Coral Sea (CVA 43) - Naval Cruise Book

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.Jn M 1-.fx L.: 1 .V ' S , it .1 CAPT. E. A. HANNEGAN, USN Captain Edward Allen Hannegan, born December 11, 1905, in Washington, D. C., graduated from the Naval Academy in 1928, then served on the U.S.S. WYOMING until 1930 when he was ordered to Pensacola, Fla., for flight training. Captain Hannegan served with various squadrons aboard the U.S.S. LANGLEY and U.S.S. LEXINGTON, in 1934 began two years with the Flight Testing Division, Anacostia, D. C. Subsequently, he served in the U.S.S. RANGER and in Fighting Squadron Four aboard that ship. From 1939 to 1941 Captain Hannegan was assigned to Fleet Air Wing Three at Coco Solo, C. Z. He then served in the Bureau of Aeronautics until 1943, when he reported aboard the U.S.S. LANGLEY as Air Officer, remaining aboard as Executive Officer until February, 1945. A series of assignments as Commanding Officer of the Naval Air Station, Patuxent River, Md., the command of the U.S.S. SHELIKOF, and U.S.S. TIMBALIER, later as Chief of Staff to Commander Fleet Air, Quonset Pt., and finally to the Bureau of Personnel and the Armed Forces Industrial College, all led up to his appointment to the U.S.S. SIBONEY as Commanding Officer. Captain Hannegan's last assignment before reporting as Chief of Staff, ComCarDivSix, in July, 1953. CHIEF OF STAFF, COMMANDER CARRIER DIVISION SIX CAPT. W. 0. BURCH, USN Captain William O. Burch, Jr., born June 27th, 1904, in Paducah, Ky., graduated from the Naval Academy in 1927, receiving his wings in Pensacola in 1931. He served with observation and 'scouting squadrons until 1936, when he became an instructor at Pensacola. In 1938 Captain Burch reported to Scouting Squadron 5 as Flight Officer, later becoming Executive and Commanding Officer successively. This squadron went through the heaviest of the Pacific campaigns, and was aboard the YORKTOWN at Midway. In 1942-43, Captain Burch served as Commanding Officer of the Naval Air Station, Cecil Field, Jacksonville, Fla. He then became Executive Officer of the U.S.S. TICONDEROGA, until 1945 when he took command of the Naval Air Station at Fort Lauderdale, Fla. In 1947, he assumed command of the U.S.S. PINE ISLAND. Captain Burch returned to Washington in 1948 as Director of Enlisted Distribution in the Bureau of Naval Personnel. The National War College was his last assignment before reporting as Chief of Staff, Carrier Division Six, on July 8, 1952. '16

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CAPT. H. H. CALDWELL USN Captain Howard Caldwell was born in Rocklin Calif October 3, 1905, and graduated from the Naval Academy in 1927. Receiving his wings in 1930, Caldwell subsequently served in observation and scouting squadrons until in 1934 he became an instructor in the Seamanship and Navigation Department at the Academy - and coached football - an in 1937 joined a carrier scouting squadron, serving as gunnery flight, and executive officer. Captain Caldwell was transferred to the Division of Fleet Training in 1940, and reported in 1942 to Headquarters Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet. Command of a carrier air group followed. In 1943 he became Air Officer of the U.S.S SARATOGA, then served as Combat Training Officer on the staff of the Chief of Naval Air Training. Captain CaIdweIl's next assignment was as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. PINE ISLAND, taking part in the Antarctic Expedition of 1946-47, during which the crash of a patrol plane stranded the Captain and his crew on the ice cap After thirteen days they made their way to the sea and were rescued by another plane. Captain Caldwell then served for a year on the staff of Commander in Chief, Atlantic Fleet, as Aviation Operations Officer. He then returned to the Naval Academy as Head of the Department of Physical Training and Director of Athletics. In July, 1951, Captain Caldwell reported as Chief of Staff, Commander Carrier Division Six, in the U.S.S. CORAL SEA. He was next ordered to the Naval War College at Newport, R. I. He returned to the CORAL SEA as Commanding Officer in August, 1953. COMMANDINC OFFICER CAPT. H. D. RILEY, USN Captain Herbert D. Riley, born in Maryland, December 24, 1904, graduated from the Naval Academy in 1927, and re- ceived his wings in 1930. Duty with all types of squadrons followed. In 1940 Captain Riley became Aide and Flag Lieutenant to ComCarDivOne, the following year served as Aide and Flag Secretary to Commander Patrol Wings, U.S. Fleet. In 1941, Captain Riley was assigned to the staff of Com- mander Fleet Air, West Coast. In 1942 he took part in operations in the South Pacific, returning to Washington to the Office of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations ifAir1. Captain Riley - then a commander - became Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. MAKASSAR STRAIT, supporting the landings at Iwo Jima and Okinawa, in 1944. J Captain Riley's post-war assignments have been: Assistant Deputy Task Force Commander for the atomic bomb tests at Bikini, Long-Range War Plans Officer, Strategic Plans Section, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Naval As- sistant to Secretary of Defense James Forrestal, student at the National War College, Assistant Chief of Staff for Plans on the staff of Commander in Chief Atlantic Command and U. S. Atlantic Fleet, and Assistant Chief of Staff for Plans, Policy and Operations on the st-aff of Admiral Lynde D. McCormick, Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic. He assumed command of the CORAL SEA in November, 1952.

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EXECUTIVE OFFICER CDR. R. E. RIERA, USN The CORAL SEA'S Executive Officer, Commander Robert E. Riera, was born in Pensacola, Fla., on November 30, 1912, where he attended school before entering the Naval Academy, from which he was graduated in 1935. Commander Riera then served as a line officer aboard battleships and destroyers before entering flight, training. Receiving his wings in 1939, he reported to Dive Bombing Squadron VB-2 aboard the U.S.S. LEXINGTON. During World War II, Commander Riera served as Com- manding Officer of Dive Bomber Squadron VB-20 aboard the U.S.S. ENTERPRISE, and later as Air Group Commander on the U.S.S. HORNET, participating in the Marianas, Palau, and Philippine Sea campaigns. The war over, Commander Riera was assigned to the Attack Bomber Design Branch of the Bureau of Aeronautics. In 1947 he became Commander of Air Group One aboard the U.S.S. MIDWAY. Assignment as Single Engine Training Officer on the Staff of the Chief of Naval Air Advance Training at Corpus Christi, Texas, followed. Commander Riera entered the Naval War College at New- port, R. I., in 1950, later serving as Operations Officer on the Staff of Commander, Carrier Division Four. He reported aboard ,the CORAL SEA as Executive Officer in November, 1952. He was relieved by Commander S. B. Strong, USN, in October, 1953. COMMANDER CARRIER AIR GROUP EICIHT C'DR. R. B. WOOD, USN Commander Robert B. Wood was born January 15, 1917, in Hamilton, Ohio, where he graduated from high school before entering the Naval Academy in 1935. Commander Wood's first assignment upon graduation in 1939, was as a Turret Officer for two years on the 'U.S.S. INDIANAPOLIS. He then entered flight training at Pensacola, Fla., and was later assigned to the U.S.S. IDAHO as senior aviator. His next assignment was with Bombing Squadron 17 aboard the U.S.S. BUNKER HILL. Early in 1944 Commander Wood joined the BUNKER HILL'S ship's company, serving as Operations Officer while the carrier took part in the Marshalls, Hollandia, Marianas and Caroline Islands operations. Later, he was given, com- mand of a fighter squadron, assigned in 1945 to the U.S.S. LEXINGTON. Commander Wood subsequently became a project pilot at the Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, Md. He next went aboard the U.S.S. CABOT as Navigator, and in 1949 became Personnel Officer to the Staff of the Chief of Naval Air Basic Training. He took command of Air Group Eight, August 11, 1952.