Badoeng Strait (CVE 116) - Naval Cruise Book

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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.

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l S -32 41 WORK . . . 41 -RSS1 . . .

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?4 ' pecv ?i t In March 1954, VS-38 became the the first squadron on the West Coast to receive the S2F-1. Commander Robert Brent, VS-38 ' s skipper, set the pace by being the first pilot to bring the plane aboard a CVE, the USS Badoeng Strait (CVE-116). Later that evening, LTJG Bowers followed suit to make the first night landing aboard a CVE. To better appreciate this feat it is best to mention dimensions: The wingspread of an S2F-1 is 69 feet. The flight deck width of a CVE is 74 feet and the landing length is 366 feet. The planes land at a speed of approximately 100 miles per hour, and if the pilot rolls straight down the center of the deck he has a 2 foot clearance on either side until he reaches the barriers and the island structure. To add further proof to the skill of its pilots and its safety conscious crew, VS-38 received the COMAIRPAC Safety Award for VS type aircraft for the 2nd and 4th quarters of 1954. It maintained this accident free record throughout the cruise. Adding to its list of firsts — at sea aboard the USS Hancock (CVA-19), VS-38 ' s ST-7 was the first plane to be launched from their steam catapult. Aboard the USS Badoeng Strait (CVE-116), VS-38 became the first squadron to launch the S2F via catapult while at anchor. Om ' PneAeat cU e April 1955 : Days of intensified training and periods of expectancy are over. With little fanfare and few tearful goodbyes, VS-38 quietly went aboard the USS Badoeng Strait and again set sail from San Diego. Stopping in Hawaii only long enough to prove its operational readiness, the ship and squadron continued on their assigned mission — to be ready and immediately available to the 7th Fleet and other forces protecting our interests in the Far East. Besides the ports of call ; Hawaii, Japan, Formosa, Okinawa, and Hong Kong, many shore liberty parties fanned out on excursions to explore nearby points of interest. Fleeting pictures come to mind ; the peaceful beauty of Pacific islands fringed with cotal beaches and coconut palms ; noisy Oriental ports with their narrow streets and flashing neon signs, left hand traffic and scurrying natives hounded by maniacal taxi drivers who used their horns instead of brakes. Waikiki Beach, Diamond Head, Tokyo, Kamakura, Keelung, Naha, Hong Kong ; Leering wooden idols, volcanoes, Mt. Fuji, hundred foot pagodas, and gigantic bronze Buddahs ; Hula girls, Geisha girls, and Blue Moon girls ; Grass skirts, slit skirts, and kimonos ; Slanted eyes, almond eyes, and round eyes ; Liberty boats, fleet landings, rickshaws, and taxi cabs ; Fistfuls of Military Script and bales of Yen exchanged for boatloads of cloissone vases, chinaware, ivory pieces, cameras, binoculars, brocade and silk goods. A brief stop at NAS Atsugi and then back to the ship. Hoist anchor. Prepare for underway scheduled opera- tions. Short days, long days, cool days and days filled with unbearable heat. Idle days and busy sweat-filled days of Flight Quarters, General Quarters, and sea-going details. The days blend into nights, the nights into weeks, the weeks into months. . . . October 1955 : Homeward bound ! The hardships are forgotten, only the good times are remembered. It was a good trip and a good crew. There were many interesting sights and unforgettable adventures, but there is nothing. absolutely nothing, that can compare with the thrill that sweeps through the ship as men eagerly line the rails to catch their first sight of Point Loma, USA. The ship enters the bay. Bands, majorettes, and Welcome Home banners line the pier. Tugs ease the ship into its berth. Sailors cheer as the first lines are cast and made fast. Crowds gather. Tension mounts as familiar faces cry out and frantically wave handkerchiefs. The gangway is lowered. Eager men rush down into waiting arms. Sweethearts and wives laugh and weep with uncontrolled relief and joy. Home is the sailor from the seas. . . .