Coral Sea (CVB 43) - Naval Cruise Book

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-..-Q. C MPO ITE Q mo oMPos11'E SQUADRON TWELVE, the Atlantic Fleet's only AEW squadron, was evolved from the AEW unit of FAETULant. It was originally commissioned as VAW-2 in July, 1948 under the command of CDR Allen M. Shinn and was re-designated VC-12 in August, 1948. CDR. Shinn was relieved by CDR. C. F. Garrison, the present Commanding Officer, in September, 1949. Fromits home port at NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island, VC-12 sends detachments in the majority of Atlantic Fleet Carriers-from VCES to CVBs-that put to sea. The personnel of these detach- ments are trained to operate against both submarines and aircraft, andthe pilots are well qualified as day and night all-weather pilots. The enlisted men of VC-12, especially the crewmen, have re- sponsibilities far exceeding those ordinarily required of non-Com- missiond personnel of the Navy but have proved themselves entirely capable of assuming these responsibilities by the creditable discharge of all duties required of them. The VC-12 detachment in the CORAL SEA has 4 AD-SW air- craft 'and is composed of 7 officers and 31 enlisted men with LT. F. L. Thomas as Oflicer-in-Charge. To the personnel of this detach- ment, the majority of whom have spent the larger part of their time in the squadron on TAD to various carriers of the Atlantic Fleet, carrier life is by no means new. First row: R. llrewer, C. D. Steele, XV. G. Muff, ll. D. Down- ing, T. L. Anson, M. E. Rush, L. V. Shearer, R. P. Schneider, C. ll. Clement, XV. A. Lonergan, Jr., DI. C. Lombardo, V. T. Evans, F. 0. Palnulahl .... Set'- oml row: C. XV. Spicwak, M. J. Mayer, G. F. Johnson, Lt.fJGb F. 0. Mitchell, Lt.fJGy N. C. Scnife, Lt. F. L. Thomas. Lt. fJGj R. R. Carlson, LLQJGJ E. B. Titconlh, Lt.fJGJ P. S. Polgar, Ens. S. R. Crowell .... Third -f row: J. H. Saxon, L. XV. Larn- oureux, J. B. Milstead, A. G. Hallowvell, H. 0. Chenk. D. E. . Xvoorls, F. A. Lnkasik, G. E. Jen- nison, J. I. Miller. lt. A. Carlson, J. T. Moore, II. Sims, Jr., J. E. Cawthorn. J. 0. Gamble. Forward elevator down 1 xf :fl

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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.

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POCHT OMPOSITE SQUADRON THIRTY-THREE was originally commis- sioned in May 1949 at the Naval Air Station, Norfolk, Virginia with a primary mission of Anti-Submarine Warfare. Approximately one year later it was redesignated as a Special Mission- Squadron and transferred to the Naval Air Station, Atlantic City, New Jersey where it is presently stationed under the command of Comdr. R. M. Lindsey, USN. VC-53 Detachment No. 6 is an all-weather attack team tem- porarily attached to CAG-17. It is composed of six officers and thirty-three men with Lt, M. H, Richey, USN acting as Ofiicer-in- Charge. The team has six AD type aircraft assigned composed of DRO 33 four AD-4N's and Two AD-4Q's. Detachment No. 6 is one of many such teams which have been sent aboard and are presently operating aboard almost every CV and CVB in the Fleet. The primary mission of this particular team is all-weather Anti- Submarine Patrol for the Fast Carrier Task Forces. To this end the pilots are thoroughly versed in all phases of night intercept and attack and are capable of being launched day or night under any and all adverse weather conditions. The aircrewmen assigned to the Detachment are highly trained, skilled technicians, and are necessarily adept in the operation of various types of Radar and Radar Countermeasures equipment. -is ,ga Q5 Wg l First roiv: A. R. Collison, E. E. Roberts, R. E. Decker, L. L. Powvell, H. C. Pointlexter, E. J. Reed, R. IV. Olson, J. Sznfran, R. D. Horan, D. T. Gordon, C. A. Grnngler, J. R. Fox .... Second row: G. W. Perkins, XV. G. Mist- ler, Ens. J. DI. Patton, Jr., Elm. F. S. Klillker, LLCJGJ XV. E. Keeler, Lf. Riclley, LLCJGJ L. C. Xvhitney, Ens. A. H. Bnrie, DI. E. Wiley, C. J. Lnvelle. . . . Third rowv: J. P. Didlenlnn, C. Dwornc- zyk, H. W. Stocks, H. V. Ross, A. NV. Harrell. C. D. Matthews. T. A. Brittelle, B. E. Clendenen, A. S. Reinspore, D. A. Spayth, J. M. Pierson, IV. S. Lindsay, R. D'CnnnelI. R. C. Blurrey, IV. A. Halley, H. E. Richard, J. E. Evans. .4-l Lafe nite:-noon view of the flight deck