Badoeng Strait (CVE 116) - Naval Cruise Book

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w r m [ ' . Jk J LT D. I. DRAZ Air Operations LT W. N. SMALL Flag Lieutenant DRIVERS STEWARDS BARGE CREW Front Row: Mangosing, J.G.; Nichols, E.R.; DE LOS Reyes, S. (n); Odaffer, L.A.; Cordero, F.N.; 2nd Row : Dyle, P. (n) Jr.; Lazzarini, J.L.; Anderson, J.L.; Washa, J.D.; 3rd Row: SanNicholas, R.M.; Eubanks, J.O.; Shaw, H.W. LT C. M. STEPHENSON Operations Coordinator LTJG V. T. FAULKENBERRY Education Training

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The cruise is over. Home is the hunter from the hills . . . home is the sailor from the seas. For many of the officers and men of the squadron, this cruise has been their first time overseas. For some, it will be their last. The majority of (he men will remain in the Navy to participate in future and perhaps more exciting voyages, but because of the inevitable, many of us have experienced our last time at sea with VS-38. Memories linger. . .endless seas and infinite horizons. Twilight. . .and the breathless wonder at the rays of the setting sun as they splash the sky and towering clouds with fantastic colors. Even- ing. . .the dark silhouette of the ship, the schools of small flying fish scampering in its wake. Hushed voices. . .the flicker of a cigarette. Peace. . .solitude. . .blissful contentment at being far removed from the hectic rush and strife of modern man ' s desperate struggle for survival. Days of idleness, and days of HUK exercises with round the clock flying. Becalmed seas of glass. . .and angry seas lashed by storms and typhoons. The irresistable beckoning of mysterious, distant lands. Shore leave and the laughing remembrances of good times ashore. The deep friendships formed after long days at sea. The discovery of mutual interests, mutual loyalties, mutual goals, and that unspoken, unbreakable bond that is common to all men who have shared dangers, hardships, and exciting adventures far from home. To these memories, and to the gallant men who so faithfully served VS-38 in 1955 this portion of the cruise book is dedicated. l a t i¥t4toify Briefly looking into its past history, the squadron originated as an organized Reserve Composite I nil, VC-892, of Seattle, Washington. By the time the Unit had answered the call to duty in Jul ' L950, it had been re-designated Anti-Submarine Squadron 892, and was based aboard the Naval Air Station. S.ui Diego. California. In 195 1 the squadron departed on a six-month tour of duty in Japan. After a successful cruise it returned to San Diego, and in 1953 it was re-designated VS-38. Aboard the I ' SS I ' oint Cruz iCV1M19i the squadron again ser sail for another Far Eastern assignment where all previous training efforts materialized into the making of a well-rounded, ni lighting unit. In December 1953 the squadron returned to the United States, and in March L954 il retired us tired Torpedo Bombers iTBM ' si to become the first squadron on the Wesl Coasl to receive the new anti-submarine Grumman-built S2F-1 Sentinel . This twin-engine ' package aircraft ' of radical design, with all its numerous devices and highly effective armament, permitted one plane to seek and destroy the hidden enemy, a task that previously had H. iiiiicd two different types of ' Hunter Killer ' carrier based aircraft.