARMAN, CI-ILJTE, RENDLETON, TARPAN, MALAN, MERRILL, CRANDALL, O'NEIL, Second Row-WAYHAM, THURSTON, HOLT, BIRD, CORBETT, KIDD, MCLAUGI-ILIN, RATTRIDGE, RROUTY, MOORE, MONTAGUE, Third Row-SIMPSON, STOBBS, BOYETTE, EROST, CRAIG, CONNOR, BAUER, MIODEK. IT WILL BE A RELIEE TO GET OUT OE TI-IESE TI-IINGS.