Coral Sea (CVB 43) - Naval Cruise Book

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ARI-HER AIR GROUP 1 ARRIR AIR GROUP SEVENTEEN was originally formed in New England near the end of World War II. Since its formation it has become very well traveled ' its pilots have Hown over both Atlantic and Pacific coasts European waters and the Caribbean Sea. From its original base in New England the Air Group moved westward to the shores of the Pacific at the Naval Air Station Alameda California. In 1946 it returned to New England being based at Quonset Point R. I: this was its home base for the next two years. Attached to the USS RANDOLPH during part of this period it visited the Mediterranean on the second post war cruise made in the area and two of its squadrons journeyed to Northern European waters while participating in the Midshipmens Cruise of 1947. ' During the year 1947 the Hrst jet aircraft to be assigned an operating squadron of the fleet were received by the first lighter- squadron of the group, Jet aircraft have since become a common sight in Air Group SEVENTEEN and at present the Hrst two Fighter squadrons Hy the Navys Banshee. The next year 1948 saw a reorganization of the Air Group with a fifth squadron being formed and the present designations as- signed. Three squadrons during the summer of this year again participated with the Midshipmen on their annual cruise this time in the Caribbean and Atlantic waters. Toward the end of the year and in the early months of 1949 the Group moved southward to its present home base at jacksonville Florida. Once settled at jacksonville and with its pilots enjoying Floridas balmy breezes its squadrons participated in spring maneuvers' and later in the year two squadrons boarded the USS MIDWAY for operations in the North Atlantic-Batiin Bay Area becoming mem- bers of the Royal Order of Blue Noses after crossing the Artic Circle. Next came Portrex which saw Air Group SEVENTEEN aboard the USS F. D. ROOSEVELT. Its pilots struck Vieques Island several times during the operation in attempts to drive the Aggressors from their foothold. Then after a short respite at jacksonville the Air Group became acquainted with the USS CORAL SEA during her shakedown cruise to Guantanamo Bay Cuba. In August 1950 the Group flew to Norfolk to renew their ac- quaintence with the CORAL SEA in preparation for the Mediter- ranean cruise. Its pilots night qualified flew practice air support missions and at last were ready for departure date. Since moving to jacksonville Air Group SEVENTEEN has been commanded by Commander Bruce S. Weber' Commander Weber was relieved by Commander 'William N. Leonard its present skipper in October 1950. This ends our history-but the record of our cruise is in this book and we re sure that youll hear much of Air Group SEVEN- TEN in times to come. Fxrst on P Kelele A F Spu ney Lt USMC M N John Lt CJGJ L G Bald n Lt A Bal-I e J CDRB S V! eber LCDR. P D C 1 er Lf CJGJ T G Heulerson Lt CJGJ F L Ma er YV 'I' B ooks G I' Rus Le'1ke M J BOUI'lSh3 R E on le R Sa nplu. B Combs P J C eame Gus ng 1 Jet pl mv. s I L it 1: , , , 3 2 s s 2 7 , s 5 7 1. , , 7 U 1, 9 , s 1 , 7 1 3 ! 7 s 7 a 1 s 7 7 , y J D Q 1' 1' ': . 1 r, . . r , . . . - son, . . . wi , . . cr, r., . . V , . . u v , . . . 1 , . . . i , . . 1' , . 4. - lettn. . . . Secolul row: P. S. . , . . . ' , . . T I r, G. . x ', . J. , . . r r. i . ' a '

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- DIVISIO . 4 HE S-4 DIVISION consists of Stewards and Stewardsmen, who prepare and serve food for the Wardroom and Warrant Officers messes. The Division is divided into three parts. Swoopes, C. L., SDC is the leading chief and in charge of the division. Bowers, F. SDC is in charge of the Officers quarters and Constantino, A. SDC supervises the galley and all food preparation. Many of the men have been on the ship since the day of its commissioning. The plank owners include: Swoopes C. L., Joyner D. T., Baker C. L., Reed F., Webb W. C., Jones C. A., McCall E., Blocker S. D., Gar- land J. and Alston C. The Messes are noted for their good service and fine food. All the credit is due to the excellent performance of the S-4 Division. S-4 Division is proud to be Serving Aboard the U.S.S. CORAL SEA. Better than half of this group has been on board over two years, and consider duty in the Mediterranean to be Very Interesting. Fust row Flem Reed L Nor nul, Lt QJGJ J A Hart Jr W D 'l uley E Mcbull Second ron H S Wloore E Il Foster L Luther Jr W Romeo J P Purnsh L Smith J L Moss Fu-st row R Gulln ln Jr C L Baker L Lexus Jr 0 T Jov ner F Bowers A 0 Constant: no C L Suopes W Tate C ond ron E D Brlsc, R 'l Murph C A Iones C L Allen I D Blocker J Muller I-I xVlllt0 C NV Ellxvnrrls C L 1V'1tl.m-I L Mnttheus NV I Broun K Simmons 'D I , . - . . . , ., . . ': ' , . ': . . . . - ': . . 1 , 4. . - , . D , ., I . , . . 1 , F. , . . ' '. . ': . i ' r: , ., . . ' 1 . ' , ., . . , - y 4 ' , . . . .- , . . ' -.', . z , . Petersen, J. A. Henley. . . . Sec- ': ' . . ' . '. , . . . ..', . . , . . ' , . , . .' , . . '. , . . . ' . , . '1, . . . ' , I .

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0MP0lH1 None Mea Azzxilliatrix Eff: ANY OF the great events of our lives, most of the clandestine affairs of mankind, and certainly all of the battle maneuvers of history have been affected by the night hours. The light of day may see the victorious commander accepting the surrender of the enemy, but the night has previously witnessed the anguish of indecision, the mass maneuvre for position, and the satisfaction in the knowledge of the well laid plan. The history of warfare is a history of darkness, for no sooner had man invented a weapon than he adopted it to the night. Naval Warfare is especially adaptable and many of our most brilliant engage- ments have been fought under the cloak of darkness, for there lies safety and the element of secret approach. The airplane is the newest of our modern weapons and early in the game, the barnstormers learned that daylight bombing was unacceptably hazardous in many situations, so the aviator looked toward the safety of the night. It would be impossible to set down here the seemingly unsurmountable 'obstacles that were met and conquered by military flyers in their mastery of the night sky. Let it be sufficient to say that World War II found our Navy prepared QUADRO to deliver co-ordinated aerial-surface attack by night. Many of our present carrier tactics were developed or improved during the heavy fighting in the far Pacific, and many of us remember well the sigh of relief, the relaxation of tense muscles, or the smile of a buddy's face as the voice came to us out of the darkness, Splash-one Bogey . ' ln the reorganization of the Navy that came in the immediate post wat years, Composite Squadron Four came into being as the night fighter squadron for the Atlantic Fleet. The development of tactics, training of pilots and crew, and adaption of certain Carrier based aircraft to night-all weather iiying were elements of its mis- sion to furnish night cover and attack for the Heet. This mission is accomplished through the detachments that are sent in each car- rier within all task groups in every United States Fleet, and today we rind night combat teams from Composite Squadron Four spread through out the world-from Korea to the Mediterranean. The oliicers and men of the Coral Sea Detachment of Composite Squadron Four are proud to represent their squadron and pleased to add it's motto- Nox Mea Auxilliatrix Est CNight- is our allyj- to those of Air Group Seventeen in this great ship on the winter cruise 1950151. l...l... .- l First rowv: C. M. Loilin, G. S. Barnes, A. L.. Hensley, R. C. Simpson, Eus. J. K. Xvulters- kircllen, Li. K. E. Shnfrxli, Lt. L. A. Clark, Ens. J. W. Brown, D. NV. Evenson, T. M. Coatsworth. . . . Second row: J. M. Frates, Jr., R. E. Grosskrueg- er, W. R. McDonald, W. E. Rub- erts, M. S. Ski-zypczak, R. C. Lnxnb. C. DI. Louern, E. L. Hill, J. V. llowvorth, R. E. Reid, R. E. Stillwell, J. L. Brindle, S. M. Pojedinec, G. BI. Stulll, J. W. Landrum, G. V. Melberg. View of the flight deck nt sun- down.