Block Island (CVE 106) - Naval Cruise Book

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.4 . S. S. DLDCII I LA CVE 21 pioneered in the use of HFXDF fhigh fre- quency direction finderj against the submarine menace in the Atlantic. The planes of CVE 21 were the first to use airborne rockets in attacks on German submarines. CVE 21 was the first and only U.S. Naval Aircraft Car- rier sunk by enemy action in the Atlantic. The crew of CVE 21 was the first crew of a U.S. Naval vessel which had been sunk in combat to be maintained as a unit until another ship of the same name could be prepared for its use in World War II. CVE 106 was the first U.S. Naval Aircraft Carrier to have an All Marine Air Group aboard. Vice Admiral Barbey, Acting Commander Seventh D DID IT FIR T Fleet, delayed tl1e Balikpapan fBorneoj campaign until the Fighting Block Island became available because it was tl1e first CVE with an experienced and skilled 'fnight fighter air group. CVE 106 was the first U.S. Naval ship to sail through tl1e Straits of Makassar after the Pearl Harbor attack. CVE 106 was the first carrier to be used in the training of recruits. For nearly two months it served as a recruit training ship at Camp Peary in the York River. About 7,500 Mbootsw had theirfirst experience aboard a naval vessel in this ship. lt will be the first aircraft carrier and combatant ship of a World War to be permanently anchored and used as a training ship at the United States Naval Academy. I THE HANGAR DECK CVE 21

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RFAR Aomlafxl, .lonw ,llfzfwlwus lHl,l,I+IN'l'lNl'I ANXVXIQIJS IIONHKS LT. CONIDR. IQNOWLES COMDR. CUSTER LT. COMDR. CRONVOLD Receives Bronze Star Receives Bronze Star Receives Bronze Star LEGION OF MERIT Captain Francis Massie Hughes, USN Commander Delos Edwin YVait, USN NAVY AND MARINE CORPS lllEDAL Chief Carpenter Clarence Meyers Bailey, USN BRONZE STAR MEDAL Commander Jasper Leslie Custer, USNR Lieutenant Commander Robert Stinchfield Knowles, USNR Lieutenant Commander George Richard Cronvold, USNR Chief Boatswain's Mate Arthur Price, USN Aviation Machinist's Mate 2fc Alexander Culberson, USNR Aviation M3Chil1iSt,S Mate 2fc Don Arlo Taylor, USNR Aviation Machinisfs Mate 3fc Leonard Leroy Johnson, USN COMMENDATION RIBBON Boatswain's Mate lfc Ellis Charles Church, USN Carpenteris Mate lfc Emil George Bazzini, USNR Shipfitter Zfc Joseph Duran Lago, USNR Coxswain Harold Roy Simms, USNR Pharmacisfs Mate lfc Lawrence D. Anderson. USNR 1 Aviation iVIachinist,'s Male JOHNSON . it Receives Bronze Star - iAI,IIl1:I1i ILRHIIC Ay' 5 N ' TAYLUR RPWIIW Q B S mlmn Mamhnnsl s MMP ' '- ronzc flair - Q H1-1-cnc-s Bronze' Jill'

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OPERATIO E106 COLONEL DOBBINS The carrier planes became the eyes and the fists of the Fleet. They provided the long range sea searchers, plus the long-range artillery and shifting flexible power needed to overcome the advantages of distance and geography the Japanese had in the Pacific. In the Battle of the Atlantic the escort carriers were the steel barrier on which the Nazi wolf packs finally broke their teeth. In the Pacific the big flattops took the offensive almost alone, against the spreading Japs. The Navy chose the new BLOCK ISLAND for an experi- ment. It would have an entire Marine Air Group. Commander Hood, Air Oflicer of CVE 21 would continue in that capacity but the Marines would furnish the squadrons. Marine Carrier Aircraft Service Squadron One came aboard with 13 officers and 216 enlisted Marines. These men would service and main- ,, V... ...ww .,,, ,M -'Y V. ,....., .. .,.. ...,,,,,N.. .,.Y,,,.......-.,.,,,,,...,..,.,x cf Mm- . A.. V.. , ,, . , , !,..,, ' f - ' ' K f- X V---.fm-vf.f...2fff Ski? , . ,t.f.s ww-w.f.:w , 1 ' 'i'Pi?','L1fZJf'f- A TBP OVER OKINAWA ,, COMMANDER HOOD tain aircraft. It meant that some old timers would have to go on the beach. It was hard to leave this splendid new ship with a grand old name but only 144 enlisted naval air personnel could remain aboard. Lt. Colonel John F. Dobbin, USMC, holder of a Navy Cross for the destruction of 8 Japanese planes in the Guadalcanal campaign commanded the Marines. Two powerful squadrons fought the planes. Marine Fighting Squadron 511 and Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron 233. The pilots were experienced men with splendid records in Marine Aviation in earlier cam- paigns. The unusual combination of Navy and Marine aviation units require many adjustments but worked out well under the splendid leadership of cooperating officers. Four different types of missions of aircraft operated from the decks of the FBI and made its nights as busy as its days. CVE pilots flew as many as four long support missions every day, which said Rear Admiral Durgin, Hmeant nine hours ill the air of constant flying and fighting. uThat's too much, 116 added. The BI had twelve Corsairs fF4U-1D and FG-ll whiCh fought brilliantly by day. Ten HELLCATS fF6F-5Nj cou- tinued the battle into the night. Twelve Avengers CTBM-33 launched torpedoes at strategic points. A ,Q - s I ff Q. fi-nw' 1 'pq , .Q ,,. I ix: :first wit- A N F-IU wi