Tarawa (CV 40) - Naval Cruise Book

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Executive Officer LCDR JACK M. JAMES was born in VVildwood, New jersey. He graduated from XfVildwood High School in 1937, from Annapolis in 1941 and from Pensacola in 1944. He married Miss Louise Snyder of Oak Park, Illinois, in 1946 and is the father of two boys. He joined the Air Group in August, 1951. Commanding Officer Currier Air Group Eight CDR VINCENT L. HATHORN is a native of Pittsfield, Maine. He makes his home with Mrs. Hathorn and their five children in Virginia Beach. He graduated from Pensacola in 1937. Commander Hathorn came to Air Group 8 as Air Group Commander when it was formed in April, 1951. His last previous duty was Executive Officer of the Naval School of Photography at Pensacola.

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FUELING AT SEA The tankers are frequently followed by Navy supply ships loaded with food, airplane parts, bombs, ammunition, and other supplies that have been broughtall the way from Norfolk, Va. The carrier pulls alongside the supply ship and huge cargo nets full of crates, cartons, and bags are swung over onto her hangar deck. This system of replenishing at sea was developed during World War II by the Navy's famous fast carrier task forces operating on the far side of the Pacific. It is this system that enables the U. S. Navy to maintain floating air bases in any ocean, off any shore for a limitless length of time. ' Three fhousand miles from home, wi+h 'lanks dry, Tarawa gels a transfusion. ' .-.A ' -.f 1 1--.-no-:w,,.m-T-mc,-.5-..-,-5. .:.fve.:.:.-i-m-- 4' -.-,-.-- The destroyer, from fhe screen, is faking nourishment in 'rhe form of fuel oil. The ability to refuel at sea, a U. S. Navy specialty, is the trick that has enabled the United States Sixth Fleet to operate, since the close of World War II, more than 3,000 miles from its nearest base. It is this ability that has made it unnecessary for the U.S.S. TARAWA QCV-405 to tie up to a dock at any time during its six months cruise in the Mediterranean. Photographs on this page show tankers of the U. S. Sixth Fleet Service Force pumping fuel oil and aviation gasoline, the life- blood of a modern jet navy, into the thirsty ,tanks of the Tarawa. The Tarawa, and other large ships in the fleet, pass some of their fuel oil on to destroyers and other small units of the fleet as they need it. . Deck crews and oil lines gel' wel' when loaded iankers go info rough seas. The four guns +ha+ appear +o be on 1-he +anker's deck are on 'l'he destroyer refueling from 'lhe other side.

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CDR Vincenf L. Hafhorn. Air Group Commander. HE STAFF of Commander Carrier Air Group Eight is the organization established to assist the Air Group Commander in having his policies carried out by the various squadrons and detachments. The Staff officers have the job of coordinating the effort of the entire group and heading up the department aboard ship. Commander V. L. Hathorn, as Air Group Commander, had tactical command in the air when the group was fiying a mission. The command of this all-reserve air group was assigned to Commander Hathorn April 9, 1951, when the formal commis- sioning ceremonies were held at the Naval Air Station, Jackson- ville, Fla. On this date the Air Group was given the numerical designation which identified one of naval aviation's most famous air groups of World War II. The Staff at this time was com- posed of three officers and one enlisted man. It has since in- creased to its present strength of nine officers and 17 enlisted men. The present complement includes reserve and regular Navy personnel hailing from as far north as New York State, home of Administrative Officer, LCDR B. M. Anderson, to Texas, home of LT H. 'W. Hammonds. The Staff office force handles all ad- Leff fo Right: FIRST ROW: Sur- raff Nowakowski Roberfson Ku I I I P' ersfein, Carringion, Seymore, Paf- fillo, Burkharf, Scoz. SECOND ROW: Sayre, CPO Van Huss, CPO Vlief, CPO Fifzgeralci, CPO Moulder, CPO Lenny, Salfer, Francisco. THIRD ROW: LT Mur- chison, LCDR Roberson, LT Nor- man, LCDR Anderson, CDR Haf- horn, fAir Group Commancierl, LCDR James, LT McAfee, LT Hammonds. I 1 'l New N N Z0 aff Coming in with no wheels or flaps, oil on windshield, pilot in sfufe of shock? Yes sir, l'II tell him. CARRIER AIR GROUP EIGHT ministrative and personnel work for the Air Group. This depart- ment is staffed by Chief Yeoman D. F. Moulder, W. D. Burkhart YNSN, J. J. Sayre YNSN, and F. V. Scoz SN. The Leading Chief of the Air Group is J. E. Fitzgerald, with A. J. Van Huss as Staff Aviation Ordnance Chief. The staff is assigned three planes, one AD-SQ Douglas Skyraider and two F4U-4 Corsair fighters. The following plane captains keep these planes in constant readiness for flight: M. D. Robertson, AD2g E. L. Seymore, AD3g R. J. Francisco, AD3g and A. P. Carring- ton, ADAN. G. W. Lenny, ATC, an Air Crewman, rides as radar and radio operator with the Group Commander on all tactical fiights. . G. I. Vliet, Chief Hospital Corpsman, is assigned to the Medical Department where he works with the Air Group Flight Surgeon, LT G. C. Murchison. The ship's disbursing office is work station for three of the Staff members: W. H. Pattillo, DK1g P. D. Kuper- stein, DKSNQ and B. J. Nowakowski, SN. Stewardsmate 2nd Class, E. Surratt assists in the preparation and serving of food in the officers' wardroom.