Randolph (CV 15) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 49 text:

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96 -- 34139, ,,,-QS' We offen wondered if our crews approached This poinf of perfecfion. They did, and even befler. Admiral Bogan, our TG commander's commenf on wafching fhem launch aircraff was: Slow down 'lhaf launch. When asked if fhere was anyfhing wrong, his reply was: No, i'l s iusl' foo damn fast Which is abouf as nice a complimenf as 'lhe Navy gives. Along wifh work, fhere were many hours of play and V-l-D was no excepfion. There is Airdale A.A. Slfc who combines play wifh work or makes all work play even while pulling checks on a big launch: if's fhe spirif 'lhaf goes a long way foward winning a war. The headquarfers of our eighf hundred odd feef of Randolph Field is lisfed officially as Fligh+ Deck Con- frol, and is presided over by L+. Madden, fhe flighf deck officer-unofficially if is known as Madden's Casino, and 'rhe presiding officer should have been Hoffoof Madden, if he had sfuck fo 'rhe feef, buf siffing on a lighfed cigareffe-buff changes your viewpoinf as well as fhe posifion. Q' 1 K. .NL -v ' kg V-I-D had ifs fun and characfers, buf il' delivered fhe goods: 'rheir iob can be likened fo +he 'rackle who opens 'lhe holes for fhe quarferback in a foofball game. lf was in fhe nasfy days of 'lhe firsf Tokyo raids: 'lhe deck was wef and slick making foofing very uncerfaing fhe whirling props of scores of fiighl'-ready parked planes added 'lo fhe hazards: vef fhe deck crews soaked and freezing sfruggled wilh 'lhe elemenfs and confinued fheir fasks among 'lhe planes. Frequen-Hy a man would gef blasfed by 'lhe slip-sfream, lose his foofing and go rolling beneafh fhe planes. There were many close shaves fhal' day, buf every man picked himself up and refurned 'lo finish his iob of geffing fhe planes away. A navy pilof noi' scheduled fo fly fhaf hop was wafch- ing from fhe shelfer of fIigh+ deck confrol. He shook his head and remarked fo one of fhe men, There are none bravery I wouldn'l' gef ouf on 'lhaf fligh+ deck for all fhe money in 'lhe world. When fhe quarferback admils fhe fackle is good . . . well!

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COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT The day arrived for +he commissioning of our ship when +he Boo+s 'From Newpor+ me+ +he Sal+s from Newpor+ News. Oc+ober 9, I944 was a big day in our lives. The men wen+ up +he gangway +o se+ +oo+ on +he deck of +heir +irs+ ship in many ins+ances, +o be ably welcomed and shown around by +hose who had seen i+ grow in i+s las+ s+ages. I+ was a crys+alized depar+- men+. L+. Commander Gallery was +he communica+ions oF+icer wi+h L+. Cohen as his assis+an+. L+. Hann wi+h Ensign S+evens had charge o+ K-l, +he radio gang. L+. Campbell and Ensign Krumm had charge of K-2, +he signal gang. The Yeoman, Mailmen, and Prin+ers were under L+. Reynolds and Ensign S+. Lawrence. L+. Beam and Ensign Gonzalez had charge of +he Pub Locker . Ensign Summers was assis+an+ censor. I+ was an organiza+ion wi+h bu+ 'few of i+s complemen+ familiar wi+h Carrier Communica+ions. The Communica+ions Depar+men+ +unc+ioned well from i+s incep+ion as +he men had been +rained in A+lan+ic procedure and opera+ion. Before +he ship le++ on i+s Chesapeake Bay +rial runs, mos+ 0+ +he men had an ample oppor+uni+y +o become acquain+ed wi+h +he com- par+men+s of ber+hing and messing and opera+ing. I+ may have been a green crew +ha+ s+ood ou+ in+o +he Chesapeake Bay area, bu+ wha+ +hey lacked in ex- perience +hey more +han made up in diligence and zeal and +he weeks spen+ +herein proved +he +ellows had wha+ i+ +akes . Adap+a+ions from previous +ype ships and shore class rooms +o carrier requiremen+s were credi+ably made. Vi i