Coral Sea (CVB 43) - Naval Cruise Book

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.'T . ff 'T-7 7 , Ai-, 'f'4 ' ' L gr ,,,, -4 , .-.i' ' 1 . 1 w K Noll, C I 5:71-,ifn,l.0ttZ'f R Guinmn G G yvntfg, I-I Bur:-lxunlm, I' F Mc Gugkm, R Reule, M D1 Feline, V L Cyr, J E Morton, B I Bond, D H Grnxes Second B E Branson, J 'I' Beach J Janes, R A Jackson. P Nhcholns, I WI Ewhelm ul, Welton, Jr. D E 5l'lf1Wel'f J Moyer, P M Caldwell, R Blwer, E S Fduards E A Mar nn,J D Mmm- QQ!! - -1 I .-S. 5 . F . F. 9. ' '.: n ' 5. - . V- z A . . T A. i . rd' '- .l , -951 . ... F' ' -1- ... I in-Q1 - ' Q . -'. ' -P. .- g,...p5 Pl.: First row: R. G. Stegmnn, R. J. Aiello, R. H. Hnthcock, R. A. Burke, Jr., M. XVest, E. NV. Rup- pert, R. G. Lenke, R. H. Minor, C. Dfflllaflley, M. D. Ivie, C. S. Ulms, J. T. Buckley. . . . Second row: I-I. Grnhum, J. Parker, T. A. Smith, L. WVeeks, E. H. Rice, C. S. Boehm, A. E. Bradford, D. B. 1Veil, Jr., B. L. Bren, J. H. Reid, E. E. Curries, I-I. E. Mich- nels, B. J. Johnson. R. KV. Al- britton, Jr. First row: XV. B. Merritt, L. E. Bullnrul, L. J. Mundling, C. E. Tibbef, E. E. Carlson, J. F. 01- Sell. G- C. Munlreon, C. Saks, J. Amrllein, G. H. Devin, 'l'. K. Gllrtner. . . . Second row: B. B. Gmlfrey, S. T. west, n. C WVo0ds. IV. S. Best. L. 0. Fortin W. E. Knotc, R. J. Mnngnlm, G. D- Slllltfer. R. Fnrdem. F. L. Cas- sudy. S. T. Mulntosln, F. T. Dnigc,

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IGHTER IGHTER SQUADRON ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY FOUR, the i'Hell Razors , commanded by LCDR Ralph E. ELLIOTT, jr., was the last to join .Air Group SEVENTEEN but is the oldest of the five units attached to the group. Commissioned 1 March 1944 as VB-81, at Wildwood, New jersey, it has an active and enviable history which includes combat duty on the U.S.S. WASP in the liberation of the Philippinesg the shakedown cruise of the U.S.S. PRINCETON with Admiral Mitscher's Eighth Fleetg and a round- the-world cruise aboard the U.S.S. TARAWA. Since its commis- isoning, VB-81 has evolved into VA-15A, then to VA-154 before joining CAG-17 as VF-174. Its battle-Weary SBZC Helldivers were traded in for Corsairs in April, 1948. This Mediterranean cruise is not the first trip for 174 aboard the CORAL SEA. The month of May 1950 was spent operating with this ship in the Caribbean. Included was a two week period of intensive gunnery training averaging nine high-altitude firing hops per day, and finishing off with an excellent operational readiness inspection. Pilots and crewmen are making good use of the present cruise DRO 14 in gaining proficiency in the new F4U-5's. Realistic coordinated group maneuvers and operations around and on the carrier have improved steadily. A climax was reached on November 2nd with Well Done from the Admiral and the Captain of the ship for an entire group recovery with an average landing interval of 29 seconds per plane. The squadron maintenance department, with only one and a half inonth's experience on the F4U-5 prior to this cruise, have met every engineering problem with a high degree of proficiency. Given the addition of a few pieces of shop equipment and personnel, the department, with their varied experience already gained, could very well become an overhaul activity. They've already earned the nick- name aboard ship- O 8: R--174 . ' The gunnery department has provided a maximum of armament availability in a minimum of time for every operation. The spirit and skill with which the ordnance gang has worked under difficult darken-ship and battle conditions has been a vital supporting factor in maintaining the squadron's topnotch performance record. I.t.fJGj VV. C. Iioynlaln, Lt.fJGl G. M. Dent, LLQJGP E. J. Atlnnls, Lt. R. S. Sllernlzln. LCDR J. E. Miller, LCDR R. E. Elliott, Li. H. T. Exving, LLQJGI NV. E. Saunders, Lt.QJGl D. Conlmlly. Lf.1JGj R. B. Dana, LLQJGJ C. McCnn1lliss. . . . Second row: Ens. D. L. Cecil, Ens. A. 0. XVolf, Ens. W. G. Neulun, Ens. G. M. Schruuth, Ens. C. V. Burch, Ens. R. E. Dobelstein, Ens. R. C. Schaulr, Ens. A. .l. Jensen, LLCJGJ J. J. Borlnidge, Ens. D. W. Miller, Ens. H. J. Bnrtlesnn, Ens. C. S. Bailes. . - First row: G. F. Huges. C- 'I'- MQNIIH, R. F. Sllyver, G. J. Dat- vinis, R. C. Huston, XV. S. Quinnv WV. M. Anlznns, .I. T. Durrnnce. . . . Second row: P. J. Vlnsek. 0. Newman, IC. A. Clliplmroni, ll. A. lluley, J. VV. Cosper, F. Fus- sell, J. A. Turmnhleu, J. Arellzlne. -ii

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J. L. Dauglltry First row: E. D. Rnulerson, L. Morris, J. Sknpynk, S. C. Dnto. Nut pllntogrnpllcd: Steven C. Unto, Laurence J. Dlorris, J. Sknpy-ak. Reco19e1-ing aircraft Xvnrmlrmnn at sen :luring Army- Nuvy football gslme-Navy won! Members of VFIT4 working on n plane .f-A -- w...m.:- ,G ., L