Leyte (CVA 32) - Naval Cruise Book

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ICI-ITEIL UADQQ A BRIEF Hash-back into the history of Fighter Squadron THiRTY-FOUR indicates that it had its beginning during lVorld VVar Il. It was a scrappy cog in the wheel that rolled on to victory in the Pacific. Fighting TWENTY, as it was lormerly known, operated with the F6F Hellcat , one lugged member of a line of Grumman aircraft which the squadron flew. . Alter being re-designated several times, the squadron be- came a part of Carrier Air Group Three and was officially named Fighter Squadron TH1RTY-FOUR. A year later VF-34 replaced its F8Fs with the F9F-2 Panther jets with which it is presently operating. In 1947 the squadron participated in a Carribean cruise, followed by a cold Weather cruise in the Newfoundland area in January of 1948. The first Mediterranean cruise for the squadron began in the spring of 1948. 77

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Upper Left: Front Row: LTJG Pitz, LTJG Sallada, ENS Gooding, ENS Eoster, LCDR Lee, LCDR Fabrick, LTJG Christie, ENS Brennan, LTJG DeLoach, LTJG Russell, LTQIG Fusco. Back Row: LTJG Crimes, ENS Cavanaugh, ENS Bye, LT Gard, LTJG Dougherty, LTJG Blevins, ENS Wood, ENS Kochans, ENS Stevens, ENS Towns, ENSVSauer. Upper Right: Clifton, AD2, and Rowley, AN, of the power plants gang begin searching for an oil leak. All fuel and oil lines are given a periodic check to be certain that this vital system will not fail when the plane is in operation. The plane is an F4U-4 Corsair. ' Lower Left: YV11o Said, 'Get the cruisers f1rst! ' LCDR Fabrick briefs a strike hop in Ready Four. CDR Madden sits in. Ordin- arily the CO's pre-flight briefing was no laughing matter and a hundred or so different items were entered on that knee-pad ffllid mentally filed away. Lower Right: Oliver, AD3, on the action end of a spark-plug wrench, starts work on a yellow sheet squawk. His work here is repre- sentative of that of more than fift' th ' 5 o er maintenance men of the squadron. 5 ON 10 OCTOBER 1950 a VF-33 flight in the Wonsan area was the first from the squadron and the first from the Leyte ever to enter action. After participating in all major Korean actions from then until late in January 1951, the squadron returned to a. shore-based status at Quonset Point, R. I., in early February 1951. ln March 1951, LCDR VVilliam A. Fabrick became commanding officer. On 1 May, the squadron moved to the newly re- activated base at Sanford, Florida, to remain until it joined the Leyte once more in june. The fact that VF-33 has spent fifteen of the past twenty- four months on board the Leading Leyte indiCatGS the extent of the squadron's recent association with the Leyte. -

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N, , ...,.,, ,:,,....,,,,...,-.. . ..,,..... .... . . - X - f H X - -H11--. ' -..--.....:-,..L.:-+-2-,-yffrn - -P-C - ' H f. f f f 'ff ' I . H, ..f1:.......,..,.1,.....,..,.. srl- 7, ..A ,ww . . . . ,. ., A A 5,,..,..,..Y-. --Vg -12:-::,-Q3-1-1-msn .,-' ,...-1.-'E:v'g.,.e,..f- . ,...,.........- f M.- 3 .... -Il f A , A km ...qv ,. wi . K ff fu- H - ox Af r First Row: ENS C. Popeg ENS YV. VV. Marking LTJG R. S. Chewg LTJG NV. S. Browng LTJG M. M. Simmonsg LT S. Clevelandg LCDR R.. A- Sweattg LT H. A. Harnmellg LTJG S. S. Cadwellg LTJG F. N. Nehringi ENS J. E. white. ENS T. C. Llewellyng LTJG J. W. Jaimm. Second Row: M. L. Abramsg N. E. YVhiteg P. Careyg J. M. Zayacg ENS H- -Ioeschkeg ENS C. S. Sayersg ENS R. C. Wagnerg ENS VV. P. HZUTISOUJ A. M. Steuberg L. H. Reiderg Pipitoneg E. L. McElroy. Third Row: G. U. Mulkeyg P. McQuaidg D. E. Mayog G. E. MetroliCl C. D. Diekg R. D. Mayberryg S. Sparks: R. C. Buczhmang H. E. Pohhnanng M. M. Luniewiczg A. A. Moraseinig C. V. Freeman. Fourth Row: J. D. M-'ilsong R. E. Landrethg H. L. VViHiz1msong 'W. P. Landry! W. D. Hamilton: R. A. Mfentworthg F. O. Campbellg T. I. Sylvaing F. Mat- thewsg M. Poperniekg E. NV. Andersong E. VVaekrow.' Fifth Row: R. S. Davisg L. II. Seiontig T. R. Cree0'an' B. S. Lzmdress' P. D- VanSiek1eg EI. D. Rooneyg Af YV. Vanehurag YV. L.bBennettg YV. R. Myayhewl S. N. D2l1121Sj J. D. Coleg T. T. Schopeng H. L. Travis. Sixth. Row: G. T. Evans. E. YV. Koetter: R. Lavoie' R. H. Slocum' E- Masciotrog M. H. Gerardg C. Hoodg L. L. VVattsg C. Morehead: B. F. Coodei G. 'PY Lompg LI. XfVrightg L. Anderson. 78